Industry reps applaud Ask appointment
Contacted by the Montana Tavern Times after the announcement, Neil Peterson, Gaming Industry Association of Montana executive director, said, "I have known Rick Ask for quite some time. I was fortunate to work with him while I was at the Department of Revenue, and now during my time with the Gaming Industry Association.
"In both circumstances Rick has been a pleasure to work with," Peterson said. "Rick has a great working knowledge of gambling laws in Montana and always strives to apply rules and regulations in a consistent and fair manner.
"The GIA believes Atty. Gen. Bullock has made an excellent choice for GCD Administrator and has added a very capable member to his management team," Peterson said. "We look forward to continuing our work with Rick concerning the regulation of gambling in Montana."
Ronda Wiggers, who lobbies for the Montana Coin Machine Operators Association, said this of Ask:
"MCMOA was pleased to learn that Atty. Gen. Bullock decided to officially appoint Rick Ask to the position of Administrator of the Gambling Control Division. Rick has been with the agency since the beginning. Our working relationship with him has grown as the industry has grown and matured.
"Rick has a wealth of knowledge and understanding about both the department's operations and the industry," Wiggers said.
"As a personal observation, I work with a number of different state agencies," Wiggers said. "I find Gambling Control to be one of the best. They are dedicated employees who are friendly and easy to work with. They clearly understand the importance of regulating the industry but do so with courtesy and fairness.
"Promoting Rick from within this division is a great move."
John Tooke, owner of the Golden Spur casino in Miles City, a past president of the Gaming Industry Association and current chairman of the Gaming Advisory Council, said, "I've been observing close-up the operations of the gaming regulatory apparatus for about two decades.
"The GCD has come a long, long way in understanding and effectively performing its duties and functions and especially made great progress under (former Attorney General) Mike McGrath and his division administrators, Jim Oppedahl and Gene Huntington.
"Rick Ask has also been observing— and participating in—this evolution for two decades. He has an in-depth understanding of the division's mission—all the hows and whys. He's learned and grown a lot. I'm confident he's going to carry forward the tone established by his predecessors. I think (Atty. Gen.) Steve Bullock has made a superb choice."
Montana Tavern Association Government Affairs Counsel Mark Staples said, "There is no one in Montana with a more historical and comprehensive knowledge of gaming in Montana, its evolution, its big picture policy issues, as well as its minutiae. Rick's been a go-to guy on gaming in Montana since the get-go.
"This appointment is not only a very deserving affirmation of Rick's experience, expertise and temperament, it also speaks highly of the Attorney General for making such a wise choice.
"This is an appointment that Steve Bullock was entitled to make from any direction or field," Staples continued. "That he took his time, studied the situation, watched Rick's performance as his interim director and determined that Rick, the division veteran, was indeed the best person for the job, says a lot about Steve Bullock's deliberateness and judgment.
"I would guess there are a lot of state employees—in a lot of agencies—who are smiling at the good common sense of this appointment. I know MTA is as well."