AIJA President Denounces the Lack of Inspectors in Puerto Rico’s Casinos

Puerto Rico Gaming Commission Blamed for the Lack of Personnel to Report Illegal Activity

PUERTO RICO (December 14, 2022) — On days when the San Juan Court filed charges of fraud and the illegal appropriation against a man who was caught manipulating a machine in a Condado casino, Edgardo Lizardi, president of the Association of Gambling Inspectors (AIJA) denounced that cases how these can be repeated in the absence of inspectors from the Gaming Commission of the Government of Puerto Rico in the casinos.

“The lack of inspectors in the country’s casinos could cause cases like the one seen these days, where a person illegally appropriated $18,000 by mutilating a machine, to be repeated and even more so when Alexis Berrios, “Chief of Staff” of The Puerto Rico Gaming Commission has given the instruction to limit the overtime that is worked (due to the lack of personnel) even if this implies leaving the casino unattended and without the surveillance of the inspectors. Law 11 of 2004 enables all inspectors to notify the Puerto Rico police when cases like these occur in order to carry out the pertinent complaint process, if the inspectors are not in the casino, no illegal activity can be reported.” He explained.

Lizardi explained that the instruction given by the executive of the Commission violates Law 221, which establishes that no gaming room in Puerto Rico can operate without an inspector.

“The instruction they gave is a gross violation of the law. Casinos have to have an inspector at all times to avoid fraud, and theft, prevent situations, and to certify the prizes obtained by visitors. Leaving a casino uncovered due to lack of personnel, and because the personnel that is there are not allowed to work anymore, is an irresponsibility of the Gaming Commission,” he stressed.

The union leader added that this determination could leave the casinos without inspectors for periods of 8 hours and even more, a period in which prizes will not be certified or the integrity of the games in the rooms will be ensured.

“Leaving the casinos for 8 hours and even more without an inspector is a risk that the Commission is taking. This already began to happen when in recent days a supervisor ordered an inspector to leave the game room and leave it unsupervised for two hours until the next inspector arrived. All this situation is caused by not wanting to hire more staff to cover the need that exists in the casinos around the Island. Currently, we are 59 inspectors who visit all the game rooms in the Country. We need them to hire the necessary personnel to maintain the integrity of the processes and that the casinos are always covered as indicated by law,” he concluded.

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SOURCE: Metro Puerto Rico.