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Memo Irks Maine Gaming Officials

AUGUSTA, Maine – As reported by the - There are not a lot of perks that go along with being a member of Maine's Gambling Control Board or the Maine Harness Racing Commission, so the chance to rub shoulders with Marilyn Monroe or James Dean didn't sound bad to Michael Peters - even if the celebrities were impersonators.

"But before the Dixfield businessman could send an RSVP off to Penn National Gaming Inc. to accept an invitation to Wednesday's VIP night at Hollywood Slots in Bangor, he and other board and commission members received an e-mail from the Maine Attorney General's Office.

"…For Peters and others, the underlying meaning of the e-mail was unmistakable: Don't go.

"…'As you are aware, as commission members and regulators, it is imperative that you in fact are unbiased on any potential issue that may come before the commission,' Assistant Attorney General Jack Richards wrote. 'It is also equally important that you do not involve yourself in a situation that may demonstrate an appearance of bias or impropriety'

"…Peters, who sits on the Maine Gambling Control Board, said the attorney general's e-mail was demeaning and implied that any of the regulators could be in Penn National's pocket for the price of a cup of coffee and a finger sandwich. As a result, representatives of either panel were hard to find Wednesday night during the Hollywood Slots event…"

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