Frank A. DiGiacomo
Partner
Duane Morris LLP
1940 Route 70 East, Suite 200
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
USA
Phone: +1 856 874 4205
Fax: +1 856 874 4365
Email: fdigiacomo@duanemorris.com

Frank A. DiGiacomo practices in the areas of gaming law and commercial litigation with a focus on representing companies and persons both within the gaming industry and who conduct business with the gaming industry.

Mr. DiGiacomo has significant experience representing public and privately held casinos, gaming technology providers and lottery companies in connection with licensing, regulatory investigations, compliance matters, financings, equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and other gaming regulatory issues. His clients within the gaming industry include casinos, casino holding companies, slot machine manufacturers, private equity firms, internet ventures, technology providers, financial institutions, hedge funds, private investors, construction contractors, lottery companies and other gaming industry vendors.

Mr. DiGiacomo has handled gaming, lottery and related regulatory licensing matters in numerous domestic and international jurisdictions including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, West Virginia, Maine, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico and throughout Canada. He has advised U.S. based gaming clients on ventures in Asia (including Macau), South America, Eastern Europe and Africa. He has also represented non-gaming industry clients before utility regulatory agencies, advised on internet promotions, promotional sweepstakes matters, procurement matters and government privatization issues in addition to handling various types of litigation.

Mr. DiGiacomo's clients include Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Bally Technologies, Inc., Wynn Resorts Limited, Scientific Games Corporation, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers ("AGEM"), MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., FMR Corp; Apollo Global Management, TPG Capital and Tutor Perini Corporation.

Representative Matters

• Obtained all required approvals from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission in connection with the 2008 purchase of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. by two private equity firms, Apollo Management and TPG Capital, for $31 billion. This included approval for the change of control, all financing and structure approvals, as well as the licensing of the required principals for the two private equity firms.
• Obtained approvals from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and Casino Control Commission on behalf of a gaming technology company to allow for the operation of a multicasino progressive slot machine system.
• Represented the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers in New Jersey regarding gaming regulatory reforms and amendments to the N.J. Casino Control Act.
• Obtained on behalf of a privately held casino the gaming regulatory approvals required for an initial public offering.
• Represented Bally Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates in connection with their initial manufacturer licenses before the following gaming regulatory agencies - the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the New York Lottery, the Maryland Lottery and the Maine Gambling Control Board.
• Obtained on behalf of a privately held company all required gaming licenses, approvals and qualifications from more than 20 gaming and lottery regulatory agencies in connection with its acquisition of a controlling interest in a gaming technology company.
• Obtained initial gaming manufacturer license on behalf of Scientific Games Corporation and its affiliates before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
• Advised the City of Philadelphia in connection with its adoption of legislation legalizing slot machines and table games in Pennsylvania.
• Performed due diligence and regulatory compliance investigations for an international gaming device manufacturer in emerging gaming markets in Asia, Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe and Africa.
• Represented an international construction company in obtaining its casino service industry license from the N.J. Casino Control Commission.
• Advised a national financial advisor on gaming-themed promotional sweepstakes.
• Obtained all of the necessary regulatory approvals, following a contested hearing before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, to allow Chester Downs and Marina, LLC, a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corp., to close on a $330 million senior secured note offering.

Professional Activities

• New Jersey State Bar Association
  - Chair, Casino Law Section
• International Association of Gaming Attorneys

Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Education

• University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1992
• Drexel University, B.S., 1987

Selected Publications

• Author, "The Likely Battle Between the State Lottery and Atlantic City's Casinos," New Jersey Lawyer, April 2013
• Co-author, "Third-Party Software Providers--Will the DGE Take a Hard Look at Them?" New Jersey Lawyer, April 2013