DELAWARE STATE POLICE VIDEO LOTTERY ENFORCEMENT UNIT
Lieutenant Joseph Huttie
The Video Lottery Enforcement Unit (VLEU) has been in place since video lottery terminals were permitted at Delaware’s three horse racing tracks, Delaware Park near Wilmington, Dover Downs in Dover and Harrington Raceway and Casino in Harrington. The VLEU maintains offices at all three tracks and the main office is located next to the state lottery office on McKee Road in Dover.
In 2008, the VLEU was under the direction of Lieutenant Jeffrey David. Sergeant Joseph Ferrera supervises the VLEU investigative staff. The investigative staff includes Master Corporal Neal Potts, Master Corporal Mark MacMicking, and Master Corporal Timothy Gallagher. Ms. Betsy McIntosh is the unit’s Administrative Assistant. Delaware video lottery & horse racing venues are among the largest tourism destinations in the state. The revenue generated contributes in excess of 200 million dollars to the State’s general fund each year and is the State’s fourth largest revenue source. The industry has contributed more than 2 billion dollars in the past 13 years since legislation was enacted.
The VLEU is unique in that most of the job tasks are specific to the Video Lottery Enforcement Unit. The Unit investigates all criminal activity involving video lottery proceeds and video lottery terminal operations.
One of the primary functions of the VLEU is the licensing of all employees at the three tracks and the associated background investigations. The VLEU continually monitors the more than 2,159 employees at the three tracks for regulatory compliance and criminal activity. All reports of violations of state law or the Delaware Lottery Rules & Regulations are investigated and acted upon if necessary. The licensing background investigations include the owner and operators of the three race tracks, major shareholders if publicly traded, any labor union affiliated with the tracks, the management service providers, the central computer system vendor and the five video lottery game manufacturers currently contracted by the state lottery. The VLEU assists the lottery with regulation and compliance duties such as the delivery and removal of video lottery terminals to Delaware insuring compliance with the federal Johnson Act, conducting surveillance inspections of the gaming floor and jackpot verifications in excess of $50,000.
In February of 2008, Harrington Raceway and Slots completed the final phase of their expansion project that started in 2007. The expansion project nearly doubled the size of their facility. During the final phase the VLEU inspected the surveillance system and over 500 additional video games which were installed in the new expanded area insuring compliance with Video Lottery Rules and Regulations. In July of 2008, Dover Downs unveiled their new casino floor expansion consisting of 412 new Video Lottery Terminals. The expansion required a compliance inspection by the VLEU prior to their Grand Opening. There are a total of 8327 Video Lottery Terminals in full operation at the tracks.
The VLEU assisted the Lottery office with a Request for Proposal (RFP) to bring fully automated roulette games to Delaware’s gaming venues. This was a year long process, from the first meeting in January 2008 until the installation of the first roulette game in December the same year. These games simulate a live roulette game with an authentic automated wheel and spinning ball, video display, and touch screen eliminating a person to deal the game. These games were approved by the Delaware Lottery to compete with neighboring states that have gaming, or are in the process of implementing gaming in their state. The state Legislation enacted (HB494) in 2008 to modify the casino hours to a full 24 hour operation except Christmas Day and Easter.
The VLEU frequently receives calls for assistance from other police agencies throughout the state and country regarding licensing and criminal investigations that have a nexus to video lottery. The VLEU conducted training seminars through out the year for Video Lottery personnel on criminal activity and lottery rules and regulations.
In 2008, representatives from Georgia Lottery, Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Police participated in an on site training and guidance regarding Delaware’s law enforcement and regulatory responsibilities and the interaction with the Lottery, tracks, vendors and employees.
The Video Lottery Enforcement Unit members are a unique investigative unit dedicated to maintaining a sound and crime free video lottery operation within the state. The unit continually works with lottery officials, tracks, gaming and equipment manufactures, and other gaming jurisdictions throughout the country in order to provide an honest and safe gaming environment for all patrons and employees throughout the state of Delaware.
- Information obtained from 2008 DSP Annual Report -
