Auditor says Gaming Commission must make sure casino rewards members know wins, losses
SPRINGFIELD — The state Gaming Commission needs to make sure rewards club members at casinos — including MGM Springfield — get statements detailing how much they are winning and how much they are losing, says State Auditor Diana DiZoglio.
DiZoglio — who's been trying for years to audit the state legislature — advocates in an audit released Thursday for statements sent by old-fashioned postal mail instead of by email.
MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park still face two class-action lawsuits over the email notifications. And the difference of opinion is as old as the legal casino industry here.
The 2011 Massachusetts law that legalized Las Vegas-style casinos here says each patron who has been issued a rewards card or participates in a cashless wagering system should receive a monthly statement, mailed to the patron at the patron's physical mailing address, which shall include the patron's total bets, wins and losses.
Gamblers were given the opportunity to decline receiving a monthly statement. But in 2017, just before MGM Springfield opened, the state Gaming Commission issued regulations allowing for emails.
In a statement Thursday, the Gaming Commission stuck by the emails.
"The Commission has the right, to interpret its own statute and believes that electronic communications are necessary and sufficient," the Commission said in a written response to questions.
The fear is that emailed warnings could be easily ignored.
The audit also found that the commission failed to monitor sports betting advertisements before public release. Seventeen advertisements lacked required responsible gambling information and the omissions included leaving off the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline, according to the audit.
But the regulations don't mandate pre-approval of advertising. It's the licensee's responsibility to comply.
The Gaming Commission, in its written response, says it is taking the issue of the warnings and helpline seriously and has hired its own auditor to go back and review compliance.
"The results of this audit will help the MGC further shape discussions around a risk-based approach to regulating licensee's advertising programs," the Gaming Commission said.
DiZoglio's audit also found that agents in the GameSense program supporting individuals affected by gambling addiction were not fully trained as mandated.
"Without proper training, these agents are ill-equipped to help individuals struggling with gambling addiction. This undermines the very support systems designed to mitigate gambling-related harm," the audit said.
The commission countered that its partners the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health has a robust training program. There is now a certificate of completion implemented since the audit.
The audit found that the commission has no accountability process for reviewing and entering into employee settlement agreements, these agreements could conceal workplace misconduct.
"Without transparency, public funds may be used to silence victims while shielding wrongdoers, risking erosion of public trust," the audit said.
DiZoglio has long criticized the use of settlement agreements which bind aggrieved employees to non-disclosure agreements. The non-disclosure agreements seek to shield abusive state officials from accountability, she's said.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission replied that it agrees with DiZoglio that it needs to do a better job with transparency, and it must create a well-documented internal process.
Stories by Jim Kinney
Read the original article on MassLive .
