GGRAsia – Wynn investigation a priority: Massachussets regulator

Wynn investigation a priority: Massachussets regulator

Feb 23, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Top of the deck, World

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission says the completion of an investigation into U.S.-based casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd and the firm’s former chairman-cum-chief executive, Steve Wynn (pictured), remains “a priority” for the body.

“It is an active investigation, and it is a priority,” said Loretta Lillios, deputy director and chief enforcement counsel, as reported by several U.S.-based media. Ms Lillios’ comments were made during a meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday.

She added: “The [commission’s investigations and enforcement bureau] does not intend to provide the commission or the public with details of this investigation until it’s completed.”

Ms Lillios also stated that the bureau had adequate resources to conduct such investigation. She noted that the probe would take some time but that investigators understood the urgency and public interest of the matter.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission decided in late January to look into allegations of sexual misconduct made against Mr Wynn by former Wynn Resorts employees in several media reports. Mr Wynn has denied the allegations.

“We are all interested in doing it as quickly as we can, but we are more interested in getting it right than getting it fast,” Massachusetts Gaming Commission chairman Stephen Crosby told reporters after Thursday’s meeting.

One of the issues to be investigated involves allegations by a manicurist that allegedly received a US$7.5-million settlement from Mr Wynn after complaining he ordered her to have sexual relations with him in 2005. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission claims it was never informed of the settlement during the suitability review process of Mr Wynn and Wynn Resorts that eventually led to the firm receiving a gaming licence from the state authorities in 2014.

Wynn Resorts is currently developing a casino property in Boston, Massachusetts. The US$2.4-billion project is scheduled to open in 2019.

Mr Wynn meanwhile stepped down as the casino group’s chairman and chief executive on February 6.

Wynn Resorts said earlier this month it had hired an outside legal firm to “assist” a committee formed of some of the company’s independent directors reviewing the sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Wynn.

Wynn Resorts – with gaming operations in Las Vegas, Nevada – is the parent company of Macau-based casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd. Mr Wynn was also chairman and chief executive of Wynn Macau Ltd.