The five members of the Gambling Control Board are appointed by the Governor of Maine to serve three years terms. At least 4 members of the board must have training or experience in at least one of the following fields: corporate finance, economics, law, accounting, law enforcement, computer science or the gambling industry. One member must have experience in the Harness racing industry. Appointees to the Board must also be reviewed and confirmed by the Veterans and Legal Affairs Joint Standing Committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over gambling matters. The chair of the board is appointed by the Governor.
Members of the Gambling Control Board:
Chair Steven J. Silver, Esq.: Chair Steven Silver is an attorney in the Portland office of Littler Mendelson. He focuses his practice on ERISA litigation, sports law, and representing employers in federal and state court litigation involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims. He also represents employers in administrative hearings and counsels employers on a broad spectrum of day-to-day employment matters, including employee discipline, terminations, leaves of absence, and wage and hour issues. In addition, he assists employers in drafting policies, employee handbooks, and employment-related agreements to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal law.Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was a sports reporter for the Tennessean and Las Vegas Sun. He also served as the radio broadcaster for the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers. He continues to write about sports and gaming law issues. His work has appeared in many national outlets including the Vice Sports, Huffington Post, Above the Law, and Legal Sports Report. Before joining the Gambling Control Board, he sat on the Maine State Board of Property Tax Review from 2018 to 2020. He has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2017 and in 2018, He taught the first ever class in Maine solely devoted to gaming law as an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law. He was included in the inaugural 2021 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list for his employee benefits and litigation work.
Noel C. March, M.A.: Chief March is a Lecturer of Justice Studies and Director of the Maine Community Policing Institute at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). He is an experienced Chief of Police and remains sworn and licensed as such at UMA. From 2010 to 2018 he served as an appointee of President Barack Obama as the United States Marshal in Maine where he worked in the leadership of the U.S. Department of Justice. He is a nationally recognized subject-matter-expert in Community Oriented Policing and Community Engagement and is the author of numerous training programs for police departments. He instructs and speaks on public safety topics at campuses and conferences internationally. His work is featured in numerous professional publications and he is a decorated veteran of law enforcement in Connecticut and Maine, where he has held the ranks of Police Officer, Drug Unit Supervisor, and Chief Deputy Sheriff. He is a current member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and he is a trained Mediator. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy as well as the University of New England and the University of Maine Graduate School, where he earned degrees in Organizational Leadership and Peace & Reconciliation Studies, respectively.
Joseph Hanslip: Mr. Joe Hanslip is a retired police officer and as such had training and experience regarding patrol duties and functions as well in investigations. He has served in several capacities, both elected and appointed in municipal and county government. He has served on numerous boards for non-profit charitable, cultural, and civic organizations.
Kelly Bickmore: Ms. Bickmore, LCSW is a Clinical Therapist and the Director of Behavioral Health at NL Mercy Hospital. She oversees teams that provide behavioral health services in the hospital as well as primary care locations. As a healthcare leader she is active in healthcare operations, staff development, training and evaluation, assessment and strategic planning. In addition to her career she has been an elected member of the RSU 22 school board for 15 years, five of those as Chairperson. She has also served on the Maine School Boards Association as well as a variety of other charitable organizations. She currently serves on the board of a nonprofit community mental health organization. Ms. Bickmore is a graduate of Simmons College and the University of Maine.