Maine’s Gambling Control Unit Head Finishes One Week Suspension

Article ByDavid Weir

July 10, 2023

Spread the Word:

Posted in: Maine Gambling News, US Gambling News, US Sports Betting News

Milton Champion, the executive director of Maine’s Gambling Control Unit, was handed a week-long suspension without pay earlier this month, which he has now served.

The ban came after a two-month long investigation into inappropriate social media posts, during which time Champion was also place on paid leave.

Back in May, officials discovered inflamattory content posted by Champion on his (now deleted) Twitter account. The tweets, which later disappeared along with the account, contained derogatory comments about women and comments on a white nationalist group.

Champion returns to work today, June 10. He will be rejoining his office’s efforts to launch regulated sports betting in Maine, which became legal more than two years ago in May 2022.

A Misstep in Judgment

The two tweets in question, posted in May, were intended to be humorous, according to Champion.

However, they were widely perceived as offensive and inappropriate.

One post was in reply to a photo of another Twitter user’s photos of a white nationalist rally.

“At least they are not burning down cities and looting stores,” Champion tweeted.

The Maine Bureau of Human Resources substantiated a complaint about the tweets, citing their potential to negatively impact the reputation and work of the Department of Public Safety.

“While the two tweets were intended to be humorous, I recognize they were anything but. They were a mistake and an error in judgment, and I apologize for my actions,” Champion said in a statement late on Friday, as reported by Alternative Press.

In addition to the unpaid suspension, Champion is required to complete training on workplace harassment and social media policies.

The disciplinary action is a clear indication that inappropriate behavior, even on personal social media accounts, can have serious consequences, especially for public servants.

Maine Sports Betting Delays

The suspension came at a time when Maine’s sports betting market is facing significant delays.

Champion is a key figure in building Maine’s legal sports betting framework. So, any time off work could easily lead to further delays for the market launch.

He was hired in 2016 on the back of 30 years experience in the gaming industry. That included heading up regulation of pari-mutuel online wagering in Florida, and five years as a freelance regulatory consultant for gaming operators.

Since he began heading up Maine’s gambling regulator, the Pine Tree State has legalized sports betting in May 2022. But so far, two years later, no regulated operators have been given the go-ahead to launch.

“Rules don’t get done in a week,” we reported Champion saying at the time.

“I hate to be disappointing to Mainers. But I’d be rather realistic than roll the sports betting rules out in six to eight months and have people happy because we did it so quick.”