On Monday (28 October) interim Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) chair Jordan Maynard was appointed to a permanent role by the state's governor.
Maynard has been serving as the interim chair since former MGC chief Cathy Judd-Stein retired from public service in March. Governor Maura Healy also appointed former Melrose mayor Paul Brodeur as the agency’s fifth commissioner, according to a press release. The MGC had been down a commissioner since Judd-Stein’s retirement.
“He has proven to be a consensus builder who has a deep understanding of the agency and strives to do what’s best for the people of Massachusetts,” Healy said via press release.
Maynard was first appointed to the MGC in August 2022 and was part of the MGC when it developed rules and launched digital and in-person sports betting in 2023. The state’s general assembly legalised wagering in August 2022.
“I wish to congratulate Jordan Maynard upon his designation by Governor Healey as chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission,” Judd-Stein told iGB via email. “I appreciated Jordan’s many contributions to the commission’s work during my tenure as chair. With the outstanding MGC team and now the commission’s full bench, strengthened today by the governor’s appointment of Mayor Brodeur, the MGC is well-positioned to continue its rigorous but fair regulation of the Commonwealth’s gaming industry, grounded in integrity and committed to crucial consumer protections.”
Like his predecessor, Maynard places a premium on consumer protections. In particular, he is heading up a new Youth Sports Betting Safety Initiative in partnership with the state attorney general’s office, the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health and other agencies. Those working on the project are crafting an educational curriculum to teach those under the age of 21 about the potential harms from gambling.
“We have all agreed that this is a problem,” Maynard previously told iGB. “How do we address this? We have some requests out for trying to come up with two things – curriculum and media presence. We’re trying to reach the youth. The question is, how do we get the message out?”
Maynard honored multiple times this year
The initiative is an example of the MGC’s role as a leader in gambling regulation and education in the US. The agency put in place some of the strictest consumer protections and advertising guidelines in the country, for both casino gambling and sports betting. The MGC oversees three land-based casinos in the state, as well as seven digital wagering platforms. Online casino is not legal in Massachusetts.
“I have been consistently impressed with the level of integrity and leadership shown by my fellow commissioners and staff at the MGC,” Maynard said in the press release. “I am confident that Mayor Brodeur will make an impactful addition to the MGC team.”
Maynard also prioritises land-based casino security. He has worked with casino executives to develop best practices around the safety and well-being of customers.
This year, Maynard was named to the Innovation Group’s “40 under 40” class of 2025, and by the US Gaming Hub’s Game Masters Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the US Gaming Industry.
Prior to joining the commission, Maynard served as chief secretary to the governor.
Brodeur spearheaded minimum wage increase
Prior to serving as mayor of Melrose, Brodeur served eight years as a Massachusetts state representative (2011-2019). During his time in the general assembly, he negotiated a deal to increase the minimum wager to $15 in a deal known as the “Grand Bargain”. In addition, he created a universal paid family and medical leave programme. He also oversaw the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
“Mayor Paul Brodeur is a trusted leader in our state who has a record of bringing people together to deliver results on our most pressing challenges, including by bringing together elected officials, the business community, labour and advocates to negotiate the Grand Bargain which strengthened our economy and supported Massachusetts workers, families and businesses alike,” Healy said in the release.
