BANGOR, Maine — All nine of Maine's casino inspectors have signed a letter of no confidence in Milton Champion, executive director of Maine's Gambling Control Unit.
Champion oversees gambling in Maine, but the inspectors said he is not fulfilling the duties of his role, saying he has tried to deregulate casinos and created a toxic work environment.
In the no confidence letter, Maine's casino inspectors said Champion has retaliated against some inspectors, violated their contractual rights, and refused to pay them correctly for services rendered.
"They've completely stopped contacting us, communicating with us, and the next step in line is the vote of no confidence," Casino Inspector Gayle Craig said.
Craig has worked at Hollywood Casino in Bangor for 17 years and has been an inspector for seven of those years.
She said she feels hung out to dry by the Gambling Control Unit and doesn't have faith in the security of her job.
"It's kind of degrading at this point, because we mean nothing," Craig said.
One of Craig’s biggest concerns is that Champion recently changed their schedules so there are no inspectors on Sundays and Mondays, leaving the casinos with little oversight.
"So, you're taking us out on two busy days of the week when a lot can happen on the floor," Craig said.
State Senator Joe Baldacci of Bangor said he supports the vote of no confidence in Champion.
"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."
Baldacci said he has asked Champion about multiple gambling issues, like in-person sports betting regulations, to no reply.
Over two years after it was signed into law, there is still no in-person sports betting at Oxford or Hollywood Casino, which Baldacci said is unacceptable.
"It's important that they understand this is a threat to economic issues in Bangor," Baldacci said.
Baldacci said he is pushing for legislation that would restore the oversight of gambling to the gambling control board and he wants Gov. Mills to consider removing Champion from his position.
NEWS CENTER Maine reached out to Champion, but he did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson from the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Gambling Control Unit said they have not received the letter sharing the vote of no confidence from the casino inspectors union, but will review it if the department does receive it.