After taking over as interim chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in March, Jordan Maynard faced a major challenge early as the state's active retail and online sports betting operators chose not to appear at a public hearing in May to discuss player limitations. 

In what was seen as a test of Maynard's mettle, the licensed Massachusetts sports betting operators all shared similar reasons for not appearing - they wanted the matter discussed in executive session.

Maynard was unbowed. He and his fellow commissioners voiced their anger both in public and in private. Knowing that he could not let the snub go unheeded, Maynard publicly chastised the operators for not showing up but also gave them an off-ramp and the chance for another appearance. 

RELATED: Q + A With MGC Commissioner Jordan Maynard

When the 3-hour meeting on player limits was rescheduled and held on September 11, every licensed active operator in the Commonwealth appeared. That was opposed to the ill-fated meeting in May when only one operator (Bally Bet) attended. Bally Bet was not operational at the time. 

While all sides remained intransigent when it came to the subject of limits, a much louder message was sent, that being that the Commission had not lost its teeth with the retirement of Cathy Judd Stein in March.  

Monday, in a move that was as certain as the Red Sox not making the World Series, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced that Maynard was no longer the interim chair of the board. He is now its second full-time chair since sports betting launched in Massachusetts in 2023. 

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Gets 5th Member 

Gov. Healey also appointed former Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur as Commissioner. While Maynard takes over for Judd Stein as full-time chair, Brodeur fills the vacant 5th spot in the Commission created by Judd Stein's retirement. 

“I’m grateful to Jordan Maynard for providing strong leadership for the Gaming Commission during this transitional period and proud to appoint him as Chair. 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,” Gov Healey said in a release. 

Broduer is the first Commissioner appointed by Healey. The other 4 members were named by her predecessor, Charlie Baker. The current president of the NCAA, Baker signed the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act into law on August 10, 2022. 

“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, labor, and advocates to negotiate the Grand Bargain which strengthened our economy and supported Massachusetts workers, families, and businesses alike. I’m excited for him to continue in service Massachusetts as a Commissioner," Healey said. 

Jordan Maynard Came To MGC In 2022

A Kentucky native whose bloodline includes both DNA from the famous Hatfields and McCoys, Maynard has been a steady voice of compromise and action on the board. Along with fellow Commissioner Nakisha Skinner, Maynard usually finds himself on the winning side of contested votes. Like his predecessor Judd Stein, Maynard leans more toward compromise than expediency. 

"I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth as chair of the Gaming Commission, and am grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor (Kim) Driscoll for the trust they have placed in me to carry forward the mission of this incredibly important agency,” Maynard said in the release from Healey's office. 

Three weeks ago, Maynard was named by the Innovation Group to the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 under 40 class of 2025 at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. Earlier in 2024 he was recognized by US Gaming Hub’s Game Masters Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the US Gaming Industry. 

Maynard joined the MCG in 2022. His first day was on August 1 and he began working less than 4 hours after House and Senate leaders on Beacon Hill agreed to the bill that eventually legalized sports betting in the Bay State.

It was the first paperwork he dealt with as a member of the MGC. 

Makeup Of MGC May Change With New Member

"Since being appointed to the Commission in 2022 and through my time as interim chair, I have been consistently impressed with the level of integrity and leadership shown by my fellow commissioners and staff at the MGC. I am confident that Mayor Brodeur will make an impactful addition to the MGC team where he will be able to call on his excellent experience as a state and municipal leader and continue his service to the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

With a newcomer - Broduer - on the Commission, its new dynamic could change. 

“I have great respect for the important work that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission does to oversee and support this industry that is critical for our economy, workforce, and competitiveness,”  Brodeur said. “This moment more than ever requires leaders who bring people together, look past differences, and make progress, and I’m committed to being that type of leadership.”

Since betting went live retail on January 31, 2023, and mobile betting began on March 10, 2023. The MGC has seen turnover in some of its most critical roles. Both Executive Director Karen Wells and Investigation and Enforcement Bureau Chief Loretta Lillios have left. They were replaced by Dean Serpa and Caitlin Monahan, respectively, on March 21.