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State Representative Tony Cornish
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4240
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. CORNISH INVESTIGATES LACK OF TRIBAL CASINO GAMBLING ENFORCEMENT
ST. PAUL – After recent reports discovered that Minnesota’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division agents have been failing to inspect slot machines and conduct audits of Minnesota’s tribal casinos, Minnesota House Public Safety Committee Chairman Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) held a committee hearing this week to investigate the matter.
The Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety, which is why Cornish called for the hearing.
“Gambling enforcement officials have a duty to ensure that the integrity of tribal gaming in Minnesota is being maintained,” Cornish said. “It’s now come to light that not one casino inspection was conducted in 2011, and places like Mystic Lake and Grand Casino haven’t even been visited by inspectors since 2007.”
The problem, according to Cornish, is that casino gambling represents a potential $20 billion industry in the State of Minnesota, and it is going unregulated by those paid to specifically perform this duty.
According to an investigation conducted by Minnesota House lawmakers and staff, no casino financial audits have been reviewed since 2005.
In comparison, Wisconsin conducts audits at its casinos once every 18 months. Agents sample at least ten percent of the casino’s slot machines to ensure that integrity is being maintained. Meanwhile, Treasure Island and Jackpot Junction have had only one inspection since 2008, where agents checked eight machines or less.
Records also show that in 2008, Minnesota’s Gambling Enforcement Division contacted officials from the Wisconsin Division of Gaming and asked about the procedures it uses for inspections, along with its procedure manual. Four years later, the Division still does not have a gambling enforcement procedure manual for slot machines, blackjack and casino financial audits.
At the hearing, the new director of Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement admitted the failure and said casino inspections would resume.
“Lawmakers are concerned about the lack of scrutiny,” Cornish said. “It’s hard to find fraud when there are no inspections.”
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