Results Of Steve Wynn Investigation Expected Soon From Massachusetts Gaming Commission
The chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission says it will reveal the results of its investigation into sexual misconduct claims against Wynn Resorts founder and former CEO Steve Wynn sometime next month.
This week, MGC Chairman Stephen Crosby told the Boston Herald the commission is looking into what happened and who knew about it:
“The event happened, that needs to be investigated to figure out who did what to whom, but we also need to find out who knew about it and we need to know what the board does when it finds out about it and investigates it and acts accordingly. Sometimes things happen that you wish hadn’t happened. How you deal with them are as important as anything else.”
In January, the Wall Street Journal broke the bombshell story outlining an alleged pattern of sexual misconduct by Wynn. Wynn denied the allegations, but resigned his position as CEO and Chairman of the Board in February.
Encore Boston Harbor
Given that Wynn Resorts is building its second US-based property in Massachusetts, the MGC quickly took action. Encore Boston Harbor, the $2.4 billion casino resort in Everett, located just outside Boston, began construction in 2016 and is set to open in June 2019.
The commission launched an investigation almost immediately after the allegations surfaced. The Commission has called it a probe into the suitability and integrity of a licensee. Two outside agencies are assisting in the process.
In the meantime, Wynn Resorts distanced itself from the Wynn name in any way it can. In April, Wynn Resorts sought to pull Wynn’s name from any documentation filed with the Commission. It also changed the name of the project from Wynn Boston Harbor to Encore Boston Harbor.
Wynn Resorts’ internal inquiry
Wynn Resorts’ own internal investigation wrapped up Aug. 10. However, the company did not publicly release its findings. Instead, Wynn Resorts filed the results with the Securities and Exchange Commission and all investigating regulatory bodies.
Wynn Resorts Executive Vice President Ellen Whittemore said the company will make no public statement on the results until regulatory investigations, such as the one in Massachusetts, are complete.
Wynn Resorts’ findings may very well be included in the commission’s report, a Wynn Resorts spokesman told the Boston Herald. However, an MGC spokeswoman said it is unclear how much, if any of it, will actually be in there.
The Massachusetts investigation results
Crosby said how the commission plans to structure its presentation of the results remains up in the air. At this point, even the commission itself has no idea what the results are:
“We’ve not seen anything, we’ve not read anything. We will have to be briefed on the investigation, learn about the investigation, think it through, and then we will have to talk about what kind of a format will we have.”
Encore Boston Harbor will open on the banks of Everett’s Mystic River next year. Wynn Resorts is promising it will be a five-star gaming resort with world-class amenities.
It will reportedly include a 29-story hotel with more than 670 rooms and suites. Plus, a 200,000 square-foot casino with 2,500 slot machines, 150 table games and a 90-plus table poker room.
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