Release of MassGaming’s probe to sexual misconduct allegations against casino mogul Steve Wynn temporarily blocked
A Clark County District Court Judge has temporarily blocked the release of a report by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to sexual misconduct allegations leveled against former casino boss Steve Wynn, a court official said on Monday.
The Massachusetts gaming regulator opened a probe into Mr. Wynn and Wynn Resorts, the firm he’d discovered, soon following the publication of a report by the Wall Street Journal back in January, detailing an alleged decades-long sexual misconduct pattern by the embattled businessman. The analysis aimed to discover whether Wynn Resorts had some knowledge of the allegations raised against its former boss, how it had responded to these allegations, and whether it was suitable to be the holder of one of their country ’s commercial casino licenses.
Wynn Resorts is now building the $2.4-billion Encore Boston Harbor integrated resort in the Greater Boston area. The hotel and casino complex is scheduled to be launched next summer, although the latest developments may delay its introduction.
Mr. Wynn’s lawyers filed two moves in the Clark County District Court earlier this month, attempting to block the release of MassGaming’s report. The businessman’s legal team argued that Wynn Resorts had communicated privileged information about its former boss to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. According to the motion, the information provided included communication protected by “Mr. Wynn’s attorney-client privilege and also the common interest arrangements he entered Wynn Resorts. ”
Judge Wants to Hear Arguments concerning the Contents of MassGaming’s Report
Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez informed attorneys yesterday she wishes to hear arguments about whether the report indeed contains privileged information.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission planned to release the findings of its probe in December, but it would appear that it’ll have to do that in a later date, or it might not be allowed to do so, if Judge Gonzalez sides together with Mr. Wynn.
According to Massachusetts and MassGaming lawyers, the Clark County Court Judge lacks jurisdiction to rule on whether the Massachusetts gaming regulator is working out oversight in a proper way. They also pointed out in a court filing from last Friday the continuing legal debate will “almost definitely ” delay the launching of Encore Boston Harbor, that will in turn delay “4,500 full-time job opportunities” and could deprive Massachusetts of millions of dollars in monthly tax earnings.
Encore Boston Harbor will be the state’s moment integrated resort with a full-blown casino. Under original strategies, the property was known as Wynn Boston Harbor, but Wynn Resorts chose to replace Wynn with Encore, yet another popular brand possessed by the business, to distance itself from the sexual misconduct scandal. As mentioned earlier, the luxurious complex, now under construction along the Mystic River in Everett, was scheduled to swing its doors open in the summer of 2019.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the afternoon ’s top casino news stories.