Massachusetts Gaming Authority to Resign
Massachusetts' top gaming authority is leaving her position next month following a ten-year career that involved confrontations with previous casino bigwig Steve Wynn, repercussions from the COVID-19 outbreak, and the initiation of sports betting in the state.
Karen Wells, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's executive director, will exit her role with the agency by July 14, according to a recent announcement. Wells initially joined the commission in 2013, starting out as the head of its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau, and later assumed various interim stints as executive director before taking on the role permanently in September 2020.
The departure seems amicable as Wells and Commission Chair Cathy Judd-Stein showered each other with praise in an official statement released by the commission.
"Karen's the picture of a leader, and her influence is evident in everything the MGC does. Her strategic insights and steadfast demeanor enabled the MGC to establish a secure sports wagering industry dedicated to consumer protections in a timely manner," Judd-Stein expressed in the statement. "We wish her all the best for the future."
Editor's Note
As executive director, Wells is the MGC's executive and administrative leader, overseeing the administration and enforcement of gaming legislation provisions. The MGC's five commissioners are appointed by the governor or other elected officials.
Wells functioned as interim executive director during the summer of 2020 when Massachusetts officials and casino operators collaborated to reopen venues post-pandemic. She also facilitated the introduction of new sports betting policies after legalization in 2022.
"Our team crafted the framework for a new state agency, launched three casinos, endured a pandemic, and brought the new legal sports wagering sector to fruition," Wells stated in the release. "Today, the MGC's primary functions are functioning at a high level, and I am confident our team will uphold the superb work we've accomplished together over the years."
Wells didn't reveal her future intentions and turned down an interview request via an MGC spokesperson.
Allegations Against Wynn Resorts
When Wells was heading the investigations division, her team uncovered proof that Wynn Resorts failed to reveal sexual misconduct allegations against their then-CEO when applying for their Massachusetts casino license.
In 2018, Wynn took action against Wells as well as the Commission itself and his former organization in an attempt to halt the probe. Although the lawsuit hindered the investigation, it couldn't entirely prevent its completion.
Subsequently, the commission imposed a $35 million penalty on Wynn Resorts in 2019, with commissioners declining to ban the company's Encore Boston Harbor from opening that year.
Wells wasn't the first time she was involved in litigation from a casino company. She also appeared as a defendant in a 2015 lawsuit from Caesars Entertainment Corporation that was dismissed by a federal judge.
