Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2000 | 4:25 a.m.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The former chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission denied Wednesday that he had improper contact with Michael Lazaroff, former attorney for Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas.
Robert Wolfson, chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission from April 1993 to January 1999, testified at a public hearing of the Missouri Gaming Commission.
The hearing is part of an investigation of bonuses totaling $500,000 that Station paid to Lazaroff for helping the firm to successfully gain gaming licenses in Missouri, where Station has big riverboat casinos in Kansas City and in St. Charles in the St. Louis market.
Lazaroff testified earlier Wednesday that he had several discussions with Wolfson on Station's behalf concerning Station's gaming license applications. Such discussions, if they happened, would be illegal under Missouri gaming law.
Wolfson acknowledged discussing "generic" gaming issues with Lazaroff but denied that he discussed issues specific to Station with Lazaroff.
"I was apalled by the distortions I just heard, sprinkled with elements of truth," Wolfson testified in response to Lazaroff's testimony.
"Whenever he tried to change the subject with me, I tried to discourage him," Wolfson said. "His frequent calls to me seemed to be trying to curry favor with me. We never had a tacit agreement (to talk about Station) at any time."
Wolfson acknowledged an error in dealing with Lazaroff. He said he asked the gaming attorney to place a $20 horse racing wager during one of Lazaroff's visits to Las Vegas. This bet was placed at a Station casino in Las Vegas after Station was licensed in Missouri.
Wolfson said he asked Lazaroff to place the bet because the wager could only be placed in Nevada.
Lynne Nikolaisen, a Missouri Gaming Commission member, asked Wolfson, "Didn't it occur to you ... that this was kind of a poor judgment call."
Wolfson responded, "It was in bad taste and in bad judgment. I completely agree."
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