Failing to fulfill duties
Maine’s casino inspectors in their letter outlined Champion’s retaliatory actions. They claimed he violated their contractual rights and did not pay them for their services after work was completed.
One of the signees was MGCU casino inspector Gayle Craig, a 17-year employee of Hollywood Casino in Bangor. She was an inspector for the MGCU during seven of those years.
One of Craig’s greatest concerns is Champion’s decision to remove inspectors from casinos on Sundays and Mondays, thereby leaving the facilities with little regulatory oversight.
"They've completely stopped contacting us, communicating with us, and the next step in line is the vote of no confidence,” said Craig. "It's kind of degrading at this point, because we mean nothing.”
Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) voiced support for the no-confidence vote in the director.
Baldacci claimed that he reached out to Champion about several gambling-related issues, including regulations for in-person sports betting, but never heard back.
"He's pretty much determined to do what he wants to do regardless of the public input," Baldacci said. "So, this is just another in this pattern of behavior, which I find disturbing."
Could the Governor get involved?
Maine legalized sports betting in August 2022. More than two years after the ribbons were cut, Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino still do not have in-person sportsbooks available for patrons, another issue that stood out to state officials.
"It's important that they understand this is a threat to economic issues in Bangor," Baldacci said.
Baldacci said he is working on legislation that would grant the gambling control board the power to regulate all forms of gambling. He also wants Gov. Janet Mills to consider removing Champion from his station.
Union representative Frankie St. Amand also voiced support for finding someone to replace Champion.
"I think at this point, the director needs to be removed from his position so that these hardworking inspectors can continue to do the work that they're employed to do," said Amand.
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Gambling Control Unit, said it had not received a letter containing the vote of no confidence, but it would launch a review if it were received.
Champion was suspended in May, 2023 for inappropriate comments about women and a white nationalist group.
“While the two tweets were intended to be humorous, I recognize they were anything but,” Champion said in a statement at the time. “They were a mistake and an error in judgment, and I apologize for my actions. I thank the employees of the unit for their hard work and commitment in my absence.”
