Opponents of gambling into the U.S. have become critical of just how that some new state jurisdictions are employing consultants who they say have hidden agendas and are often employed by pro-gambling lobbies.

Too Close for Comfort

Cash-strapped states are looking at industry consultants to advise them about whether to legalize gambling so as to bolster their coffers. These firms will often draft legislation, set up commissions and also make decisions about which operators might be suitable licensees.

But many of these specialists’ industry connections are just a little too close to the casino company for the comfort of the anti-gambling brigade, which has announced that private companies that are employed to vet operators should not need a ‘cozy relationship’ with the gambling enterprises they are meant to be scrutinizing, nor as long as they be acting as gambling industry regulators.

This week, the issue had been brought to light in the case of law firm that is consulting & Froelich (which recently became element of Taft) hired by Massachusetts to help the state decide whom should build its first casino in Springfield. Shefsky & Froelich recommended MGM Resorts International, for which it was already working as a lobbyist that is registered Illinois.

It is believed that at least 16 states across the U.S. count on private companies as specialists. So, could it is why these states, looking for a fix that is quick and desperate to obtain their new casinos installed and operating as fast as possible, are moving towards an application of semi-privatization of gambling? It’s definitely not the way things are done in states in which gambling is more established, such as Nevada, nj-new jersey and Delaware, where regulation is famously stringent.

That being said, Massachusetts regulators still relatively new to the land casino game have been, if anything, roundly criticized by industry executives as being much too stringent and nitpicky, rather than the opposite; taking away some credence from anti-gaming experts’ arguments.

Whom’s Watching Who?

Illinois Gaming Board spokesman Gene O’Shea recently measured into the debate, saying: ‘How do you vet your professionals? In case a lot of these specialists, at once or another, been employed by for the people that you are in fee of regulating, at some point, you’re going to have issues using the purity of the investigation.’

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Florida organization that is non-profit Casinos, John Sowinski, attacked the practice into the state of Florida, which can be currently trying to expand its casino offerings beyond tribal gaming and racing, saying: ‘The gambling industry could be the one industry that seems to get away with this particular conflict of great interest carte blanche.’

Handling manager of Spectrum Gaming Michael Pollock whom represents among the biggest gambling consultant firms in the U.S., which recently completed a report for Florida negated the claims, nonetheless, saying, ‘You may not be in this business if you’re willing to entertain disputes of interest or even an appearance of the conflict.

‘We make it clear from the outset that we are not necessarily likely to tell you what you want to hear, we’re going to let you know what you should know. And we will maybe not amuse an engagement when a customer seeks an outcome that is particular’ Pollock added.

MGM CEO Jim Murren says the allegations are according to an outsider’s misconception of the gambling industry, which he states is close-knit:

‘This is not a huge industry, and video gaming law is extremely specialized,’ he stated. ‘ There are only maybe four or five firms that are experts in gaming law, and they are known by us all, and now we’ve most likely used them all.’

It seems that the casino consulting business is somewhat incestuous, but whether that’s just the nature of the industry or something more sinister, is up for debate dependent on your views. What is clear, nonetheless, is that it’s big business. Spectrum Gaming began life in a New Jersey cellar back in 1996 and it has since been called one of the fastest-growing personal organizations in the U.S. Its website declares that: ‘Governments, gaming operators, developers and investors in five continents have retained Spectrum, and we stand willing to provide clients through our offices in Atlantic City, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Macau, Manila and Tokyo.’