Regulator shakeup
Regulator shakeup
McNary appointed executive director of Missouri Gaming Commission
The Missouri Gaming Commission voted 4-0 last month to hire Republican Gene McNary, 70, for the group's executive director post.
McNary has little experience with Missouri's casino industry, having visited only one of the state's 11 casinos. He spent 14 years as a St. Louis County executive, has served as county prosecutor and worked as the nation's chief immigration official.
McNary joked that the lack of knowledge about the $1.5 billion statewide industry wouldn't likely be a shortcoming. "Does it take a rocket scientist to learn the gambling games?" McNary said in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
McNary's hiring follows high turnover among senior commission staff and the state governor's shifting of the commission itself. Republican Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Attorney Sam Hais-who once worked for McNary-to the commission, and promoted a relative newcomer, Noel Shull, to chairperson. Shull is also a member of the Republican state committee.
Following the governor's committee shift, Ralph Biele resigned, not asking to be appointed for a second term. Then-Executive Director Steve Johnson dropped out of the running for the permanent position the day after McNary was chosen. Johnson oversaw enforcement before taking the directing position in April. At least two other top deputies are retiring.
One former gambling regulator-quoted but unnamed in a Post-Dispatch article-expressed concern that the turnover and shifting of positions in the commission could signal a potential political bent in regulation, opening the possibility for conflicts of interest and corruption.
"The (casino) industry can hand out money like popcorn," the regulator said. "And you can't have the governor taking money on one hand and being involved with regulation and enforcement on the other hand."
Troy Stremming, an Ameristar Casinos Inc. executive, expressed concern about the efficacy of the commission following such a loss of staff. "You're really losing a very significant amount of not only knowledge, but understanding of the institutional history," Stremming said.
McNary dismissed the idea that politics would affect gambling regulation. The Post-Dispatch reports that he told his employees that he wouldn't clean house, but that he warned them not to "undermine" Gov. Blunt.
Casinos are currently under construction at Laclede's Landing and Lemay. Although both have passed preliminary background checks, both also still need state licenses.
-Darby Harris
McNary appointed executive director of Missouri Gaming Commission
The Missouri Gaming Commission voted 4-0 last month to hire Republican Gene McNary, 70, for the group's executive director post.
McNary has little experience with Missouri's casino industry, having visited only one of the state's 11 casinos. He spent 14 years as a St. Louis County executive, has served as county prosecutor and worked as the nation's chief immigration official.
McNary joked that the lack of knowledge about the $1.5 billion statewide industry wouldn't likely be a shortcoming. "Does it take a rocket scientist to learn the gambling games?" McNary said in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
McNary's hiring follows high turnover among senior commission staff and the state governor's shifting of the commission itself. Republican Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Attorney Sam Hais-who once worked for McNary-to the commission, and promoted a relative newcomer, Noel Shull, to chairperson. Shull is also a member of the Republican state committee.
Following the governor's committee shift, Ralph Biele resigned, not asking to be appointed for a second term. Then-Executive Director Steve Johnson dropped out of the running for the permanent position the day after McNary was chosen. Johnson oversaw enforcement before taking the directing position in April. At least two other top deputies are retiring.
One former gambling regulator-quoted but unnamed in a Post-Dispatch article-expressed concern that the turnover and shifting of positions in the commission could signal a potential political bent in regulation, opening the possibility for conflicts of interest and corruption.
"The (casino) industry can hand out money like popcorn," the regulator said. "And you can't have the governor taking money on one hand and being involved with regulation and enforcement on the other hand."
Troy Stremming, an Ameristar Casinos Inc. executive, expressed concern about the efficacy of the commission following such a loss of staff. "You're really losing a very significant amount of not only knowledge, but understanding of the institutional history," Stremming said.
McNary dismissed the idea that politics would affect gambling regulation. The Post-Dispatch reports that he told his employees that he wouldn't clean house, but that he warned them not to "undermine" Gov. Blunt.
Casinos are currently under construction at Laclede's Landing and Lemay. Although both have passed preliminary background checks, both also still need state licenses.
-Darby Harris
