Maine’s casino inspectors are revolting against their boss at the Maine Gambling Control Unit, Executive Director Milton Champion. The casino inspectors voiced their complaints in an open letter that spells out their complaints, including allegations that Milton is subverting the legal process by making decisions without oversight from the Maine Gambling Control Board (MGCB).
The letter, which was sent from the casino inspectors’ labor union, attacks Champion on a variety of topics but emphasizes his efforts to make major gaming industry decisions without consulting the MGCB. “Milton Champion has made it clear through his actions that he does not respect the oversight role of the Maine Gambling Control Board…Now, rather than subject himself to the checks and balances of the Board’s oversight function, Milton Champion is circumventing the Board altogether by making unilateral decisions that completely undermine the Board’s ability to oversee gambling matters in Maine,” the group said on the Maine Service Employees Association website last week.
Champion was also called out for eliminating overtime pay for weekend and holiday casino inspections and for failing to negotiate in good faith with the union.
But not everyone at the MGCB is on the casino inspectors’ side. A separate group of MGCB employees penned a letter of support for Champion saying, “We believe Milton’s integrity and dedication to the unit are unquestionable, and we are deeply concerned by the direction these recent claims are heading. His leadership has been a cornerstone of our success, and we stand by him during this time.”
These letters will certainly be a main topic at the MGCB’s next meeting on September 17.