Bermuda’s proposed gaming fees drew alarm from Australian casino expert Tibor Vertes, according to Independent MP Shawn Crockwell, who maintains that the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission remains on the wrong track.

But Alan Dunch, the chairman of the group, stuck by his statements defending the commission’s work, as well as that of Richard Schuetz, the commission’s executive director.

In addition, Mr Dunch queried the background of Mr Vertes, whom Mr Crockwell said had contacted both he and fellow MP Mark Pettingill, now also an Independent, to express concern at “Mr Schuetz and the level of the fees” after meeting with the commission head.

Talks with Mr Crockwell and Mr Pettingill were said to occur before the debate in Parliament on the fees and their implications.

Mr Crockwell shared an e-mail from Mr Vertes to Michael Dunkley, sent on February 8, in which the visitor laid out his concern over casino charges to the Premier — stating that “boutique” establishments were “the only enterprise that is viable in Bermuda”.

However, Mr Dunch said that until yesterday he had never heard of Mr Vertes.

“Mr Crockwell said we, the commission, met with him. We did not,” Mr Dunch told The Royal Gazette.

“Since being given his name, I have done some limited research on him. As far as I can tell, he is not involved in the casino business at all. He is an internet gaming operator and, interestingly enough, I believe that Australia just banned internet gaming.”

In a statement issued yesterday in response to Mr Dunch’s rebuttal of the MPs’ criticism, Mr Crockwell was at pains to stress his view of all five commission members as being “of the highest integrity with an unquestionable commitment to the overall advancement of Bermuda”.

His issue was reserved for Mr Schuetz, who, he said, had “hijacked the clear vision for casino gaming in Bermuda from the Government and from Parliament and is taking Bermuda down the wrong path”.

Mr Crockwell continued to hammer the commission for failing to consult with prospective gaming operators before the proposed fees were tabled in the House of Assembly.

The MP conceded that the public dispute with the commission was “not helpful”, saying there had since been “a constructive conversation with chairman Dunch”.

Mr Dunch, meanwhile, told this newspaper that he had nothing to retract in light of Mr Crockwell’s response.

“It may be that he had persons make contact with him — but what Parliament was told was that those persons had contacted the commission. That was not true,” Mr Dunch said.

“Parliament was also told that the designated site holders had made complaint to the commission about the level of the approved fees. That was not true.

“It is correct, and I have never resiled from this, that there was no consultation with prospective operators on the issue of fees. There was never intended to be. The ministers, in Parliament and in the Senate, made clear that that was the case. The fees were based upon the mandate from the Minister of Finance that the commission had to be self-funding.

“It is ironic that one of the first meetings that I attended at the request of Mr Crockwell was with the Maryland Gaming Commission in March 2015. One of the pieces of advice that commission gave us was that we should not allow operators to be involved in the issue of setting fees. Mr Crockwell was at that meeting. With that in mind, I simply do not understand how he can say that it was wrong that we proceeded in the way that we did. Certainly we have never received any advice from professional consultants to that effect.”

The chairman said he could not understand the MP’s cause for issue with Mr Schuetz.

“I deeply resent the fact that he and others feel it appropriate to defame people with unquestioned expertise who come to Bermuda at our invitation to assist us, all the more so because Mr Schuetz was introduced to us by GLI [Gaming Laboratories International, a consultant body appointed by Mr Crockwell, and was engaged with his approval.

“To say that Mr Schuetz has hijacked the clear vision for casino gaming, an assertion that is not particularised, is misguided and wrong. Mr Schuetz works hand in hand with me and my fellow commissioners.

“We have the highest regard for him, as does the industry at large. We have not hijacked anything. On the contrary, the commission, Mr Schuetz and all our hard-working staff, consultants and advisers are, in fact, pursuing the mandate that we now have under the Casino Gaming Act, as amended. Nothing more, nothing less.

“I would finish by simply reiterating that the only clients that the commission are interested in are the people of Bermuda.”

For Crockwell’s full response, click on PDF link under Related Media.