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After much anticipation, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is now prepared to conduct a hearing regarding the future of the Encore Boston Harbor casino project.
The final phase of construction for the Everett casino project, valued at $2.6 billion, is currently underway. Wynn Resorts, the owner, has announced plans to inaugurate the establishment in June.
Nevertheless, before Wynn Resorts can operate as a casino operator, it is imperative for local gaming authorities to assess their suitability.
The Wynn executives’ lawyers attended pre-hearing motions on March 28th, followed by the commencement of the adjudicatory hearing on April 1st. According to Ed Bedrosian, the executive director of the Commission, the hearing is expected to span over three days and involve testimony from more than 20 witnesses.
Sexual harassment allegations
The focus of the matter revolves around a string of accusations of sexual harassment made against Steve Wynn, the founder and CEO of Wynn Resorts. These allegations were initially brought to public attention by the Wall Street Journal in January 2018. Additionally, there will be a discussion about whether the company withheld any information related to these allegations during the Commission’s initial assessment of Wynn Resorts’ suitability.
After Wynn’s resignation, the company has taken measures to separate the project from the associated controversy. As part of these efforts, Wynn Resorts opted to rename the venture from Wynn Boston Harbor to Encore Boston Harbor.
The allegations prompted the Commission to task its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau with conducting an inquiry. Steve Wynn, on the other hand, filed a lawsuit asserting that the documents mentioned in the report were protected by attorney-client privilege. Consequently, the release of the report was initially delayed. Nonetheless, the two parties have now reached a settlement, leading investigators to disclose the report to the Commission earlier this month.
The Commission investigators assert that the report contains crucial information that will be disclosed as part of the settlement. The Commission has scheduled the release of the report to the public on the initial day of the adjudicatory hearing.
Wynn Resorts’ Massachusetts casino license
The final decision on whether Wynn Resorts will retain its Massachusetts casino license will be determined during the adjudicatory hearing.
According to Bedrosian, on the initial day of the hearing, there will be a presentation summarizing the findings of the investigators.
The Wynn Resorts team will be provided with an opportunity to inquire and present their own evidence, while Commissioners are also entitled to ask questions.
According to Bedrosian, the process will extend over several days. He mentioned that the Commission’s office might not have enough space to accommodate the anticipated large public crowds and media presence.
Wynn Resorts has already been penalized by Nevada gaming regulators with a hefty $20 million fine for their inadequate handling of sexual harassment allegations, but their casino license was not revoked.
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