A statement from Chairman Stephen Crosby regarding his recusal from impending Commission decision on matter involving Wynn MA LLC and Everett Land Sale

On December 2, 2013, resort-casino applicant Wynn MA LLC requested an opportunity to address the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, to discuss Commission approval of a proposed resolution of concerns raised by MGC’s Investigation and Enforcement Bureau involving Wynn’s option to purchase land in Everett.  The public meeting to address this matter will take place December 13, 2013.

At this time, I am informing the public of my decision to recuse myself from the Commission’s decision-making process involving Wynn’s land option. During the course of the background investigation involving Wynn MA LLC, it was brought to my attention by our investigators that the land ownership, (which involves, among others, an individual with whom I had a business relationship 23 years ago) seemed to involve a possible hidden ownership and/or other difficult issues which could threaten the public trust in this process, and which make the Commission’s deliberations particularly important and sensitive. Because of my prior business relationship with one of the parties, I immediately recused myself from all Commission and staff deliberations on this matter, and filed the required disclosure documentation with my appointing authority, the Governor, and with the State Ethics Commission. The disclosure documentation is available below.

Although I believe I have met all the requisite legal and ethical standards so that I could be involved in the resolution to this land issue, and I have no doubt about my ability to be objective on the issue of the land option, it is due to my intense commitment to the integrity of the overall licensing process, that I have made the decision to not participate in this upcoming decision.

This is an important and sensitive issue. The other four Commissioners will determine whether and under what conditions Wynn Resorts may proceed with this land. Meanwhile I will continue to participate in the important decision-making for the completion of the licensing process for the state’s single slots license and resort-casino licenses in Eastern and Western Mass.

From its inception, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has taken very seriously our mandate to protect the public interest and preserve the integrity of this process. We have—and will continue—to hold all participants to the highest standards of integrity and attention to appearances. Those of us at the Commission must not only meet …but exceed those same high standards. MassGaming’s commitment to the public interest is unyielding and we must not compromise that core value.

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