MGM Springfield to pay USD 100 G penalty for underage violations

MGM Springfield agreed Thursday to pay the financial penalty imposed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

"The (commission’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau) has assessed MGM Springfield with an administrative penalty of $100,000 for violations related to noncompliance with provisions regarding underage minors and underage persons," said Karen Wells, head of the commission’s investigations unit, during a public meeting.

Under state law, visitors under the age of 21 are prohibited from being present in the gaming area, let alone playing slots or ordering alcoholic beverages.

"It’s just a systemic issue with all these entrances that you don’t have this one chokepoint where you can automatically keep everyone off the floor," said Wells. "It’s a challenging situation for both the regulator and the licensee."

Last week, MGM International Resorts announced it had ended talks with Wynn over the potential sale of its Encore Boston Harbor casino. The company alluded to concerns raised by public officials, including Governor Charlie Baker, legislators, and the mayors of Springfield and Everett. Encore Boston Harbor is still slated to open next month in Everett.

Completing the deal would have forced MGM to relinquish the casino license it holds in Western Massachusetts, and even sell MGM Springfield.

Commission investigators found there were 44 documented incidents involving underage patrons present and/or gambling on the casino floor since its opening. Many of those patrons were between the ages of 18 and 20 years old, and some were consuming alcohol.

MGM Springfield executives told the commission the company is ramping up enforcement and intercepting underage visitors who walk onto the gaming floor. MGM Springfield has 125,000 square feet of casino space with 2,500 slot machines.

"This is a real focus for the company," said MGM Springfield president Michael Mathis. "I think collectively, we have to talk about what we’re going to do in terms of penalizing folks. There needs to be some serious repercussions for sneaking on the floor."

"I know in some other jurisdictions, you can potentially lose your driver’s license — real ramifications so that the word gets out," Mathis said. "There’s an enforcement piece that we’re not able to employ that we can use your support or the AG’s office."

MGM Springfield executives said they have added more “Under 21” signs throughout the property, increased security presence at peak times and the option of hand stamps for young legal gamblers who frequently get ID’d.