Massachusetts Agencies Spend Taxpayer Money at Casinos
Public law enforcement and state offices in Massachusetts utilized taxpayer-funded credit cards to spend tens of thousands of dollars at casinos nationwide during the last fiscal year, as revealed by data shared with the Herald.
Sheriff’s Departments Lead Casino Spending
Several sheriff’s departments were prominent in their casino expenditures in states such as Missouri, Nevada, and Connecticut. Officials indicated that these costs were primarily related to hotel stays for multiple national conferences. This spending is part of a broader dataset totaling $7.3 million for fiscal year 2025.
Barnstable Sheriff’s Department Expenses
The Barnstable Sheriff’s Department, under Sheriff Donna Buckley since January 2023, reported over $9,400 spent at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the Horseshoe Las Vegas. A department spokesperson explained that five employees stayed at Mohegan Sun for the Daigle Law Group’s Use of Force Summit in December 2024, emphasizing the importance of training staff in de-escalation techniques.
Details of Charges at Casinos
Data shows that the agency incurred $2,540 in charges at Mohegan Sun between September and November 2024, which included an individual purchase of $1,811. Additionally, four employees attended the National Conference on Correctional Healthcare at the Horseshoe Hotel in Las Vegas in October 2024 after their original hotel choice was sold out.
Guidelines on Public Spending
Massachusetts state guidelines suggest that public entities use taxpayer-funded procurement cards as a “last resort” for payments, although overnight accommodations at hotels are permitted, according to the state’s budget office.
Other Departments’ Casino Visits
Other sheriff’s departments also reported significant spending. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Department spent over $3,000 at Caesar’s Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, with charges for hotel rooms for staff members attending the National Conference on Correctional Health Care. Similarly, the Hampden Sheriff’s Department spent over $2,600 for a similar purpose.
Broader Public Spending Patterns
Other public organizations also utilized taxpayer funds for casino-related expenses. The Municipal Police Training Committee spent $674 at Mohegan Sun in November 2024, while the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office reported $498 in expenditures at the same casino. Additionally, several local sheriff’s departments continued to report hundreds of dollars spent at major Las Vegas casinos for conferences and training events.
