Sunday, March 04, 2007

The state Public Regulation Commission wants to have its workers attend
training sessions on gambling in the wake of an investigation into
allegations that PRC employees took part in a type of lottery dubbed "dollar
roll." PRC Chairman Ben R. Luján on Thursday sent a letter asking the Gaming
Control Board to conduct two training sessions, which would be mandatory for
all agency employees. "The commission is taking a very proactive role,"
Luján said. Luján made his remarks after commissioners discussed an ongoing
investigation into the gambling allegations for roughly 45 minutes behind
closed doors. Commissioners took no action during the closed session, Luján
said. One employee remains on unpaid leave pending the investigation, Luján
said. He would not identify the worker, saying it was a personnel matter.
Public Regulation Commissioner Sandy Jones on Thursday said the agency is
close to finishing its investigation of the gambling allegations.
The PRC last week suspended the unidentified employee without pay. PRC Chief
of Staff Daniel Mayfield last week e-mailed a letter to agency employees
saying the PRC was investigating the allegations, and gambling on PRC
premises or during work hours would result in disciplinary action. An
anonymous letter mailed to The New Mexican in an Insurance Division envelope
alleged that several employees of that branch of the PRC and the agency's
Transportation Division were taking part every payday in a gambling game
called "dollar roll." According to the letter, dollar roll is a type of
lottery where players write their name on an adhesive note and attach it to
a dollar bill. The dollar is rolled, bound with a rubber band and placed in
a box. The winner's name then is drawn from the box, and the winner gets all
the money in the box, according to the letter. The Gaming Control Board has
forwarded the anonymous letter to the state Department of Public Safety,
said John Monforte, executive director of the board. Monforte said the
agency likely would provide a seminar for PRC employees on state gaming laws
once it receives Luján's letter. "We probably would be open-minded and
assist in that," Monforte said.