Pacifico S. Agnellini

Pacifico S. Agnellini

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Background

Highly regarded gaming attorney with over two decades of experience. Pioneer in online gaming and sports betting. Deep expertise in regulatory compliance and new gaming markets. 

A national gaming industry thought leader, Pat Agnellini helped shape the future of internet gaming nationally and was highly involved in its legalization in New Jersey. He focuses on all aspects of gaming law with an emphasis on licensing and operational regulatory compliance matters as well as various types of commercial transactional matters. Pat’s current work largely focuses on regulatory compliance and online gaming and sports betting in newer markets. 

His extensive experience includes serving as in-house general counsel for a major casino company along with many years in federal, state and local regulatory compliance. He advises new and existing industry players in both emerging and established jurisdictions, with some projects spanning multiple markets. Pat also creates compliance programs and serves as legal and regulatory counsel to audit and compliance committees. He effectively guides clients through licensing and compliance matters before the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Casino Control Commission and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

With the emerging legal landscape for online gaming and sports wagering, Pat has worked with both online and brick-and-mortar casinos on licensing issues and regulatory approval and compliance related to this new space. He has considerable experience advising individuals and businesses on issues involving acquisitions and dispositions of physical assets and real estate, and the tax and financial implications inherent in such transactions. 

Representative Matters

Recent Experience

  • As national thought leaders in gaming & gambling, our gaming team has been called to play a central role in one of the most significant developments for the sector of recent times. We have been providing strategic and legal counsel to multiple entities in the roll-out of both in-casino and on-line sports wagering in the state of New Jersey and in connection with its potential roll-out into other states across the US. Our team also has played a significant role in paving the way for this critical new development in US gaming law, confirming our market-leading work on this field.

  • Our national gaming team represented Ocean Walk and its principals in the acquisition, financing and development of the Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City. The property, formerly known as Revel Casino Hotel, consists of a hotel & casino with circa 1,400 rooms situated on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Our team also assisted in obtaining the required licensure arrangements for the facility in readiness for its opening in summer 2018. This matter confirms how our team has the ability to provide the full range of sector-specialist corporate/M&A; financing; development; licensing and regulatory services required on such major mandates.

  • Our national gaming team is advising hospitality/gaming entities and acting as counsel to their compliance and audit committees in conjunction with approvals for their cyber security program. Given the huge changes sweeping the on-line gaming sector across the US over the review period, our ability to provide global-standard cyber security counsel is an increasingly critical asset for clients in this sector.

Insights & Publications

Credentials

Education

  • LL.M., 1993, Villanova University School of Law, in Taxation
  • J.D., 1992, Widener University School of Law
  • B.S., 1988, Boston University

Admissions

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Tax Court

Memberships

New Jersey State Bar Association

Casino Law Section Chair, New Jersey Bar Association, 2010

Prior Trustee Casino Law Section, New Jersey Bar Association

American Bar Association

International Association of Gaming Advisors

Community Involvement

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Chair, AtlantiCare Foundation

Advisory Committee, Let Us Eat…Please!

Recognition

AWARDS:

"Pacifico is very knowledgeable and responsive." – Chambers USA, 2024

"Pacifico is a well-known and respected attorney." "He is a highly regarded lawyer." – Chambers USA, 2023

Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025

Chambers USA, 2022-2024

2019 New Jersey Trailblazer, New Jersey Law Journal