 Good morning, my apologies for a little bit of a delay this morning We're calling to order commission meeting number 280 of the Masters is Gaming Commission on Thursday, October 24 2019 at 10 a.m. Here in our offices at 101 Federal Street in Boston. We will start with agenda item number two Regarding our minutes commissioner Stephens. Thank you, madam chair Commissioners you have in your packet the meeting minutes from the October 10th 2019 meeting I would move their approval against subject as always to any typographical errors or any other non-material matters Are there any comments or edits? Second The commissioner brand you have any I do have a couple of questions And appreciate Commissioner Cameron's second, but I did want the record to reflect if you wouldn't mind sure on Page six to reflect that we acknowledged Commissioner Cameron's service as chairing the Public Safety Committee so that would be on page six and the only other question I had is And it may be exactly right, but that's why I turned to you commissioner Brian on page five Just the next to the last Paragraph does that seem to you to be in proper order? Okay, good. All right, then I'm all set. Thank you. Okay. We can make that Edition to reflect your new notes So your motion would be I Reflecting just that amendment Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed 5-0. Thank you and Next on the agenda We had anticipated our presentation on the research and responsible gaming under Director van der Linden, but I believe it's just a delay on our presenters So we will in the interest of time continue with the administrative update from Executive director Petrosian. Thank you. Good morning commissioners. Good morning. I feel like I should open Warm peace and start reading to keep going but having said that I have a short administrative update and I think you all are aware of this that for our encore licensee Mr.. DeSalvio has moved on From staff's position. We would like to thank mr. Salvio formally for his work on behalf of win slash encore We found mr. DeSalvio to be Person who stood by the commitments that were important helped Enforce the commitments But was a fair advocate for his organization And I would say that he and I had a number of spirited conversations But they were fair and he was always fair to deal with so We understand that he will move on to the next phase of his life and just on staff level We thank him for all the contributions Having said that we do look forward to working with mr. Gulbrans in the future So I just wanted to acknowledge that for our record And and that's really the extent of the administrative update. Thank you If I could just add to that I was just recently Reading the an article on on encore on the global gaming business Journal that that that we get and there was a really good Wrap-up view of the whole development arc of the project which included a feature on mr. DeSalvio at the leadership of that effort, and I think that really captures in addition to what you said Ed captures all the efforts that he undertook and we're not We're very Very large and and it's it's it's really hard To develop a property of this site and and bring it on on time So I think as you say He was a great Leader and we look forward to working with mr. Gulbrans The company has a deep bench and and we expect they will continue with the same approach Thank you. Any anything further? That's all. Thank you The only thing that we would add is there has been a change just on the agenda. We will not Move forward on number seven today So the only thing and I was just reminded chair of on this is that mr. O'Toole May come mr. O'Toole from from pen if if he does and if it is helpful To get more of an oral explanation from him. We can do that if not. We are also Anticipating and thank you. This is a good segue. We anticipate our next meeting may actually be down in in Plainville and dealing not primarily but with a number of horse racing matters So it would be appropriate to have this I think ultimately decided Down in Plainville at our next meeting which we expect would be two weeks from today, right? So the actual vote we're happy to hear from mr. O'Toole, but we will not vote on it today. That's right. Thank you Thank you Okay We are proceeding now with an item number Five good morning mr. Ziemba and team morning Thank You commissioners Today we're continuing our review of the 2020 mitigation fund Guidelines for our next funding round which begins February 1st of 2020. I'm joined here by construction project oversight manager Joe Delaney director of workforce development Jill Griffin and soon Mary Thurlow our community mitigation fund program manager So we are Continuing our review in an effort to publish our guidelines for the 2020 mitigation fund program by the first week of December The Commission as you know met a couple of weeks ago to review a list of questions to consider In reviewing the fund we've met with the local community mitigation advisory committee in region a once and a subcommittee on community mitigation Unfortunately Although other meetings have been scheduled with region B We've been unable to meet due to quorum issues We have meetings scheduled in November for regions a and b and the subcommittee and we're working on finalizing the schedule for the Gaming policy advisory committee meeting. I'd like to thank all the members the local community mitigation advisory committees that have provided advice in the format of That helped us develop this discussion draft And they will be very involved when we finalize the guidelines So what we're trying to do today is to get some consensus just on the discussion draft of the guidelines That doesn't mean that we're making any final determinations Regarding what will be in the guidelines, but it is really a draft to solicit more discussion of items that are outstanding This is very similar to what we did last year and last year We sent the draft out to the public to get comments and then we reconvened to consider all those comments before we issued the guidelines So if we can get approval for the discussion draft today I'd recommend that the Commission put forward this draft for a comment period to end on Monday, November 25th The goal would be to come back to the Commission on December 5th That Commission meeting so that communities would have roughly two months to put together their applications before the statutory February 1st application deadline So what we have today in the packet will most likely not be the final guidelines We'll probably do some wordsmithing even without comments What the draft is meant to do is provide you significant detail regarding all the concepts that we are entertaining for the 2020 fund So the first item that I'll give you a brief Summary about is whether or not there should be an overall limit for the 2020 fund While we recommend an overall limit and we think further dialogue is necessary before we finalize a dollar figure for next year We've determined a target budget as of now of $11.5 million based on the revenues that have been put into the fund this year by Encore Boston Harbor and MGM of Springfield and funds that were unallocated last year But we note that we only have data through September by the time that we revisit the guidelines in December We'll have more information as the Commission is aware We stopped the clock at December 31st for counting revenants that can be used in the following year Finally by the time that we view we review applications in February We will definitely know how much we have available because we do stop that clock as of December 31st of the prior year Last year in the guidelines the Commission expressed its intent to allocate funds by region in Relation to the monies that are put into the fund from each category one casino We recommend that we continue that practice in the upcoming year This year out of the proposed 11.5 million dollar target spending amount We recommend six million dollars for spending in region a Five million in region B and not more than five hundred thousand for category two impacts again All of these can be waivable and the Commission does retain the authority to to adjust those targets as we begin our reviews As of now we recommend that the Commission continue with several program types from last year and at the same dollar amounts Specific impact grants that have been around for a number of years. We recommend the same $500,000 per community, but again that is that is waivable and indeed I think on almost every year. We've received a waiver request from at least one of the communities But now that the all the category one Casinos that have received the license as of the state are operational The guidelines will allow for grants for operations related impacts I'll provide a little bit of an explanation regarding public safety issues in a minute, but let me just get into some of the other types So Workforce pilot programs we Recommended increase in workforce pilot funding from 600,000 to 700,000 with a 50,000 bonus for regional applications. This was a recommendation that was made to the team By the Commission at its last meeting that we try to incentive incentivize greater regional cooperation in all of the workforce grants We did include a draft limit on Administrative funding at a cap of 7.5 percent Director Griffin's research indicated caps of 5 to 10 percent and other workforce programs We do hope to get some comments on the reasonfulness of this cap And and hopefully we can come back with more specific information by the time the Commission reviews this in December Transportation planning we don't recommend any changes in this regard. It is the same $200,000 grant for transportation planning with a regional bonus just like we had last year but we do recommend unlike last year that Last year for transportation planning and this year in transportation planning. We will only have planning and design and Permanent costs, but we have a new category of funding transportation construction Tribal impact grants. We recommend no changes here This is the same program from last year whereby if indeed the tribal facility moves forward We would have $200,000 available for technical assistance To be administered by the southeast regional planning and economic development district Non-transportation planning we recommend an increase here from 50,000 to 100,000. This was a very Success has been a very popular program And we think that we can get a lot of mileage out of these very small grants about 50,000 Perhaps was a little bit too small And therefore we're recommending a little bit of an increase So this year we are recommending That we now move forward with transportation construction projects as you know This has been an item that's been up for consideration by the Commission and in the Regents for a number of different years Although we're recommending moving forward with transportation construction We are recommending only one year's worth of grants and that the Commission at least as of the date of this discussion draft That we not move forward for multi-year grants. We believe that there's some more work to do In understanding the range of projects indeed we've included a new mechanism so that we can understand projects in the guidelines Which is a statement of interests that we would solicit from all parties wanting to do multi-year grants and that statement of interest They wouldn't be a binding matter, but we would try to understand the universe of projects that would be Seeking multi-year grants so that when we develop the guidelines for next year we'd be better informed In regards to public safety Issues the guidelines do recognize that there are multiple sources for public safety Through host community agreements and also through funds through the Commission But we know that public safety is is will likely be continued to be a priority But we've included some measures to try to see if we can Recognize that there are existing funding resources for public safety and lastly I will just mention that we Recommend continuing reserves for all those communities that receive those in prior years and that those are automatically preserved Just a couple of points Just roughly how many non transportation planning grants did we get last year? requests and Approvals just order our magnitude. I mean, okay, so Last year in 2019 We granted one two three four five grants for a total of one point four five million Transportation planning grants I meant non transportation I think it was four if I'm correct the region or all together all together Could you give it an example of one John? So one of the one of the innovative transportation in Mary, can you double check my figures on looking you have five Okay, so five instead of four one of the best examples that we received was a request from From three communities down in the category two region Foxboro Wentham and Plainville for all of the communities to start working together to promote themselves as a Region in relation to the casino and we thought that that was a pretty innovative approach and it utilized You know just a very small amount of funding and that's the type of activities result. We've also had grants For review and saw this so that they could put forward videos to promote their communities as greater tourism goes to Goes to the encore casino the goal is to try to promote the whole region and to capture some of those visitors To the region to our surrounding communities. So we think that these were rather innovative approaches Thank you for reminding us of those are Though and those would receive the $50,000 incentive if they're region-wise So what we're recommending is that we go from a $50,000 grant to a hundred thousand and that there's a regional bonus of $10,000 But those are good examples of each other Yeah, I would just add to that John because you raised the Foxboro application is that they were also pretty clear that part of their effort is also to Support the casino and the jobs and the revenue that we're deriving from it. So it's not only how can we maximize their Presence but at the same time, how can we make sure that they remain in a competitive position to again offer the employment that they do and Hopefully secure the revenues that they provide not only the plain bill but to the common and One other effort from the Commission in that regard in regard to economic development is that we continue to take a look at the Gaming Economic Development Fund as a potential resource the community so that they can do exactly that To promote economic development within the regions, which would benefit both the casinos but then in turn hopefully benefit all of the Regional communities because revenues would then come back into the communities through the allocations of the gaming taxes And you know, we've we put published a white paper a couple years ago And continue to take a look at the economic development fund as a potential major driver for economic development But we felt comfortable that we could also have some some funds in the mitigation funds to promote that agenda Well, I like the general Framework in terms of the you know the rough numbers that you outline in the guidelines the one the one thing that I That came to mind Is economic development or the workforce development rather Guidelines that you have just in terms of relative size region a you know as roughly twice as many people as many, you know employment available as region B just again just in relative size and If we assume that there will be the same percentage of, you know rotation or turnover Those efforts may that may end up being greater in region a of course within the guidelines we have the wave of all and you know, and we in the past funded to of the applications that we that we received in region a because that was a Manifested necessity But I think as we as we move forward When we do guidelines we we need to take into account at least the the relative Size of some of these efforts. I think that's a very good point. I just discussed that with director Griffin We do have different employment levels at both facilities and so the employment levels that have sort of a two-fold Impact you have both the employees that are working at the facility and then the employees that come from other employers within the communities And so we may want to take a closer look at That maybe the two regions don't have to be exactly balanced given that the different sizes for the final guidelines one thing that also mentioned is that I think as you just mentioned commissioner last year even though we're recommending $700,000 this year compared to 700 a 600,000 that were in the guidelines last year our overall spending for workforce development was Approximately 815,000 because we did double up in grants in the region a region. And so we may want to consider What do we do with the overall funding amount? Perhaps it would go up to the 800 level. Perhaps it would be a statewide total Where we don't have to balance between the two regions and that we try to make applications Within the overall limit. Yeah, so I think that we really should do some hard thinking about that over the next month And a half before we bring the final guidelines to you And it could be very well that because the efforts are different because right as you as you suggest the unemployment level is relatively different or The you know the efforts the other efforts that we don't fund the community colleges, whatever they may have different Needs all together, right? It's just it's just a point. I I wanted to also just Talk a little bit about the statement of interest idea. Yes, I think I like it very much I think it's great to get a sense as to what is that Potential out there To then help us better think of the next guidelines, right? I would not necessarily limit them to multi-year projects If as I think you suggested it's good, especially to know what multi-year needs might be out there But it's also good to know in my opinion as what what may be out there that might be just a one one year Just just to better help us, you know, determine and plan where possible You know the amounts that we might be able to make available for the subsequent year I think that's good point I didn't go into too much detail about what what is the difference between single year and multi-year and the reason why we're looking making a Differentiation between both of those is that we realize that some projects are just going to be so big That there's no way that we could ever fund a sizable proportion of those of those costs in any one year So we may have to commit or Even if we can't commit we may want to signal that we can provide funding over multiple years But if we provide funding for multiple years, you're making a decision in the current year For something that will have lasting impacts for many many years down the road And so that's why we're trying to be careful in how we evaluate What what exists out there for multi-year programs? But your point is that Transportation projects in and of themselves can be large even if you don't need 15 years worth of funding You probably still should take a look at some of the projects, even if it is one million dollars or or a comparable comparable project And this is where the other guidelines is particularly successful Critical rather and that is you know either matching or not to exceed a certain amount Because you know some of these transportation projects could be quite expensive correct I think that this got mentioned at the last meeting you use the term for Centage and I think that you had suggested Commissioner O'Brien that it be maybe either Not to exceed number or a dollar amount rather than a percentage given the variable in size of these projects Yeah, that's a good point in the guidelines themselves. We did include a recommendation that staff would have the ability to allocate Funding changes for any one grant But consistent with Commissioner O'Brien's recommendation that we would cap that total dollar figure of no more than $10,000 so it we would have the ability to Authorize changes of up to 10% or $10,000 whichever is less in that percentage basis And we do get changes Unfortunately rather consistently I think even since our last meeting we just got one yesterday which was unusual but But so we so we'll have to take a look that in regard to percentages in general There is a gap that we'll be seeking comments on on what should be the cap the percentage cap That we would invest in for a transportation construction project Should we invest no more than 50% or 75% or 25% in the overall costs our Language says that we want to make sure that we leverage other state federal private resources But we were we as of now we still don't have a figure on how much our participation should be And that's one thing that we'll explore over the next few and it could be maybe flexible If we want to have it a policy or depending on the nature of the project Yeah, but the cap is but as long as there's a cap in place always Well, there's a cap in place but again these are guidelines So with the whole thing of our guidelines is we're trying to send a signal to all of the applicants of what we expect that We would find but we do always provide the flexibility to the Commission if it so chooses to to move within a range outside of those guidelines and so So that's a little bit of the chore because we don't know all of the projects that Will find their way to us and the goal of the statute is that we mitigate those impacts But we're trying to figure out a way to manage the funds Reasonably every year and that's why we've come up with these target spending amounts. That's why to Commissioner Zuniga's point the state you do say it may issue a statement of interest I I would Echo that it's a great idea so that for planning purposes you'll get a sense of what the projects are And by the way, you could turn out, you know after that process after a process like that that we decide for example That for transportation projects We might be better off coming up with a stepped percentage We could have a larger percentage for smaller projects because of course we could afford them right easy more in a easier And as as the project cost Increases this is where other resources are critical state and even in some cases federal funding or bonding, etc And that's that could be another another way to Plan for the future There's one detail one further detail in the guidelines that I'm so I'm going to turn to Joe to help explain further We've had a lot of conversation within our subcommittees about transportation funding. How do we deal with? Matching funding. How do we do a timelines? How do you how do we deal with bonding? where our funds may not be able to be pledged because There are differences each year and the amount of revenues that we're going to get So there's some things that are out there that have been considered by by the committees But one thing that we did spend a good amount of time on is the regional allocation of funding and We mentioned that we have some prior Unallocated funds specifically from the Western region in the memo I think is in page four of the memo where we outlined the differences between the two Regions, but we have some funds that were not allocated last year And under the Commission's rule last year funds can remain Unallocated for a period of three years and then when they after that three years the funds go back into the Community mitigation fund in general Which can then be reallocated between the regions and when I say between the regions If funds go back into the community mitigation fund in general But if there's a use out in that same region it could be reallocated right back to that region But because we didn't want funds sitting for years upon years upon years in one region When there are needs that are immediate in another region We try to set that that cap But there is some Nuance is in it on how should we treat rolled over money in terms of the three-year Three-year cap on how long it can sit up there. So I'm going to let Joe get into that a little bit Yeah, I don't want to get too far down into the weeds on this on this issue But what it comes down to is the question is do we spend old money first or do we spend new money first and When you do this calculation What winds up happening is if you spend the old money first Generally a smaller amount of money would build up in the fund for that region It or excuse me a larger amount of funding money will build up in that region if you spend the new money first It's a smaller amount. So it's really a policy decision for the for the Commission You know allowing more money to build up in a region You know that the pro of that is that you now have sort of a pot of money if a large project comes along that That needs a larger amount of money to do that Sort of the downside of that is if another region has a lot of needs that can't be met by their allocation Allowing money to build up in the other region might Not allow some projects in the other region to go ahead that it might be worthy projects. So You know, I think that we want a decision on one way or the other But I don't think there's a there's a real answer to it But it's just purely a policy decision on how much money you want to allow to go and this is all a potential, you know, if The region spend the money that's allocated in this issue never comes to life But it is stems from the three-year policy, correct? Yes Have you done any math to know if the the length of that? Time helps on this issue and then I turn it over to Commissioner Cameron my yeah I mean, I did it sort of a fictional scenario where a region is allocated four million dollars and they spend two million every year Which we obviously know that's not going to be the case. What ends up happening is If you spend the old money first that Pot of money would build up to about eight million dollars and then would sort of stabilize at that level in The other way it builds up to about four million dollars and stabilizes The new money first. So that's sort of the order of policy was determined to be three years by chance at one point because it seemed right if it were two years the The problem would be alleviated somewhat. So the shortening of the poll the the year But how what would the implications of shortening the well, I think it was there was definite agreement Among both east and the west that three years was a reasonable amount of time because some of these projects again The bigger project they take a while to develop and and having some Security in the knowledge of that of how much money is available for that was important to both of the region So so I think it's just really it's it's the matter of What do you feel comfortable with the higher level of money in the region or a lower level of money in the region? And it probably doesn't matter much for the first year I mean you could say today that we want to spend the old money first and see how it goes and Then you know and see sort of where the balances wind up in the next year and you can always change the policy You know as you go along. I think it makes sense to use the the old money It's similar to what we've done in the past with reserves. You have to use those Yeah, and I think I just remember initially there was such strong feelings in particular from Western Mass that Their monies are allocated to the West You know, so I just think we're sending that message that look that money's there for your region And then you know if we see something else a couple of years from now, whatever that maybe that'll change But for right now, it just seems to me. It's kind of what we've done, you know Allocating Keep it keep it out there Use the old money first. I that was a good analogy though that makes the point four million versus eight million But it just seems to me For now, I don't see a reason to change it Yeah, and I think the the other thing is that we're you know There's now more money going into the community mitigation fund that has been previously And I think we're probably going to be in a little bit of a ramp-up period to get to the point where we're Spending all of the money that's being allocated just because the cities and towns will get used to this and you know Going from a smaller amount to a larger amount of money to take somewhat of a ramp up Either way, I agree that the the old money first seems more prudent You know because we come from an original fund that was supposed to be together So bringing it back to then be reallocated is in my mind, you know Fair to both regions The the one thing in my mind, I know you're working on this and the managing these It's gonna get you know more and more difficult Because there will be many instances just like the scenario that you point out where they spent partially or where the project slips You know from two and a half years to three and a half and and all of those things we're gonna have to then account for in some way to be able to be fair to everybody regardless of whether you were using old or or First money first. It's that reversion that that is going to be you know important to track When you throw out some kudos out to Mary Thurlow who's been For the last forever. I think has been trying to take a look at because we we've developed some intricate rules here and We would like a rules But but they're they're difficult to try to keep track of and one of the big rules is that hey We granted these reserves many many eons ago And we wanted to make sure that the reserves didn't sit out there So the the the rule was you have to spend your reserves before you spend your grant But people apply for a certain grant value and then we say we've given you a $350,000 award, but in reality, it's not a $350,000 award It's 350 minus the reserve that you got many years ago and accounting for that in each Individual year it becomes quite a chore and and especially when we start looking at regional difficulties How the spend was how that applies to who has what you the accounting gets difficult No, just for comment when this came up yesterday when you were briefing me I mean my first instinct was first and first out which I think seems to make the most sense It seems to just echo what everyone else is saying, but that seems to be the way to go So we can in the draft. It's on page five. There's two words that are highlighted in yellow first last And so what we can do is we can express the views of the Commission As as you're stated today, but we could still brief all of our committee members that it remains an issue and They will know what first-last means and so by the time we come back here in December we can finalize that I Would just I agree with the you know, we'll see what kind of feedback we get, but I do like the first and first-out Approach I would It would suggest on the workforce development It's not really a pilot anymore because we've been doing it for coming up in four years You know, let's keep in mind as we talked to the local communities about Some things that I know we saw in the past. We saw Contributions from communities in terms of matching funds I'd like to see if we could get back to a place where This issue was of critical need by the communities that we could see how they would step up and maybe think about a reward for a Match as opposed to just the regional cooperation So more of a question to put out to the folks that we talked to Yeah, I also want to mention something that we did get some pretty extensive comments From at least one of our members on workforce grants And I think we're running through a lot of those recommendations down We will in terms of how does this fit within the overall workforce world? How do we prioritize our funding? I know to record if maybe you want to mention a couple points of how we're hoping some of these funds are targeted into next year So we have included in the guidelines an interest in focusing on areas like hospitality Vocational based ESOL Areas that are highly aligned with the casinos need and also the potential to impact area businesses. So that's We've included language in the guidelines any further questions for John and his team a Special shout out to Mary because we do know that behind John's notebook Great deal of your work. So thank you. Thank you Mary. Oh, yeah, thank you for everything And now John, I believe you have a next item Great regarding your local community mitigation fund advisory committee and another appointment Yeah, so Commissioners, thank you next on the agenda We respectfully request the approval by the Commission of a new member to the local community mitigation advisory committee for region B To fill the Chamber of Commerce position We'd like to thank Kate Kane for all of her work with the committee for all of these past several years Indeed she hung on for a good number of years beyond which she had hoped to Move off from the committee and that was great greatly appreciated because it is such a challenge to get a quorum And and she always had such great contributions We really thank her for for everything that she had to recommend to us and for her stick to it of Ness The new member we'd like to recommend is Allison Ebbner Miss miss Ebbner has a wide variety of experience, but I'm going to turn this over to Commissioner Stevens Who can provide you a little more detail on Sure. Thanks, John. I made a promise to John when I joined the community mitigation fund that I would do Everything I could to help recruit members so he could have a quorum I was encouraged to see miss Ebbner's name put forward by the Springfield Regional Chamber. I Actually grew up in the same town with with miss Ebbner. We attended school together But I think she is going to be a valuable voice to the to the work of the region be local community mitigation advisory committee, you know that impacts on workforce Will continue to be a priority topic for the community mitigation fund in the work in the work that they do The work that John and in his team does Her breadth of experience. I think working with employers serving on the chambers legislative steering committee or work at Associated industries in Massachusetts. I think gives her a unique perspective and ultimately us a unique perspective on the employment and Labor landscape and Western Mass She's got certainly a direct pipeline to the lot of the employers potentially being impacted. I know at one point She also worked for a local temporary employment Company in Springfield, so she's also had the opportunity to interact with with job seekers as well So I think she'll be a good addition and I would move that we approve her Appointment as the chamber representative to the region be And do I have a second my second that any discussion? Thank you for bringing forth a great candidate those in favor. I opposed 5-0 It's always impressive when someone's a busy person is willing to volunteer like this that we do Appreciate your recruiting efforts and for people like miss ebner for stepping up Yeah, I was Pleased to see her name put forward by the chambers. I appreciate their help and recruiting as well So John and team this is incredibly important more. Can you just remind the public how many What we gave out in terms of new Monetary value last or last year so we had a total of four point one million dollars in grants But for new funding it was approximately three point nine million The the surped grant the technical assistance tribal grant continues We we paid for that paid for that several years ago, but that 4.1 so in comparison to the eleven point five that we're recommending for this upcoming year It's a significant increase But we do have some some funds left in reserve despite that increase Thank you Thank you Do we need a break to get our kids set up? Yeah, I think you need to set up It's ten of them. It's ten of eleven now So why don't we convene at eleven and we're going to move ahead? Move in fact backwards on our agenda to item number three and our presentation on the pilot program in Chinatown, so thank you Good morning again. We're reconvening Meeting number two eight. We did go out of order on our agenda today, and we are now Looking at item number three and Director Vanderlint director Van Linden if you could make an introduction sure I Don't think we have audio here. Yeah, all right Good after good morning Chair Judd Stein and commissioners. I am joined by a dr. Caroline Wong dr. Wong is Professor at UMass Boston and their Institute for Asian American Studies I'm also joined by Giles Lee. He's the executive director of the Boston Chinatown neighborhood association or center center. Sorry BCNC Today we're going to talk to you about a Study that they had done that was funded from out of the research agenda funding The title of it actually is has been updated. It's talking about casino gambling community voices from Boston Chinatown And before a couple I wanted to do a couple things before I turn it over to them One is I want to acknowledge that we have some guests today We have several students from Tufts, Tufts University and their MPH master in public health program And Dr. Carolyn Rubin is the is their professor and she's she's back there as well I think it's great that we have some students here and it's exciting to see that We can provide an opportunity to see policy in action So welcome Also, what just I just want to give a little bit of background on on how we got to this specific study and where we're taking this So by now you're all very familiar with the general population baseline Survey that was fielded in 2014 And released in 2015 The that type of broad-based population survey does a a good job of providing an overall prevalence Rate of problem gambling at risk gambling as well as broad population based understanding of gambling behavior and other other issues it can do it can provide insight into specific populations and sub in subgroups And then there are specific populations that because of the methodology because of the size of the study and the size of the population of Massachusetts it really can't touch it And it was at that point once we had that that study in hand We realized we needed to do a better job of trying to understand some of the groups who may be at greater risk of gambling related harm And so in 2018 we released an RFR And the focus of it was a study of gambling behavior among special populations in Massachusetts The objective of this arm of the research agenda is to advance knowledge regarding the introduction of casinos on population subgroups not reached by the initial general population baseline survey Asians or Asian Americans were were one of the groups that interestingly The data that we had from the general population baseline study didn't indicate that they were at greater risk of developing Gambling related harm, but there is a body of research that would point us in that direction Saying that this is a group that we really need to pay attention to as we introduce casinos in Massachusetts a Group that did rise to the surface Out of the baseline general population survey were recent immigrants Which obviously there there can be not necessarily, but there can be an overlap and in these two groups And this group specifically was identified at greater risk that there come a Individuals coming to the United States were gambling availability specifically casino gambling Maybe completely different and outside of the realm of what they understood from their country where they're moving from We received several proposals and and we provided funding to to UMass Boston to Dr. Caroline Wong To lead this specific to the lead this specific study We also at the same time provided funding for a study understanding gambling behavior among Black males and a study of veterans veteran in gambling behavior to the Bedford VA After we after this initial round of studies We went back and we we tweaked it a little bit We still offer funding that would target specific groups, but we changed it to a community engaged research rather than us saying what the issue is or who we want To target we've let the communities tell us what what the issue is and what what what problem or what question they have and I'm also very excited about that in fact I hope that we can talk about kind of the extension of the the current study led to the proposal that was submitted by by BCNC and And we fund it. So Giles should I hope you can tell us a little bit more about that after we after we end So with that introduction rather long, I apologize. I'm going to turn it over to dr. Wong You want to thank the commissioners for supporting this project and the gaming research advisory committee Especially mark van der linden who has supported this from its inception. We've had many conversations also with Enrique's is very grateful for for your Consultations and lots of engaging discussions We had a a very lively fairly large multi-lingual lingual and intergenerational research team and I Will Their names are there the research Was a collaborative project a community Collaboration between the Institute for Asian-American Studies where I am and the Boston Chinatown neighborhood Center Giles Lee is the executive director there and we also partnered with the Master's Council on compulsive gambling And so I just want to acknowledge that this was a A very fruitful partnership. There were also organizations in Chinatown that helped us Recruit participants gave us advice and I won't go into all of their names right now But I just want to say that the the opening of the encore casino or its perspective opening when we Began this project Aroused a lot of concern about the possibility and likelihood that there would be heightened risk because it is so close to Chinatown and not only heightened risk to Residents and workers in Chinatown, but other Chinese Asian-American enclaves that are practically at its door There is one in Maldon Chinese community immigrant community there with similar demographics as Chinatown There is a concentration of Chinese in Charlestown and All are easily, you know, they can get to the casino very easily on public transportation Or through the shuttle and then there is The public transportation from Quincy, but when we started We the casino had not opened so we we we wanted to find People in Chinatown whom we could interview Who were casino patrons? And and the popular place to go a couple years ago was the Connecticut casinos Foxwood and Ohina Sun and so we we found people in the community who had been to one of one of those casinos or perhaps twins twin rivers in The past 60 days and we interviewed 23 people The focus was to find low-wage workers a low-wage service workers and Because we knew they were not included in the Sigma study and we knew that because the Sigma study Was not conducted in any Asian languages and had a broad population Sampling a method that that would not have reached this population in Chinatown Also because the literature the scientific literature makes clear that people who are low-income Immigrant Who are under stress from difficult jobs and the Chinese Service workers in Chinatown work a very long hour some of them Some of them six days a week and this the the only day that they get off some of them may go to the casino These people are at high risk for gambling problems in in Sigma Pointed out some of those factors, but did not look at Chinatown in particular So for for the the the residents or workers in Chinatown who go to the Connecticut casinos They make up a very large proportion of the customer base And I I have here some some figures that in 2006 for example One of their marketing senior executives said that Asian-Americans make up 20% of its business It is our most robust segment of growth It's easy to spend capital on a fast-growing market. Now on core casino Is not it seems Targeting the low-wage Immigrant sector as its main People they're trying to draw to the casino for Asian-Americans the style of the casino is is Is more appealing? I think intent intended to be more appealing for people like tourists more wealthy On the other hand, it's very close And if you take a walk through the casino, which I've done a few times You will find a large proportion of Asian-Americans there just visually I haven't I don't have any data but you know playing table games as in any of the other casinos which markets around the country Targeted ethnic marketing for Asians and and we just checked The number of bus lines I don't know if you are familiar that with the with the casino buses that go to Chinatown's and other Asian enclaves and With low-cost rides bring them to the casinos give incentives like, you know free free meal tickets or free free credit to do some gambling it's a Market that the American and international casino industry has very sophisticated methods to Target and draw them to the casino the population of of of Asians in in Boston or in Massachusetts is From what seven percent maybe in the state a little more in a little bit more in the in Boston but the proportion of Asian customers in the casinos is much greater now There is a literature about how residents of Chinatown's low-wage low-income low-income communities Asian communities are more at risk than others and what is Very important. I think for for us to understand at the outset of this this project and the and the project that's going to follow is that there are virtually literally no culturally appropriate services for this population None that take into account their cultural background their concepts of mental health the in in the Only one of the major clinics South Cove in in Chinatown You you need to be diagnosed as having a gambling disorder in order to get insurance to pay for your treatment May I interrupt? Yes that that Fact caught my attention. Yeah, just just elaborate. This is the the clinic there's one major health clinic in Chinatown and you reference it as DSM five criteria that doesn't allow access to those services well if you have to qualify by Meeting those one of those criteria is for a gambling problem gambling disorder, but a lot of Chinese will not Want to go in first place for force the sort of evaluation of their mental health and there are state Funded place places where the state reimburses treatment, but none of those are accessible They're not there physically and they're not accessible, but do they have the same criteria problem? That's what I'm really getting at in terms of that you have to know I don't I don't think you have you they don't have that that higher standard of and so this is particular to the The health clinic in China. No, I think I think it's it's a general problem. There's an inch the strategic plan that the Public Health Trust fund adopted with which was written by the public health department pointed that problem out that there are not enough Clinics or treatment centers that are supported by state, you know where you can get state reimbursement Those clinicians or those institutions can get reimbursement from the state for treatment They're very few and they're definitely few not any that that will provide a bilingual and culturally appropriate service Yeah, if I could just you know expound on that there The barrier is that a lot of people don't feel the need or want to go get screened There's a larger problem and this is a lot of what we talked with our partners at the pH That there's not enough screening all together. There's our own Sigma project Identified there's you know, admittedly around a hundred thousand people with you know with problems at one time or another And they are very little really You know a dozen people accessing services paid for by the state because of screening So so I I'm just I understand that too. I guess I'm trying to understand a Potential solution So there is at this particular because this is the one that folks would access most easily But they is it I am hearing from my fellow commissioners. It's an insurance issue That is causing that criteria or is it an institutional issue? That's causing that Criteria is it a public health practice? That's causing that criteria criteria and are there other entities that Wouldn't that don't have those barriers so that folks can go and get help first and don't require screening Because that seems to be a big piece of the problem here problem, right? Yes, well so Insurance coverage of a gambling disorder is is Very difficult and in some states. It's really non-existent DPH has a blanket Which allows if there if an insurance if insurance doesn't cover it that an individual can Access or a practitioner can access the blanket as long as they're as I understand to be sass provider There are such to be services and so I Think that maybe what Carolyn is saying is that Where there is insurance coverage It's really it's either people aren't getting screened or the threshold at which you would actually be eligible for those services the Meeting the criteria of the DSM To be diagnosed with a gambling disorder is very high too high there is in that the B sass the blanket it would provide coverage where there were there is a lower threshold. Yeah, it's that There aren't Providers in that area that that are at either aren't accessing it or don't know how to access it But the bottom line is that they're not culturally appropriate services In that in the Boston Chinatown neighbor, right? I understand the culture program Just still struggling with this this barrier of the five create criteria in the fact that it's requires this high threshold of Problem-gaining a diagnosis so because it's for mass health or if you have private insurance To get treatment you have to meet these criteria So that's that's the problem thing. Thank you. Sorry very helpful. Very helpful. Thank you I I think we're a little short on time and so I'm going to skip through some of these These slides. These are just examples of some of the the advertising the marketing that Mohegan Sun and Fox Woods from Connecticut do in Chinatown One of the one of the findings is that The community does not have a homogeneous View on or or practice or norm about gambling some people like to gamble some people disapprove of gambling now there is a Kind of conventional wisdom that gambling is popular among Chinese Chinese you might hear people say casually Chinese love to gamble so and or some people might even say it's in their genes. It's in their blood we want to challenge that that sweeping generalization as being inaccurate and actually Misdirecting I think people's focus on what is the problem that Skip here because we're running short on time is that it's the material life conditions and the social and linguistic isolation of people living in Chinatown That places them most at risk now. It's true that Some kinds of social games have long been popular in among Chinese populations around the world but these games and these Chinese style of gambling or gaming have been Intensely commercialized by the casino industry and when people go to the casinos the style that they're playing at a table game Might be pygopoker or where you see a lot of Chinese or bakar It's a completely different environment in which many of them have grown up playing mahjong Or different styles of Chinese poker in the home on Chinese New Year's or you may see on the parks We have a small park in Chinatown Or you might see some older men playing some kinds of dice or tile games The notion that Chinese just lumped a gamble and that's why they're in such a In in the casinos in such large numbers and at risk I think is Tremendously oversimplified and it underestimates the problem or the potential which people around you know observers and community advocates and Practitioners have pointed out that there are in some places practices of aggressively targeted ethnic marketing towards Asian Americans now whether or not this is going to happen in in the new casinos being introduced in Massachusetts is an open question. It's too early to say but we just want to raise a red flag a raise a flag that This is practiced in other states and other cities and around the world and I think that needs to be careful Monitoring and review about whether or not there there are for example inflated claims in advertising about how you can get rich or Saturating in a communication market You know TV or or posters Not giving adequate warning of the risk these are the standards of ethical advertising that the gaming industry has Talked about and we think that they should be applied Among vulnerable populations not just Asians, but other vulnerable populations I'm going to turn this over because of the the time limitation To Giles Lee to continue to talk about some of the Themes in our interviews and and what their implications You know, I think you should I don't know what time restraints you've you've imposed but we were always mindful of time But your content is rich and please All right. Okay. Just go fast All right, so I spoke about difficult low-wage jobs No, so here that we were aim was to to identify risk factors and I talked about how we don't think that cultural Propensity to gamble is is is a good explanation for For why there are a lot of folks at risk in Chinatown the difficult low-wage jobs that people work in and in I mentioned that already the community is socially isolated and linguistically isolated some of our Interviewees pointed out that there are no recreational activities that are that they that are meaningful for them. There used to be Chinese movie theaters. There's no Chinese sort of shopping center that people can go go and walk through and just enjoy. There's no green space In fact, the only playground So-called playground in Chinatown is just just a couple square It's it's like a small area of cement right by the highway and and children or adults playing there are are at risk for for health problems because of the traffic pollution and so If you're working a difficult job long hours and you want to relax and There's nothing nothing else to do. This is what people told us and actually what was interesting was that in contrast Several of our interviewees said in China there were more things they could do that were healthy recreation That there were adult community centers where they could go play volleyball or basketball or watch movies Here, you know, we have those kinds of programs for youth, but not for adults and one one respondent who I Quote we quoted in said, you know when when when my son Started to have a problem with gambling. We shipped him back to China because There isn't an opportunity to gamble on casinos in China because it's illegal But this is just to disabuse again the notion that there's somehow some kind of cultural reason that people Gamble in from Chinatown or or may lose control and be have gambling problems because if it's not in their Homeland experience in China It became a problem once they came here to the United States and had came under stress With these difficult work conditions lack of recreational opportunities and social and linguistic isolation So These are some of the the examples. I won't read them of what people said to illustrate this point There's no recreation immigrants don't know English you know It'd be what kind of entertainment is there there was no entertainment when we came here now we found that There there seemed to be a pattern and this this would have to be Validated through larger study that the younger new immigrants were Some of them who had not lived in this difficult life as long as the older immigrants like who are 50 or 60 It seemed that many of them were more Recreational gamblers that they went to the casino for shopping Or to have have a have a night out with with the friends or co-workers Go have a meal and that they had not They did not feel that they they were at risk for addiction. They were just enjoying themselves But but the more a larger number of people that we talked to low-wage workers in the service industry did report risky behavior and concern about their own Difficulty controlling gambling if they were older and had been living this difficult life over a longer period of time and and I think that the One one of the ways people think about problem gambling is that it's a psychological it's an individual problem And we want to say that people interact with their environment they interact with their Community environment their job environment and the casino advertising and the casino practices and It's you have to look at the interplay of all of these things and not just say well that some people are prone to problem gambling and this this Interview we pointed out that When when when she went to the casino with her husband at first there was nothing else to do There was no place for her to sit This was a Mohi concern except to stand in front of it or sit in front of the slot machine And so she went to sort of monitor her husband and then ended up Gambling because there was nothing else to do and then fell into the problem This one said it's it's an ambience inside that makes you go crazy there's something about it that just makes you go crazy and You know of course there's the intense lights there. I mean we know that the environment in the casino is is a little is is Intense and and draws people into this this Feeling of wanting to gamble and stay there may be free drinks Right no place to sit This just points to the need for us to think about preventive prevention preventive education and youth for youth and adults Think about How we you know should monitor the ethical the ethics of marketing and practices Marketing and advertising practices and most importantly provide culturally appropriate services which are not available at this time And I want to turn this over now And with the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center BCNC we're a Social services organization with headquarters in Chinatown. Let me just Kind of build off of what dr. Wong has been saying. I think all of the information that she's presented today You know kind of illustrates that we don't really have one reason as to why Chinese or Asian Communities seem to be particularly at risk for gambling addiction But we do know that casinos have identified Asians as an important segment of their market And the customer base This is seems to be an observable fact and I don't I don't want to speculate why Asians seem to be particularly susceptible to Compulsive gaming or to the advertising but that appears to be the case So let me introduce my organization and also explain why it's important to me this issue I'll try to do that very briefly. My organization is a Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center We're community-based social services organization founded in 1969. We're headquartered in Chinatown We have three locations in Boston and one in the city of Quincy. We reach more than 8,000 people a year and We are among the largest immigrant social service providers in New England In 2000 I think seven or maybe eight we had a collaboration with Mass Council on compulsive gaming Oh, hey, hi, so but In which we did public education and needs assessment around gambling behaviors in Chinatown among the Chinese population I think that project surfaced a lot of issues in the community that Were there a lot of I guess Just wives of gamblers of people that exhibited compulsive behaviors around gaming came to us saying that Financially, you know, they have financially if they're suffering financial issues or they were having a lot of arguments or their family wasn't functioning Well, and they felt it was related to their to their spouses Compulsive behaviors We were not at the time even though we were a social service organization set up to respond to any of this We didn't have treatment. We didn't have services kind of Set up to respond to this information that we were learning so this Experience along with some other ones helped us redefine a little bit of the frame and the approach that we took to service provision I mean as I said, we were founded in 1969 and over the decades We had developed different programs to respond to different community needs But this was something and there were other kind of issues in the Chinatown community that we just were not set up to handle I guess I'll fast forward to now. We now have four licensed clinicians on staff And and we do case management for families that are going through particularly hard challenges and so the the Relationship between Chinatown and gambling and my organization and gambling is actually pretty intertwined with this more recent development And this kind of take on the way that we approach families So one of the things that we know, I mean we have so one of our largest programs is our child care program It's about half of our organization and we work with children Starting at three months old all the way up through high school To make sure that families are helpful and healthy places for children and youth to grow up in we have Wanted to make sure that not only are youth getting Supports that they need or children getting supports that they need in our programs and in our classrooms But that their parents and that their families are also getting supports to make sure that their home is a good place for them and so That's why our clinicians we have one licensed mental health clinician and three social workers Engage entire families in case management more than more often than one single individual so as you can see one of the things or one of the reasons why you know the people brought up as As a reason as a way that they managed to stop gambling or just to not go to the casino is because they want to make sure that their kids Don't suffer because of their behavior. That's something that that we've seen Also, it impacts you can see the slide is hiding gambling from family members There are people and this is not unique to the Chinese community, but people who exhibit compulsive behaviors Hide it from family members and that can also cause a lot of problems. I'm looking for the okay Right and then so one of the other things that is an ongoing kind of conversation in our community is that even though we There is a general awareness that casinos can be Hard for communities like Chinatown There is also an awareness that there are a lot of jobs that come with casino and people sometimes feel Conflicted about the fact that there's a good and also a harm that they associate with each other and You know just kind of have to understand that so for BCNC and and through through this this Research project, I think that we wanted to make it reconfirm the way that we think about doing work in families It's understanding and respecting that families have interdependent Relationships with each other and that leveraging those for treatment for prevention is vital And also that conceptual we conceptualize gambling not as an individual issue as our society often does But really as a family issue because for the well-being of the entire household We want to make sure that people are not exhibiting addictive behaviors This slide is around civic engagement And I think this is we put this here intentionally because if you look at this quote you people have I'll read the quote You people with power have to do something not like us who have no money no power You elect someone they should do something you educated people should do something get people's kids to help They're the real victims. This is not for quotes This is one person's quote and what I read in this quote is that they don't have any idea who is supposed to help What the recourse is who is supposed to support the community as things are as they get complicated and I take this Responsibility I take this charge quite seriously because as the largest social service provider in that neighborhood It is important for us to help And which is why I've tried to be involved in in projects like this Why we are committed to making sure that this information gets out to the community and why this is not something That's kind of a fly-by night for us, but that we really want to make sure There's conversation in the Chinatown and other Asian American communities about So I'm going to go into this recommendations portion of this slide deck But before I get into those are there any I guess questions from the Commission You know to clarification about any of the concepts that we've been talking about so far The only question I had following up on that there can be a lesser standard to get access if it's an addiction specialist Versus needing to qualify into the DSM 5 or any of your licensed clinicians on staff also qualified as addiction specialists that could address that need No, okay. I was gonna make a point after the recommendations on that, but Since you made since you mentioned it one of the things that mark and Marlene Warner from the Mass Council Have been talking about and we've been talking to the TPH He's to have more designated agents to do self-exclusion My question and we can come back to that to that idea because that's that's that's one of the things that dovetails into some of the recommendations I did have a question and In your in in in the report and your appendix on the questions that you asked some of the interviewees you have a question That is in general general about knowledge of programs And I know it's probably intended to be broad But you have a sense not just with the interviewees, but some of the other people that you also talked to Whether there's any knowledge of the self-exclusion program in particular People people can self-exclude from the casino. I don't think so Not widespread probably But I don't I don't know this is kind of like my guess so We have two designated agents Then the Mass Council trained two designated agents to enroll individuals in the voluntary self-exclusion program from the Asian American Service Association You know it's and so we can There are things that we do I think that are good and proactive and I think there is a long ways that we need to go You know we we require that in order to enroll in the voluntary self-exclusion program that you need to do so with a Designated agent and the purpose behind that is so that you know one they know the administrative sort of routine But also that they're sensitive to the issues that the person is bringing before them and can be respond so having two individuals is Okay, we could do a lot better and Would like to Recruit more designated agents to do to do this process and find other ways that perhaps We can be more responsive So if there's no other clarifying questions, I'll talk about the recommendations that we kind of came to through this process We've tried to categorize them. These are kind of Just paying attention to the culturally appropriate prevention and services for Asian Americans One is public health campaigns me. I know that public health communications campaigns can have an impact on the way that The community looks at certain public health issues and can change Attitudes of behavior over time And oh and I should mention I mean all of these recommendations that we're laying out I don't think that we have an expectation that we will put this out and somebody else picks it up and does it Of course, we're putting these out as things that we would like to be Involved in we would want to be held accountable to if we were involved in that We hope that a number of players including masking and commission, but not exclusively would come together around and help us Strategize for so this is the beginning of a conversation Definitely and not a set of recommendations that we expect to have nothing to do with after today So the second one is treatment services as Dr. Wong mentioned more treatment services and culturally appropriate wellness programs Three preventative education and services for casino workers of Asian descent and of immigrant background I believe that there are some things in place But maybe just more engagement with the community around what what is possible for provision of state-supported reimbursement for services and then five training of professional addiction counselors in community settings as I think Dr. Wong had mentioned when she was talking about it sometimes mental health settings can be Barrier that people don't want to enter them But people are quite comfortable coming to places like our organization or other organizations that they go to for an any number of other reasons Also participation Participatory deliberation and regulatory process not so many syllables so few words So six engagement of community-based organizations and professionals knowledgeable about our communities in goal setting for reducing negative impact of the casino gaming in the low-income Asian populations I think this would be Interesting in the nonprofit sector. We do always set goals. We do not always hit them But they are something that we kind of measure our success with and I Would be interested in seeing if there were some way to get convene thought leaders and other leaders of the community to Think about what are the goals that we're trying to hit and if we hit them to celebrate that and if we don't figure out How else we can go about? Planning activities also community engagement at the grassroots level in public policy deliberations. I think Public meetings like this and others are good starts for that and a formation of a regulatory advisory committee to review the ethics of Targeted ethnic marketing practices toward vulnerable populations Yes, that's clear And then for expanded scope of collaboration and services nine a co-learning and mutual support Coalition of community-based Organizations that provide family support and wellness programs for immigrant and refugee communities in the region This is something that I've been interested in from the beginning is reaching out to other Asian American Organizations to kind of learn from each other's practices and see if there's somewhere we can leverage each other's resources or expertise For the betterment of more people and also community-based efforts to provide healthy and culturally appropriate recreational alternatives to casino gaming in local neighborhoods and then the last set of recommendations is about research so Looking ahead for future research Wanted increased understanding of social economic impacts of legalized casino gaming in ethnically diverse Asian American communities I imagine this is true In other areas communities as well 12 culturally appropriate health communication approaches for research dissemination and implementation in Asian American communities We were having a conversation about this literally in the hallway. This report is being released. We'd like to figure out how we can disseminate it As into the Chinatown community as well. Do we need to translate the entire report? Do we just translate the summary? Do we need to translate the slide deck? We don't actually know yet I think we need to talk to somebody who's experience of health communications to make sure that the information reaches all the people that it needs to reach 13 methods to obtain representative samples for hard to reach populations I know a doctor Wong really stretched her team pretty thin because a lot of people don't like to talk about this issue and so We can if we can build up an awareness of the importance of talking about this issue We may be able to also make it easier to research the population and the last point here is the expansion of research on Asian Americans in general prioritizing Next-step study around issues prevention treatment in communities and we've named specific communities that are kind of peer communities to Chinatown Vietnamese and Cambodian communities and geographically that's Dorchester, Quincy, Lowell, Maldon and Worcester We actually do have we did submit a proposal to mass gaming in the last round of our of RFPs With this concept and which was funded And so we appreciate mass gaming commissions kind of Commitment to this issue and continued learning around this issue for our community Thank you mark for helping to steward that and talking to us about how we can make sure that that works. So we are really Still in the beginning stages of learning as I think dr. Wong had mentioned maybe it's in the report I don't remember if it's in the slide deck But there's actually not that much research about the Asian American community and gambling addiction even though it is a community That is widely known to be at risk Some of it is people not wanting to do research and some of it is people not knowing methods of being really effective methods of getting participation. So You know, we we are we appreciate the opportunity to be among the few Research studies that's going out to the public to kind of inform the public conversation around these issues in our community I was just going to say it as evidenced by the difficulties in in doing this study that that is also a barrier That it takes a lot of time and resources in order to do a study to do this type of study so It's that presents a lot of challenges for researchers So I think this ends our Presentation right so I guess if there are any questions about this we'd be happy to try to question questions commissioners Yeah, thank you first of all Compliments to you and the team and everybody who participated in the research project Dr. Wong I think as you alluded to directly there was a lot of what I would characterize is eye-opening information and compelling information that At least for me was new and informative And I Two comments first of all You know mark is you go about doing your work. I think this would be a great ongoing agenda topic For us to keep considering I know from our conversation yesterday You're already thinking of some different ideas and our partnership with the mass council as to how we might be able to get to some of these recommendations But secondly, and we've had this conversation before with What additional stakeholders can take advantage of the research that we're doing Happen to be at a workforce summit meeting and statewide workforce summit meeting yesterday with director Griffin and I had gone through the executive summary part of the report and understood that there were many references to the availability of jobs with campaign wages and Just the few people that I talked about that Component of the report with we're very interested in getting a copy of the report. So I Want to take, you know, the report and share with some of the workforce partners that you know again Providing people with a good livable wage job or a job with you know more Consistent hours, I think would be something that would be helpful to the workforce community is focused on the greater Boston area More of a comment, I guess in a question, but thank you both for your good work And to all the folks that participated in the research So I have now the benefit of having seen your presentation twice because I'm also part of the gaming research advisory committee where you have presented And I remember you only alluded to it to it today, but I remember you in that presentation Mentioning just how difficult it was to recruit people to get to get to talk to you Which has both a cultural component and I remember you mentioned in the word stigma quite associated with you know, how difficult it is for For people in general, but perhaps also for the group that you study to talk about, you know, somebody experiencing harm financial and other ways So You also You want to mention a little bit more to that because what on the recommendation that you here's here's a point that I wanted to make We did One of your recommendations is to engage to try to figure out how to reach this population Which we struggled with in the baseline population survey We knew that we had to do more and and we are doing that with your help So if you are finding it hard to reach that population The question is really for all of us including, you know others who might not be here or listening How how do we do that? How do we go about? furthering this effort of reaching for both not just research importantly for understanding of programs and services to making them available and and so on we have we have a a plan a short-term plan and This is just a first step to hold the the first problem is just to open up the Conversation gradually in the community to make it acceptable For people to talk about this outside of their immediate families, which is where the conversation takes place as Jals mentioned we we want to bring on board some health communication experts. I have some experience in in this in other public health areas and Part of the of the solution may be to have age and generation specific Education and outreach that is youth They may have think about this quite differently from their parents or their grandparents because Many of them are going to US schools and you know, they're not so Constrained about talking about it, but when they get in in the family setting they may not Feel that they can Challenge or you know, their parents if they think their parents have well, and and they also there is a Lot of pressure. There is a lot of there is a long-standing norm in in a Chinese families that you don't talk about Problems like this outside of the family because it would dishonor the family so if you have age specific education where the youth are Sort of more eager to talk about it and the parents Are less eager or quite reluctant to talk about it? You have to have be very sensitive about how we unfold an educational campaign. So we don't want to disrupt family Solidity on the other hand we want it to bring People along in an intergenerational way and so we're going to Hold some workshops about this Report, but as Joe says we have not gotten we need Sort of another phase of funding for this actually, but we we We want to have workshops that that can explore how to take the message multimedia Small workshop conversations In The community agency settings and also outside of those settings where it may be in in a resident's apartment Gathering place or in the school Something like that. I'll add this this concept of face is very powerful in Chinese and other Asian communities that you Don't talk about your troubles to anybody outside of your family sometimes not in your family either and The I Think if I had a solution, I would definitely share it But I don't think we know quite yet how to make sure that we can kind of break down this stigma and make it Example for people to talk about this and also to seek help around it There was a study done around about 15 years ago that determined that of all race groups in this country Chinese immigrants were the least likely to seek help for personal problems and the second least likely were Chinese Americans or American born Chinese So it's not A value in our community to seek help for problems as it is in some other communities One other thing that I would say is that the reason why an organization like ours Can sometimes be effective in doing this is because they have a relationship with us Which is sometimes I'm a parent in child care my child goes here or I go here for special events I come here for art classes, you know, I come here For for yoga classes, you know, it's a Many different things are available here. And in addition, I also know that they have support for these kind of more serious challenges That was one way that we started to Be were able to bring Families into us for issues around domestic violence or child abuse and neglect was by developing a relationship with them as a service provider in other ways first But even so these are difficult topics and many people still will not disclose them Until they're until they're really under pressure. So I think we hope to be able to break some similar headway on this issue, but We hope that we work together. I think therein lies the the hope You know, the one the one thing you mentioned in terms of protective factors is itself the family ties and the social networks And so To the effect that we could collectively and again with others specifically I'm thinking of the Department of Public Health Collaborate on on on these on this topic try to leverage those social networks were possible and try to Work together, you know again Making making taking advantage of that protective factor On that ground Another thing that we have been Considering that we need to get cranking is something else Merlin Warner has mentioned that that is a notion of a third-party exclusion Process What is your general feeling for how that might be helpful in your community? or not in that the idea being that somebody can go to court and petition a family member To be excluded from the casino where all of the jackpots would be confiscated if they ever This is just my my opinion I think that extreme case Financial Marital disaster that might Be helpful, but one one factor one thing about immigrant communities Chinese communities There's Because of homeland experiences and perhaps the perception of politics and government There there's a little Reluctance to go to to government agencies or government authorities, especially the courts To solve these sorts of problems This trust of understood. Yep And and that's why you know, it would not be the first Avenue, I don't think I think the kinds of approaches that Giles has has talked about going to a trusted Community organization trusted social networks churches Teachers that you trust though that that is I think more more promising Then you know, I'm not against I'm not saying this is not a bad Proposal, I'm just not sure how it will Resonate and be used in this community. I really like your recommendations because they are community-based and You know what really will help I think is important. Also, I think it's critical for us to I mean the marketing You showed is out of state So I think our casinos are so new that it's too soon to tell right what the effect will be but it's critical to watch that and research those things and But I think already putting in place some of the You know where you see the gaps or where you see how to be more effective in the community, I think that's those are critical pieces Yeah, and you know just as certain groups are targeted Certain prevention efforts can also be targeted and that is where Where we I believe can can play a very important role We have just back on the point on something you mentioned Relative to your recommendations We do we are perhaps that That body that you suggest should look at the Advertising practices at least when it comes to an American Massachusetts casinos We do have in our responsible gaming framework I'll quit a bit of language and strategies relative to looking at responsible practices responsible advertising practices and We would be I would submit we would be the first ones to want to know if if you or others believe that any one of the licensees that we license Are beginning to engage in deceptive advertising practices targeted. It's one thing And again my response to that is that's target prevention efforts, you know equally or more but Advertising practices do begin to you know border on Not responsible at some point and we would want to again here here from members like you If you begin to notice that that's great to know Mr. O'Brien. Do you have a question? I Have a question from Director Van and London Game sense advisors They are multi-lingual at on core and at Springfield Do they what Asian languages do we cover? I know they cover Vietnamese at least Mandarin Cantonese Vietnamese We have game sense brochures translated into Traditional and simple Chinese in Vietnamese So we can continue to monitor whether that provides sufficient Accessibility to those kinds of interventions in terms of the It sounds as though we have quite a bit of the language covered. Maybe not the same Coverage that you provided in your research. I think there's there's room for us to grow in this in this specific area, too Yeah, I think is there a specific campaign that we get Direct towards The Asian Asian community Are there specific types of messaging that would be more effective than other types of messaging that would Communicate kind of the game sense principles and ideas It's something I you know, we we adopt game sense from the British Columbia lottery corporation I believe they actually have a specific campaign For this and and so I'd be interested in trying to tap into that But also try to understand that Massachusetts may have some very specific needs I should also know. I don't know in terms of play my way We're more restricted on language accessibility or I would need to take a look at that I could take so that's another another way. We should make sure it's accessible. Yeah But there might be a Technical challenge to that. Yeah Yeah, we as we especially as we develop it for MGM and on core we could take a look at that But I do I'll I just before I forget we Especially before on core opened the game sense team Did it a good job of reaching out to two different? Community organizations specifically targeting the Asian-American communities I Asked for a list of all of those agencies that That they reached out to and and it was it was It wasn't unsubstantial. I mean it's they've done some really good work And there they have a game sense advisor who I believe has come before us Lin Ho Who's done a fantastic job in that in that area? Game sense has a specific area in which I think that we can be really helpful and And I think that we should do whatever is within our power to do that our responsible gaming framework Has a specific I think can be specifically helpful and You know demystifying gambling addressing specific superstitions Encouraging people to take a break Looking at other activities besides gambling that as forms of recreation there needs to be other forms of recreation available, but there are very specific games and sprinkles that I think are Incredibly relevant our framework is relevant, but how do we how do we tailor it? How do we make it specific? And I think that there's there's you know, that's a good opportunity for a partnership with So we'll conclude today, but I'm looking at your revised title Talking about casino gambling and community voices from Boston Chinatown. I think that Probably we all share this is the beginning of a conversation And this is a just a very well done piece of work That will keep us vigilant and really begin to listen to the community voices and also make sure that we continue this Conversation we're lucky to have mark as our director here to guide us on that But it is as you pointed out It really is the beginning of a conversation for us and the recommendations is commissioner Cameron indicated our Community oriented and we are part of the community that we Really hope to support Your efforts in my work as partners Can I just say one last thing? This is exactly what the research agenda is that's exactly supposed to look at hard issues and turn to and turn to the communities that are being affected and ask Ask what where where are the potential paths for? To to make a difference here and when it can be illuminated by the research that's that's exactly what we want to see I agree and this is a good time to remind the public. You know, we are very thankful for the legislature's wisdom when it drafted 23k to really ensure that robust research agenda, it's at work here and Really producing great outcomes and we thank the folks from tops, too For your continuing work that you're going to do in your program the master's of public health. It's all important So, thank you We'll take a five Oh, I'm sorry. We just have a five minute break just as we start up our next. Thank you. Thank you We're reconvening again public meeting number 280 and we are now turning to item number six Commission matters of the Regency follow-up and Executive director will leave begin the conversation for us On Regency, so thank you that Good afternoon. Thank you. So in your packet, you will see a short memo that general counsel and I Blue put together for you. It's broken up in the two sections background in possible next steps so just by way of Setting the stage background is What I think you remember happened most recently the commission Decided to deny a motion for reconsideration by the previous applicant in Regency And subsequent to that That applicant sent a letter also in the packet on September 20th asking for a Reopening basically of Regency and new RFA process in Regency So I have in with general counsel blue outline a number of Potential next steps that the Commission could consider and I do want to be I Want to clarify one thing the goal Today hopefully is get some direction from the Commission if they need any assistance from staff Getting more information on the next steps. I also want to be clear what I didn't put in the memo, but Might be implicit is the timing on all of this is purely within the discretion of the Commission None of this is necessarily mandatory in terms of even acting on Regency. However having said that The Commission may decide that even on the timing issue as opposed to anything more substantive You may want either More public input more expert input or you may decide you have enough information But again, I didn't put that necessarily in here So I didn't want to imply that you are bound to make some type of decision as I said the goal of this It is to hopefully get some direction and I will outline very briefly What potential options there are as I said There is a request to reopen Regency right away That is in fact the option within the power of the Commission You have received numerous public comments over the years the latest of which we have included in the packet In the past the Commission has sought some expert opinions or expert consultants In before you could do that. There is a process called an RFI request for information helps define What that ultimate expert solicitation may look at? So that is another option the fourth option which the Commission has always considered when Evaluating region specific impacts are to go to the region itself and get some live feedback from individuals Is it and I also say in the memo aside from The request to reopen Regency the rest of the options are not Unique or specific there's a you could do multiple one two or or a variation of them So It it really is as I said today to try and get some some feedback some sense of where the Commission is I'll also note present today in the audience senator Mark Pacheco Senator from the first Plymouth and Bristol Region which is in Regency and specifically has both Taunton and Wareham in that in that region is present so That is by way of introduction. I don't know if you have any questions before before we begin discussions This is of course a and we appreciate the memo. It does help us With our conversation it gives us a bit of a roadmap to think about How we should think about Regency With that said this doesn't limit us and I know that and ends that it does conclude You'll see in the memo that The Commission staff our legal department is has been following the status of the federal legislation and litigation that relates particularly to the Complicated tribal matter. I know that in the past I've asked for that update And I think probably it's it's a good time to actually update us more formally through a memorandum It's very complicated. I think it is not uncomplicated and then and you know, that's one of my favorite phrases. So I Don't know if you'll want to get outside assistance to compliment ours or if we can do it internally But I do think probably that needs to be formalized because it's a An important part of the overall Regency This evaluation discussion. Do you do you agree? Does the timing seem right on that piece? I agree. I think I Think we need I think in general we need more information and specifically that's a critical piece of so that so that's kind of just one One piece that's pretty concrete before we got into the more the bigger discussion Yes, can we include that on the checklist that would be great. Got it and we've done it in the past and we we We did have an expert someone in tribal gaming, right? I think that came in at least testified Yeah, I don't remember if I think you are right commissioner What I try let us take a first stab at it and try and give you something that's somewhat neutral as opposed to an advocacy piece Well, that's what we're looking for. That's exactly what we're looking for you know really To digest a very complicated legal and I guess there are you know through the legislative piece There's there's political implications which are make it less definitive, but we should at least understand that there's There's not that part of the puzzle as well, right and I think with two new commissioners that they haven't really had the benefit of that those previous discussions and So so we wouldn't be looking for necessarily testimony. Well, let me say this to get If we're going to get somebody to take a look at You know the tribal gaming it wouldn't necessarily be from our tribe our local tribe, right? We're talking about someone that has a good working knowledge overall of Tribal gaming so I think there are two pieces. There's two as I understand it There are two pieces of litigation one in the first circuit and one in district court DC at a minimum report on those that you know an understandable report for Lawyers and sort of non lawyers about the implications of both those pieces of litigation and how they were late or not I think would be important. Yes, there will be people who want who will want to speculate on the impacts of those We'll have to see about whether that's helpful or not was it Was it I think Michael and Carol that may have presented a memo many years ago on There was yeah, they were there were a couple of memos. I'm recalling A hearing that we went to In Mashpee, but we actually got the benefit of the of the forum of the competing Views on the predictions and assessment the assessment and prediction of The legal matter at the time of the tribe We I don't know that we will have necessarily the benefit of those two sides For luck for better work this time. I think what we what I hear you all Suggesting is we need just an update on where things currently stand. Yes, different from different from before. Yes Exactly just the update and mainly around the legal The legalities just the current status where we're we're those two the Legislative and Well, I would add one to these and maybe there's a bit of a theme emerging here That is around the notion of gathering more information and and there's there's there's quite a bit of Reports that you know We're done and a couple of those have been updated that are available to us some include our own But some around us I think we would benefit from a summary of those Reports what they have The key findings or the key aspects and the variables and how they have been updated You talk about market analysis. Yes. Yeah, I'm sorry. I missed that market analysis. You're talking about yeah But I'm referring to existing reports. Yeah Some that have been updated recently Yeah, I'm just concerned that With our history of reviewing so many different market analysis from Applicants they are They are useful, but they are written for a particular client And I just think if for us to understand this market as it exists today region C I think it would be important to conduct our own analysis in order to That's not that's not looking at one project or another but the entire region how it's changed over the years To include what's happened around us. So what does that mean for region C now? I just think looking at someone else's is useful, but if we were to really be serious about Having the information we need to make a good decision about region C The the update on the tribal status as well as what is happening in the region now or two important pieces Commissioner Stevens, I'm sorry I just want to make sure he Yeah, no, I agree with the point that commissioner Cameron just made And I know you've talked about this in terms of one not only the market can bear But beyond that and I think Director Bedrosian talks about is looking at what the other not only what the market can bear But also what the potential for our benefit understanding what the potential impacts are to Existing revenue streams as well as the existing jobs But I agree with commissioner Cameron's point very good reports have been produced it It's it's not to disparage or cast any doubt on the providers of those reports but To commissioners Cameron's point they've been Conducted and issued primarily on behalf of a specific client. So having a a neutral party maybe assess and look at those and Maybe go one step beyond that and Assess what director Bedrosian has put down as item C I think would be I Don't see or three three C under three C. So C so under three one of the options includes rather than immediately Going out and doing an RFP for a market study Would include doing something called it. You know the request for information and that would be Where we couldn't learn What what should we be doing? Is this the right time to be taking a step to get that market analysis done? Other factors we should wait to go into play What questions should we be asking? There that is a tool that could be used and then I think what I Did is he did list in under ABCD? Kinds of things that would be possibly raised in the RFI I Don't know how folks feel about an RFI or if they're familiar with that and of course we We haven't skipped one and two but three does present an opportunity if we're looking for Information and I only started right with the last paragraph because it had already been requested So it's been out there for a few a couple months now What do you think about the idea of? Requests for information To learn about what we should do rather than immediately doing an RFP perhaps for a costly study that they could come back and say you know Given all Commonwealth influences this might be Early or Come back and say yeah, you know, let's go for it I mean, I just wonder if that's a tool we should consider well between the two I'd be more in favor of RFI but Let me mention perhaps what what? It's going Has not been said, but we should I think we should That that is, you know all the original market studies including the applicants own market studies and Predicted levels of revenue that we have not yet seen in the current Current licenses Now a couple of important caveats The the normalized year of operations on those market studies for the category ones were was year three The normalized year of operations for category two was year two and now we are in year four So we're beginning to see a lot more of that Real time data that would be compared to those to those studies now Importantly, there's been a number of things that have happened in you know, since since those studies so but but There's also information available. There's been updates to those studies That I think is part of what I was trying to articulate before and there's been responses around us Which studies you're saying that are so let me yeah, let me just make a running list Spectrum did two studies for for the Massachusetts legislature in 2010 and updated into in 2012 That's under what right? That generated really the notion of three destination resorts three regions ultimately the The legislature drew the regions different from the first study and the second study was a bit of an update because of that The state of Rhode Island did two studies as when when Massachusetts passed Expanded gaming they asked their consultant to do an impact assessment based on what they were expecting to see and that was They updated their own That study years later these these March March of 2019 I could go into details, but the gist of that is that because of the first study They responded in one way. They actually expanded their one license into two tables They moved one license from Newport into Tiberton and they have expanded sports betting so the second study then Updates and looks back and says because of all those Changes you are now in a position to not be as Impacted as we had predicted years before Every applicant made their own studies when when we open their, you know, the solicitation of all the regions every applicant not just every Ultimately licensee and those have not been Those well with the broth and one has been updated Because because which we we had the benefit of at least including in the packet We did not talk about it with mr. Blooming and his team in there in the request of reconsideration Another small parentheses a Few of those applicants who ultimately lost the license predicted Larger revenues than the people who want What what we Did what our consultants did was create a framework of You know those those revenues of market assessment that was going to allow us to Test the reasonability of the applicants projections And there's been you know a couple of studies done in New York. They are currently Conducting their own assessment market assessment because they have different dynamics over there, but not be similar to to us They had three licenses awarded at around the same time that we awarded region B And are looking to whether they should expand or Wait for regions for Licenses closer to closer to manhattan They are currently going through a market assessment solicitation It is it is that it is it is a little bit of that that I wanted just to that that's a very rough summary You know the findings within those might be benefit to kind of like bring bring for further discussion But let me go back to get to the point I think I made it that's that's really that I wanted to conclude this way and that is that Everybody overestimated those projections by the way they're When we awarded the licenses that was you know revenues was only one aspect I will remind everybody the public that you know the jobs their host community payments, etc. You know that that has been Yes, that has happened capital investment the capital investment was was Triplicated in one case duplicated in another duplicated in the in the category B as well So I'm just when I'm talking about this is exclusively red revenues but they're an important piece of the business model and I Currently feel no sense of urgency in terms of and this is where the timing conversation really comes If we have not seen you know the levels that the applicants themselves Predict because they did predict certain revenues from from year one and They're not they're not currently seeing those revenues. I would rather Frankly see how it goes Do more? analysis of their own You know understand better how they're competing in the market. It's early in my opinion I think fundamentally that the theme that I glean is that everybody may have Overestimated how easy it was going to transfer Get get a new player. There's there's players that stick around to their To the to the places that they like and there's a key of a key piece of evidence that actually we can see on the other side When language Predicted they did their own projections. They predicted themselves that the revenues were going to decrease More than what they actually have decreased When the new casinos in Massachusetts came came into line But they were talking about Regency as well. So that would make sense why it didn't decrease is as much Precisely, right, but I mean it's So that that that is still out there, right that that one license is still so I guess we're just trying to decide I hear what you're saying about Let's wait, but I just have a concern That is that being fair to Regency And I think commissioner Cameron I think this is going to be the continue and I'm not We need to continue this conversation in depth But senator Pacheco would love to get remarks and has a timetable. Can you finish your thought and Then and then we'll note it and have him return because I think you're saying exactly that's a good segue He's here. Sure. I can I can see would we like the senator to speak now and then I'll continue That's what yeah, because right what you just said is you know It's a fair to Regency and that might be exactly a good segue for him to make his comments and then we'll continue and can you yes You've got your notes. Yes. I hate you Okay, I figured you were thank you again my apologies to my fellow commissioner, but also we wanted to give you that opportunity Well, first of all, let me just thank you madam chair and members of the Commission for Allowing me to come before you today and and just give you a couple of thoughts as you Continue your deliberations As you go forward. I'd like to just begin by saying that How proud I have been of The work that we did in the legislation In terms of crafting a comprehensive gaming legislation From Massachusetts a big piece of that was the establishment of the gaming Commission and The way the gaming Commission has thoughtfully Move forward throughout the process and ensured that integrity and And You know those issues that many of us, you know care about Were protected as in all the decisions that have been made And so I just want you to know At the outset of my comments that I Have largely supported everything that I've seen the Commission do You know relative to All of the You know very sometimes difficult decisions that you have to make in particular with Applications that come in and so on so forth But because there were you know some new members of the Commission and Because of some of the activity that's going on across the way over in Beacon Hill these days. I Did want to come here Personally and give you a little perspective from Regency As I Stated the legislature thought very hard about What we should be doing? When we looked at this back in 2010 2011 You know by the way the unemployment rate in Massachusetts back then it was around 7.4 percent seven and a half percent something like that Today it's 2.9. I Think the market's much better Today as opposed to where it was You know back then So but we were looking for job creators ways in which You know people in Massachusetts if they were going to Participate in gaming That they could do so here So we could capture Some of the revenues that were going to be spent anyway, and yes, we'd have a percentage of problems with Gambling issues in terms of compulsive gambling But up to that point in time we bore all the cost Related to compulsive gambling, but we received none of the revenue in terms of casino game That is starting to change Obviously not to the extent that we would like to see but it is it is Quite significant and on core You know to over two billion dollar, you know close to the three billion dollar facility, you know 4,800 jobs The casino in Springfield Maybe had a little bit to do with that unemployment rate as well You know heading down to the level that it's at today So what prompts me here today is because of legislation. I'm seeing files and Some of these developers that are behind the filing of some of these legislation pieces of legislation You know don't mind as they go around the state house saying well, you know And I don't think the gaming commission would have any problem with that at all and so on and so forth, you know Now I know it's not coming from here But I just want to let you know that That is part and parcel of what happens in terms of lobbying for new legislation We crafted the legislation in a way that we would only have three Destination-based casinos in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts period one slot power Which happens to be now at Plain Ridge? And of course we have some simulcasting going on in in Rainham have the lottery You know, etc. I don't have to explain to you all the you know different aspects of gaming that we have been in Massachusetts as somebody who is represented region C For 31 years now in the Massachusetts legislature four years in the house and The remainder of those years in the Senate We want to be treated the same as the other two regions as The legislature said we would Now the difference in region C as opposed to the other regions Was the Native American You know gaming so the Wampanoag tribe the uniqueness of the Aquina on the on the islands you know Those pieces, you know have a lot to do what happens at the federal level and so I think it's Absolutely quite appropriate that the gaming commission get updated You know legal analysis Relative to what's happening at the federal level I made a call before I came over To try to figure out what was happening at the federal level And my sources tell me that we probably won't know too much until the end of the year And while we may know something definitively by the end of the year You know when January 20th turns around of 2020 It is no longer definitive if there's a change in the White House Because the Department of Interior Opinions That at this point in time are coming from the top down and I mean way up the top down Not the other way around May change significantly Between now and then so I'm here to ask the Commission To continue with your thoughtful deliberation about everything that is going on and to not make a decision Even though it may be in our best interest because it's within your jurisdiction under existing law To go out for a commercial You know casino if the Commission chooses to and if I know that there's absolutely no way that A Native American casino can come to be In Regency I'd be one of the first people here To urge you to do so, but if that's still if that uncertainty still looms out there At any level It will have a significant effect on those that even bid because Any of these entities that are going to commit to the level of spending That they need to have for a class one license You know don't want a risk Having a Native American casino opening up next door Under federal statute that you'd actually have Nothing to do with in terms of being able to stop it if the land and trust issues were to go forward So That's my concern Now as far as the market analysis is concerned You can take all the market analysis studies that have been done you know in Sort of like those that are in my generation remember Johnny Carson with the envelope to his head, you know You know you can you can do all of that stuff and I just want to say this The only way you really know what's going to happen in a region is when you put it out to bid I got a feeling that Genting Didn't spend 500 million dollars of their money to try to you know Be a partner with the Wampanoag tribe, you know to figure they wouldn't be getting that money back You know what we would be doing in region C when there is a casino in Region C and I hope very much that there will be a casino or region C is We will be taking some of our money back from Rhode Island Coming back into Massachusetts will be taking some of our money back from Connecticut and bringing it back to Massachusetts and We'll have an excellent location wherever that is to Market destination base travel Very close to Cape Cod for all the parts of the year except for maybe one season. So it's a tremendous opportunity for Travel and tourism and Economic development in southeastern Massachusetts, and I just want to conclude by saying we in southeastern Massachusetts deserve the same level of commitment that the other two regions received and So I would urge if there's any interest in people coming over here to get the gaming commission to Change the existing law. I Would urge you to say No way not now Not till we know What's happening in the future? Because there's bills that are filed in my own district It's not that I'm against having Additional gaming. I'm not one of these people. That's anti-gaming. I'll you know we can have We can have more gaming, but let us Implement the vision that we passed first Let's get that done Up and running and then Assess what's happening the legislature may be coming back later on this year with or the beginning of next year With sports betting That's a whole other issue That you're talking about doesn't necessarily impact The casinos, you know directly, but it's an indirect you know impact So that's what that's what I'm here for. I was just very frustrated with the amount of new legislation that's filed Generated by people Who have assault very very clear self-interest in Seeing their own proposals adopted With their own Mac market analysis and commissioner I agree with you that usually is tainted towards What the developer that's proposing The development Wants to see because they shouldn't certainly when we coming forward to the legislature or anyone else if it didn't agree with what they wanted Again the only way you're going to know what the market is in Regency At the end of the day is when you put something out to bid and To find out who's going to bid on it And if they're not going to make as much money as they may have fought But they're still making a profit and we still have the jobs and we still have the building and we have the economic development So be it that's competition You shouldn't be You know trying to Predetermine what that competition will will bring and I just know one thing I represent taunton Represent way him represent all the communities in between down the 495 belt. I Have thousands and thousands of my constituents every day That just had in a slightly different direction And they were in Rhode Island casinos in Connecticut casinos Going to see the shows going to There for entertainment purposes not just gaming Thousands and thousands of people every day We want to bring those people back to Massachusetts, so thank you very much Thank You senator. Thank you senator if I might just say senator We are very respectful of the role of of the legislature and that is not our role and we do not ever I've been doing you know seven and a half years. We have never Once presumed to to say this project's better than the other We really do respect the role the legislature and anyone that comes to us and they do with the project We listen and say You know thank you for letting us know, but certainly that's the responsibility the legislature to make decisions on Any kind of a change in the law or whatnot, so I think we're just trying to figure out as a commission where What what we want to do when we're asked about region C? What is the best course of action right now at the time? So we don't presume anything so thank you for coming though It's it's important information Center, I would I would just add if I could First of all, thank you for taking the time to come down here I was at a workforce summit meeting yesterday and I understand from the Senate president that you have a lot of other topics on the agenda this week and in a head and And is is one commissioner, and I think my colleagues would agree just to reflect on your point about The original gaming statute being very well thought out We hear that from other jurisdictions We certainly Are pleased to know that you gave us a pretty good roadmap a great roadmap to follow in terms of what you envision the process to be And we've we've all followed that to the to the best of our ability you did bring up the the issue of Sports betting obviously our licensees have Been very vocal about their interest in seeing sports betting Is we've talked about a potential? Market study for our benefit Would it be helpful do you think in your opinion to have us assess the market for Sports betting is it might pertain to revenues generated for the Commonwealth if that would be helpful to you in your college It certainly wouldn't hurt to the more information that Legislature receives on all these issues the better the better it is but I think We all can conclude based upon what we're seeing happen with other jurisdiction that we will See some significant revenue generated, you know, how much would determine look at some of the You know analysis that's being done and certainly we would welcome at least I would welcome can't speak the whole legislature would This individual legislator would certainly welcome any of the additional information And work very careful senator that we understand there are just proposals That are pending with respect to sports betting and we understand that the role if there were to be legalized sports betting If there's a regulator that it's not decided as well, but should we move forward on some kind of analysis where? the implications of sports betting for the future would be helpful then We would be glad to do the again to echoes Commissioner Cameron, we never make any presumptions Thank you senator for for your remarks. I think you summarize well a lot of the arc and I think it bears if I if I may also go back a little bit to You know from our perspective what what we wrestled with that you want that you alluded to I I also think the legislature was really well thought through and crafted and I think You know a lot of it. We have been fortunate enough to see in real time and When it came to region C It did provide these at least temporary advantage for the tribe in terms of timing Which is how we found ourselves of course bidding the the the way we did it was in many ways prescribed we we had to go with category 2 first and then the other regions I Remember at the time and you have testified before us as well You know in hearings that we conducted in the region That as you allude the the specter of the tribe Was a big factor in The response or seemingly lack of interest that we received that in that region at the time in that case It was only The Brockton proposal and even at that time when we did have you know that market study And you know the one that they proposed and the one from our all consultants There was quite a bit of judgment call if you will because The dynamics of the market, you know are hard to predict who knows how much is one place going to take away from another and That changes the dynamic quite a bit the point of me just just saying this is that Just looking back. It's easier to do the first decision. That was sort of risk in terms of timing It's needless to say a lot harder to make the fourth decision and that is where we where we find ourselves With with this region for all for all reasons that we're not necessarily the fault of anybody here and I will I will also add my My comments relative to we know we don't endorse any kind of bills that come that make their way It's not surprising that people might want to say that that Implicitly that that we have or or not I see ourselves perhaps in a better position To provide the information that as we see it even though a lot of it ultimately relies on You know the projections of some and you know, they're gonna come with their own You know with their own background So I I think that Like you have everybody here wants to see the best for not not treat any other region differently I Think more than anything else. It's that the particular dynamics to this region Steal the possibility of the mash be as you correctly point out Perhaps, you know with with different Updates that the last time we we looked at this But also because of the timing that we find ourselves now with The ability or not To decide on the timing on whether to up, you know to approve a Commercial license or be a commercial license. I agree with you by the way that ultimately the best indicator is whether there is a Better or not on any any of this ultimately and we do seem to have one One that wanted reconsideration Recently which we as as as you know, we decided we declined on What I think we find ourselves in is trying to have these competing interests relative to those benefits for Regency and The inherent impact that that would bring not only because of a potential steal with the tribe but what may be of The existing licenses that we know Well, I well, I thank you very much and let me I've got a Run over because sessions gonna start at any moment now, but I do want to you know, really madam chair Thank you, and and I want to thank all of you for Giving me the courtesy to come in and talk to you about this. It's just for me representing the region and then seeing proposals coming in in the region in Recursions being made publicly that the market doesn't work any longer in Regency for a destination-based casino from Somebody that's looking to get you know Their own deal done It just frustrated me enough to make sure that the folks that are in charge of Regency You know in terms of all of all of you could hear from somebody in Regency that I wouldn't have any problem if you decided to go out for commercial but not to Ask the legislature, you know to change the law to downsize what that That the type of model That we'd be looking for in Regency should be the same as a and b Not anything less. We don't want anything less than that in Southeastern Massachusetts and in some of the bids that you had received. I think the Commission correctly Came down on the side that you know, they weren't You know significant enough for What you needed to have to be a true You know destination-based casino model for Regency because that is The type of proposal when you have those That actually brings in patrons from out of state from out of the country a destination-based Casino and we will take back part of the revenue from Rhode Island, Connecticut When that happens and I say when it happens not if it happens I think it will happen in the future that you'll eventually get to a day when you have all the information and Then a decision, you know, it gets made. I'm not I'm just not sure that day is today You know, because we don't know what's happening with litigation and quite frankly, I think Federal the federal view on a lot of the regulatory provisions, you know may change Significantly across the entire government not just the Department of Interior if there is a change in the White House on The 20th of January So we'll see but thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you senator. Thank you and now Commissioner Cameron, right? I am sorry for the interruption, but I thought it might be Thank you very much. So no the point I was making was You know information is critical to us. I would not be comfortable moving forward saying let's open Regency because we have a request to do so without Without more information. So we have one suggestion, which I think is a very good one to have an update on The tribes progress here or just everyone's best Professional idea of where they are now what the challenges are and what the time frame is and So that that's an important update. We haven't had one in several years the other pieces You know, I mentioned the market analysis, but I Request for information is is really good too because frankly We don't have all the answers right and listening to others as a critical piece And I think that would be if that informs us to as to whether or not the market analysis Is it effective next step? I'm very happy to go along with that I think those pieces would be important before we did any hearings because people like to be informed as well So before they opine on what's best for their region. So I think this information is Really important to us, but really important to the public as well Well, I have a couple of questions that I could include in the RFI But I think I don't you know that I think it's important that we think of them broadly and not necessarily of the cuff today, but I You know, I think ultimately it's it's It's a good, you know step to take to continue to assess the situation It's not really at odds with what I was perhaps Advocating earlier a little bit saying, you know, we need to wait and see some of this information could also come from additional Market studies that are on licensees either conduct or commission or Some of the results, you know begin to change one way or another So I think if we you know Aggregated some of the information that's already available started to ask questions before let's say a market assessment that could be a good way to I'm imagining that the executive director It's good to say that they would be assisting in the process if we went the direction You are looking for general direction. I think I've gotten some so I would suggest Chair that the next steps would be that we come back with a definitive litigation update in legislation federal legislation update And we also come back with a potential draft RFI Which would include in some some of the questions that commissioners have concerns about so you could do two things a you could Be informed on the legislative slaps litigation update and then in the next sitting we could maybe formalize What an RFI looks like or maybe you see it say, you know, you it is not what you expected But it's easier to look at something I think on paper Before we move to an exact direction. I want to just check in I liked what commissioner Cameron said that the public would benefit from that Information as well, but we do have of course the option of doing even a first step of soliciting public comments either in Person or by paper email Or do it as I think you suggested maybe holding on that Commissioner Brian, I don't think You could also get comments public comment on the RFI in terms of what people think is relevant And I think if you do an overview of the legislative status You potentially also do an overview of the other studies that are out there not necessarily limited to the Commonwealth That may guide not only our conversation, but an opportunity for public comment on an RFI And not to belabor the point but to make clear where I stand on and I said this repeatedly the last time we talked about Regency in terms of Market analysis, I think it's critical. We did our own I don't want to rely on someone else's but I am in alignment with commissioners in a guy I do think with the changes and what's been open in the last 18 months in the Commonwealth I'm not convinced now is the time so I'm comfortable with the compilation of the legislative status as well as Looking at the drafting of an RFI and that's about as far as I'm comfortable with right now I would just want to add to that You know and again, maybe this gets into the dirty details of the RFI But my hope would be that that RFI would be written in such a way that somebody who responds to it isn't necessarily Eliminated from doing future work. I understand there are guidelines Precure me guidelines around that but I would like some answer to that. Yeah, really good point admittedly. I'll need some legal help on that I want to make sure we don't stumble into that Potential and if it truly is a barrier we need to be very very clear on that Well, that'll be a condition president exactly exactly and the other point I want to make is In getting a legal analysis of The law case is surrounding the the the tribe and the department of materials decisions I Assume we are giving him the executive director the ability to use some funds if we need to go out and get Technical assistance. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. Let me take one step at a time We will get like the facts and then see in terms of I think interpretations and opinions on outcomes Boy, these are tricky. No, I think we're really asking for a Real legal analysis of Where we are right now because I it's been dynamic. I think we can all admit But because of the complexities of the legal analysis you you and the legal department may say We think we've got it, but we want to do the tribal double-check and there's no there's no problem with saying let's get a you know another set of eyes I Think we that that you don't need affirmative authorization. No, I could do that. Thank you though for that. It's guidance. That's helpful Thank you. And I and again, I think because there's been federal legislation just to include that update We will separate apart from the to court proceedings So and do we have a consensus that at this time and in no public hearings and We'll just right now ask for a federal update on the tribal issue and a draft RFI which We understand it will be a draft. I wouldn't be surprised if we've got to do a quite a bit of work on it Because it is a different approach with the Understanding that a respondent would not be precluded from a potential RFRRP I think yeah to the extent that that's permissible Thank you anything further that we want to give guidance on this matter I think if I can just add one more thing, you know in our In our packet, I know all of us saw this Not only did we have a letter from From good when the representatives from Mg and e in regard to this issue, but we also have What I know we were given samples, but over 300 messages I counted of from folks who were Opposed to the proposal down in Brockton As part of our packet. I Know we've also seen a passionate letter from the mayor. We've also heard testimony from the state senator You know, I don't want it to go unnoticed. I don't think it has that Brockton is a gateway city and it is a city that is continued to Be anxious to find economic development opportunities to Turn around their pride city and offer new employment opportunities for their residents And I think you've heard that from both opponents and proponents of gaming as we've as we've listened to the folks in Brockton I've lived and worked in the gateway city I understand that that drive and ambition Somewhere in the back burner, I think it'd be great if we remained open somehow to a possible role we might play with That challenge before the city of Brockton. I don't know what shape it takes, but I would just like us to Be mindful of that Of that situation for the city And as a reminder at the proceeding at which Mr. Bloom and his lawyers Presented their motion for reconsideration We didn't include those comments because we viewed they were outside the scope of that proceeding However, at that proceeding The mayor again as an elected official was able to offer his insights on exactly those challenges that you Recognize a commissioner Stebbins today. We did include them to to really Provide a little glimpse of balance as to both the The good and proctor Letter and their request in the fact that we have in fact received significant public comment which Might suggest less support than what they were advocating for So again, it doesn't sound like we're going to solicit further public comment at this juncture or Go for public hearing because I think we recognize that more information will be helpful for not only asked But for the public is that there? Yes, okay Thank you. All right So that concludes your report under commission matters item 6 Ed and we do have our placeholder for commissioner updates if We could hold off on any commissioner updates in the interest of time and provide them At our next meeting which will be in plain Ridge Plainville, I'm sorry, that's right. It won't be at the casino. It'll be in at the plainville public safety facility Then we'll move on to Items number eight nine and ten because we have moved item number seven to our to another session Most likely our most next immediate session And with that items eight nine and ten our executive sessions Contemplated for executive sessions If we so vote for item eight the commission will go into executive session pursuant to mass general laws chapter 30a section 21a Subsection 3 for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining as discussion at an open meeting May have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the commission Do I have a motion to go into executive session for that purpose? so moved And I second that motion second Thank you, and as you understand an executive session requires a roll call vote commissioner stephens How do you vote hi? commissioners Sunica I Commissioner O'Brien I Commissioner Cameron I and the chair votes yes Moving on to item number nine if you so vote The commission will go into executive session in accordance with mass general laws chapter 30a Subsection 21a subsection 3 for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to the ongoing region a litigation as Discussion at an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation position of the commission Do I have a motion to go into executive session? Do I have a second second? Okay moved and second at this item as you know requires a roll call vote commissioner stephens I Commissioner Zunica. Hi commissioner O'Brien. I'm commissioner Cameron. I the chair votes yes As to item 10 Consistent with my past recusal. I will be recusing myself from this particular fine Executive session, and I have asked commissioner Cameron to chair that session If In accordance with Chapter 30a this executive section section 21a 3 for the purpose of discussing Strategy with respect to ongoing region a litigation And this is a discussion At an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on litigating the litigating position of the commission Do I have a motion to go into executive session? So moved a Second second again. This requires a roll call vote Commissioner stephens I Commissioner Zuniga. I commissioner O'Brien And I commissioner Cameron vote I as well and my recusal and the chair has just Mentioned that she's recusing from this item and make note of that Great before we Go into executive session item 11 does Ask if there's any business not reasonably anticipated at the time of posting I think we're all set so Commission will be now in executive session the public session of the commission meeting will not Reconvene at the conclusion of the executive sessions all members of the public and any staff members not involved in the matter to be Discussed must leave the room and the doors to the room will be closed. We thank all for your attention