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Mississippi Watchdog Group Seeks Better Enforcement of Gaming Laws

``The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review, in a report made public Tuesday, said the Gaming Commission shows the agency's regulators have yet to complete full compliance reviews at 12 of the 30 state-regulated casinos.

``In response, Patton said regulators have firm control over the state's 9-year-old casino industry. He said the agency has been used as a model for jurisdictions from as far away as New Zealand and South Africa.

``Tuesday's review was a follow-up to a 1996 evaluation of the Gaming Commission, when PEER said the challenge for the agency was to avoid being too closely aligned with gambling interests.

``The commission, PEER said in 1996, must demonstrate that it `exists to protect the general public, not to promote the industry which it regulates.'

``PEER Executive Director Max Arinder said Tuesday the commission has made strides in five years and the new report is not a `total indictment' of the agency.

```But there are mixed results -- certain areas where not all regulations are carried through or carried through with proper documentation,' Arinder said. `We have a good gaming law and a well-structured regulatory body by statute, but this is serious business'.

``…Patton (Mississippi Gaming Commission) said commission auditors frequently examine specific business practices at casinos across the state. They might inspect the cash cage at one place, then do the same at several others.

``…In its nearly 30 recommendations, PEER said the commission should:

``* Create an operating manual for the compliance division that includes policies for casino auditing.

``* Document its tests on software and computer chips used in gambling machines.

``* Determine how many vehicles the commission needs for agency work and establish a motor pool for staff members.

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