Casino gaming has expanded considerably across the United States. Concentrated gaming destinations of Las Vegas and Atlantic City have been joined by expanded tribal gaming and resort-style casinos from well-known operators. Casinos are a highly regulated industry on many levels, including by each jurisdiction’s gaming commission.

In Massachusetts, the Expanded Gaming Act of 2011 authorized three resort-style casinos and one slot parlor. It also provided the space and guidance to develop a compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag to develop a tribal casino. In the decade since its passage, the Expanded Gaming Act has led to two resort casinos and one slot parlor. Expanded Gaming was designed to bring jobs. From construction to operation, it created thousands of jobs.

In Massachusetts, casino operators, qualifiers and vendors are highly scrutinized. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is the primary regulator. Its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau has law enforcement powers and is embedded with Massachusetts State Police. The potent secondary regulator is the Gaming Enforcement Division of the Office of the Attorney General. The Gaming Enforcement Division possesses statewide jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute activity that impacts Massachusetts casinos.