GAMING BOARD NAMES INTERIM
Commissioner tapped to lead ‘represents continuity’
State gaming regulators selected a long-time commissioner and former top New Jersey State Police official to oversee the suddenly chair-less commission as it enters the final stages of its high-profile investigation into Steve Wynn and Wynn Resorts.
“She represents continuity, she hasn’t been in any controversy, and right now what the commission needs is stability and they don’t need any more controversy about the decision they’re going to be making,” said Fr. Richard McGowan, a gaming expert at Boston College. “She’s a nice, safe pick.”
Yesterday, the Gaming Commission appointed Gayle Cameron, an existing commissioner, to be acting chairwoman until a permanent one is appointed. Cameron is a former deputy superintendent with the New Jersey State Police.
“I, as one commissioner with years of experience in investigations, I would not be speaking about this matter publicly, frankly,” Cameron said after she was selected by her colleagues. “I look forward to a report and a hearing.”
The discussion came a day after the surprise resignation of Stephen Crosby as chairman amid accusations of bias and prejudgment of the investigation before its conclusion. In a letter to commission staff, Crosby said he received criticism from Mohegan Sun, which lost the Boston-area license to Wynn Resorts and is involved in a lawsuit against the commission, and an attorney for Steve Wynn. Both complaints stemmed from comments Crosby made to reporters at a public meeting earlier this month.
“The proceeding will be an adjudicatory proceeding, we have rules for that,” said Catherine Blue, the Gaming Commission’s general counsel during a public meeting yesterday. “In an adjudicatory hearing, there are witnesses, they are under oath.”
During the hearing, investigators will present the findings from their roughly 8-month investigation into allegations against Steve Wynn and the company’s knowledge and response. Both Wynn Resorts and commission staff will be able to call witnesses, who will testify under oath. Greg John, a spokesman for Wynn Resorts, said the company supports the commission’s decision.
“We continue to support the Gaming Commission’s process and look forward to a timely conclusion,” John said.
Top executives from Wynn Resorts have not spoken at length about the accusations, and have only appeared in front of the Gaming Commission once, earlier this year to request that Steve Wynn be removed from a list of key employees. At that hearing, Cameron made some of the most pointed comments, questioning the company’s commitment to women.
Under state law, Gov. Charlie Baker will appoint Crosby’s replacement. He said yesterday there is no timeline yet for an appointment.
“We literally learned about this yesterday afternoon, and we’re currently just doing our homework on what roles and responsibilities we have, how this decision by Steve Crosby effects the operations of the commission,” Baker said. “We have people reaching out to the commission today to talk to them about that, but it’s going to take us a couple days to figure out exactly what we should do.”