Champion is hopeful that his office won’t need to publish the rules a third time. The official running Maine’s sports betting rollout was placed on one week of unpaid leave following an investigation into a tweet that he issued containing a sexist slur. BANGOR (WVII) — Some Maine gambling inspectors claim their boss has created a hostile work environment and changed their work schedule out of retaliation. The casino inspectors have a combined 97 years of state government service.
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Milton Champion, the executive director of Maine’s Gambling Control Unit, has been placed on paid leave. The decision, which was first reported by the Portland Press Herald, comes after Champion posted a pair of tweets this month that were considered offensive. A different group of employees in the Gambling Control Unit wrote in a letter that was sent to members of the media on Friday that they support Champion and felt the need to speak up publicly.
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That still frustrated board members who noted Sundays are among the busier times for casinos. “Many of these decisions make very little sense, are based on false data, and have irreparably harmed the Maine Gambling Control Unit’s ability to regulate casino gambling,” the inspectors added. On Friday, a group that includes the unit’s deputy director, office assistances, and others, released a letter expressing “unwavering support” for Champion.
State senator supports letter
Silver also acknowledged he was aware of complaints regarding a hostile work environment and was concerned about the decision-making process behind the schedule changes. The inspectors’ letter claims Champion “does not respect” the oversight of the Maine Gambling Control Board, which has rejected some of his past proposals. McDonald and the lottery, among other duties, were in charge of regulating sports betting kiosks across Ohio. The two tweets, which were available Monday evening, have since been deleted. Champion’s Twitter account is still active, and his account bio includes the line, “My opinions are my own.” Champion only has 67 Twitter followers, but one of those is the Maine Gambling Control Unit.
Maine Legislator Miffed About Lack Of Retail Sports Betting
Caesars has partnered with three of the four tribes including the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Penobscot tribes. In a tweet on May 6, Champion expressed frustration about being told “ladies” was an unprofessional term for females, and suggested “bitches” would be more appropriate. Akin to other states, Maine bettors are prohibited from placing wagers on in-state colleges or esports. Initially, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office announced that McDonald was retiring due to medical concerns. It later came out that McDonald was actually being investigated for HR violations after employee complaints about his behavior. An investigation into McDonald determined that he sent inappropriate text messages to employees, commented on the appearance of two employees, and touched a pair of employees without their permission.
Maine casinos took in a record $144 million last year. Will they stay on a roll?
The head of Maine’s Gambling Control Unit expressed optimism Wednesday that sports betting in the state could be launched by November. Sports betting is now legal throughout New England, with regulations varying by location. Connecticut, for instance, also offers online casino play, with bettors having access to games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps, along with slots.
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Milton Champion, the head of the Maine Gambling Control Board (MGCB), is facing criticism from inspectors under his authority and Local 1989, a trade union, for allegedly bypassing essential checks and balances that his role requires. The inspectors claim that Champion has been making decisions independently without considering regulatory and public input, causing friction within the department. After several years of attempts to legalize sports betting, including one that Governor Janet Mills vetoed, the legislation was finally passed in the spring of 2022.
Maine official in charge of sports betting placed on leave after offensive tweets
This development came after a growing trend of sports betting legalization across the United States, and it is expected to generate significant tax revenue for the state. The legislation stipulates that sportsbooks must be operated through Maine’s casinos or Native American tribes, and the law requires operators to share a portion of their revenue with the state, contributing to public services and infrastructure. With these regulations, Maine has created a framework that encourages responsible gambling while benefiting the state economy. The Maine Service Employees Association published Wednesday the letter of no confidence signed by all nine casino inspectors who have a combined 97 years of service. The letter reiterates the previously reported concerns and claims Champion and his team have refused to meet to continue bargaining negotiations over the recent changes affecting schedules and pay.
Maine gambling unit employees defend director after no confidence vote
“As a group, we feel a need to express our unwavering support and appreciation for our executive director,” the letter reads. “His open-door policy and approachable demeanor have made us feel both welcomed and valued. Under his guidance, we have been encouraged to take on new challenges, develop our skills and grow professionally.” The chief sports betting regulator for the State of Maine has been sidelined due to problematic social media posts, which could delay the state’s implementation of new regulations.
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They added the executive director has refused to pay them for services rendered and highlighted recent scheduling changes that left both the Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino Bangor without any inspectors on Sundays and Mondays. Champion is not listening or hearing (inspectors’) concerns about the schedule changes that have left Maine’s casinos without any oversight on Sundays and Mondays,” Mark Brunton, president of Local 1989, said in the statement. The union’s news release highlighted schedule changes that it said prevent the inspectors from inspecting Maine’s casinos on Sundays and Mondays.
Champion becomes second gaming director this spring to come under scrutiny
The regulations are patterned after an amalgam of blueprints from other states. Sports betting is coming to Maine this Friday after 18 months since the legislation was signed to allow mobile and retail wagering in the state. However, BetMGM has partnered with a number of outlets in the region for live sports betting. Casinos in the state are also run by Churchill Downs Inc. and Penn Entertainment, so it’s probable that TwinSpires and Barstool will have physical locations.
After June 16, stakeholders must submit comments, but after that, things are unclear, according to Steven Silver, chairman of the Maine Gambling Control Board. Despite substantial criticism, Champion declared he would not change the regulations and would instead proceed cautiously. However, the director relaxed some of the advertising rules that once required him to approve all television advertisements.
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There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The executive director of the state’s gambling control unit will return to work on July 10. Milton Champion was suspended for a week without pay after posting tweets that were deemed inappropriate.
- Champion did not respond to an email or a phone message left at the Gambling Control Unit Wednesday.
- One other development of note is the ban on pick’em games offered by fantasy sports companies that are too close to parlay wagering offered by traditional sportsbooks.
- Only a handful of other states have legalized it, including Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
- His draft set of regulations drew criticism from many in the industry due to heavy restrictions on advertising that were relaxed in a set of rules that were loosened after another revision released recently.
- If that happens in June, the attorney general’s approval could come by late October, and sports betting in Maine could go live soon thereafter.
Silver also acknowledged he was aware of complaints about a hostile work environment and had concerns over the decision-making that went into the schedule change. Additional grievances include Champion’s alleged failure to “correctly pay” his inspectors for services rendered and refusal to discuss all of the above issues. Champion did not publicly respond to that letter, and Moss said he did not want to comment about the show of support Friday.
- The unit is a bureau of the Maine Department of Public Safety, and Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the department, said Wednesday afternoon that the department had not received the letter.
- – At recent G2E event in Las Vegas, Carlos Carrion, Vice President of International Sales and Business Development at SlotCycle, shared his perspectives on the future of the company.
- The Mi’kmak Nation, Maliseet Tribe, and Penobscot Nation have all partnered with Caesars for retail and online operations, while the Passamaquoddy Tribe has agreed to a deal with DraftKings.
- “100% of casino inspectors in our state have signed on to our letter of no confidence,” Daigle said.
- Maine’s sports betting law gives exclusive mobile gaming rights to Maine’s indigenous tribes.
“As the workgroup that is engaged in regulation and oversight of our casinos, we have experienced retaliation and a toxic work environment created by Director Champion. In a letter, all nine Pine Tree State casino inspectors signed off on a vote of no confidence against Champion as they cited a toxic workplace and concerns about the unit’s capacity to oversee casinos. A letter signed by all nine gambling inspectors working under Champion expressed their frustration with his management style. According to the letter, Champion has been disregarding the regulatory process and making unilateral decisions, which they believe undermines the industry’s oversight in the state. The trade union also supported the inspectors, adding its own critique of Champion’s handling of recent changes in work schedules at the Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino Bangor.
Maine’s casino inspectors have taken a vote of no confidence in the executive director of the state’s Gambling Control Unit. Silver said the board has been working for months to try and rectify issues with the schedule change. He said board rules specifically require an on-site inspector to respond to certain things, such as large jackpot payouts and shipments of new machines. He said the board wasn’t involved in the change but that it prompted the casinos to come to them seeking guidance. “This inaction has eroded trust between employees and the department and has emboldened Milton Champion to continue the toxic work environment he has created,” the letter said. Alongside concerns about oversight, the inspectors claim that Champion has been intolerant of opposition.
- Champion and Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck spoke at a Gambling Control Board meeting last week to explain the new schedules came with a monitoring system switch.
- After reaching out to the MGCU for comment, NEXT.io received a “letter of confidence” from the regulator.
- “As the workgroup that is engaged in regulation and oversight of our casinos, we have experienced retaliation and a toxic work environment created by Director Champion.
- Milton Champion was suspended for a week without pay after posting tweets that were deemed inappropriate.
- Wolpin is a fan of the NFL and NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half.
- Baldacci said he has asked Champion about multiple gambling issues, like in-person sports betting regulations, to no reply.
- After January’s public hearing, Champion said he was hopeful the state’s betting program could launch this summer.
- This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.
Maine Sports Betting Ready to Launch on Friday
Earlier this year, he faced backlash for sexist tweets and comments that were perceived as endorsements of white supremacists. Despite these controversies, his leadership has been credited with maintaining financial oversight in the gambling sector, even though his blunt demeanor has created tension. His direct approach hasn’t led to conflicts with the gambling industry itself, but his relationship with regulators has grown increasingly strained. “Maine official in charge of sports betting placed on leave after offensive tweets” , Drew Bonifant, pressherald.com, May 22, 2023.
Once registered, players can access the full range of games and promotions, along with round-the-clock customer support, directly through Telegram. Security is a key priority at Lucky Block, with the platform using advanced encryption technology to safeguard player data and funds. Additionally, players benefit from a responsive customer support team, available to address inquiries and resolve issues, ensuring a positive and secure gaming experience. “Director Champion was just made aware of this letter of confidence this morning and while he appreciates the support we have no further comment,” Moss added. When the business takes off in Maine, sports bettors won’t have many options. The state’s four Indian tribes, three of which have collaborated with Caesars, restrict online access.
Additionally, the state employee union has filed pending grievances that allege Champion has created a retaliatory environment. MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 Member and Casino Inspector Nathan Daigle, who has worked at Oxford Casino for 12 years, said it’s essential for the casino inspectors to be onsite. The inspectors feel that they’ve been blocked from performing their duties properly, especially regarding oversight of these properties. They argue that their role milton champion maine is vital in ensuring that the state’s casinos operate safely and legally, protecting the interests of Maine’s citizens. Mark Brunton, president of Local 1989, emphasized that casino gambling is a contentious issue and its regulation is a matter of significant public concern. Half of the employees in the Maine Gambling Control Unit signed a letter Friday expressing confidence in Milton Champion, a few days after casino inspectors called for his removal.
“Removing us two days a week is really impacting the casinos, and as far as I’m concerned the public would be interested because when people voted to bring casinos into Maine they voted for strict oversight and he’s removing it,” Craig said. Sports betting in Maine became legal in May of 2022, and online sports betting went live in the state in November of 2023. The state is home to a pair of sports betting apps, with Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings both operating in Maine. Lucky Block boasts an extensive collection of over 2,700 games, catering to both casino enthusiasts and sports betting fans. New users are greeted with a generous 200% matched deposit bonus and a wealth of free spins, making it an appealing choice for newcomers.
Nathan Daigle, one of the unit’s casino inspectors, reiterated the criticisms in the letter expressing no confidence in a written statement Friday. This month, Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis announced a partnership between his tribe, the Maliseet and Micmac nations, and Caesars Sportsbook to operate their share of the mobile betting market. The law permitting sports betting in Maine gives exclusive rights to the online sports betting market to the state’s four tribes, and allows them to negotiate with sports betting providers. The fourth tribe, the Passamaquoddy, has yet to announce it has struck a deal. In the no confidence letter, Maine’s casino inspectors said Champion has retaliated against some inspectors, violated their contractual rights, and refused to pay them correctly for services rendered. All nine of Maine’s casino inspectors have signed a letter of no confidence in Milton Champion, executive director of Maine’s Gambling Control Unit.
The head of Maine’s gambling control unit will return to work on Monday, after being suspended over his Twitter activity. A different group of employees in the Gambling Control Unit wrote in a letter that was sent to members of the media Friday that they support Champion and felt the need to speak up publicly. The supervisor of casino inspectors was also placed on leave in August for undisclosed reasons. That has added to the friction between Champion and members of the Maine Gambling Control Unit Board, something that is rare across the state workforce. Baldacci said he is pushing for legislation that would restore the oversight of gambling to the gambling control board and he wants Gov. Mills to consider removing Champion from his position. Baldacci said he has asked Champion about multiple gambling issues, like in-person sports betting regulations, to no reply.
We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. The issues raised by the inspectors are not the first concerns that have come up about Champion’s leadership. “They do not think he is able to competently lead the department,” St. Amand said.