HARRISBURG — State Auditor General Jack Wagner on Wednesday accused the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board of violating state law by allowing millions of dollars in contracts to be executed without approving them at public meetings, although the board contends it was not required to do so.

“We think the law is pretty darn clear,” Wagner told reporters in a news conference to release an audit of the six-year-old agency responsible for licensing and regulating the state’s casino industry.

Wagner said his office’s audit uncovered 19 service contracts worth about $7 million that should have been approved by the seven-member gaming board at a public meeting, rather than by delegating that authority to agency employees. He said the gaming board violated the state’s Sunshine Act, which governs public access to government meetings, and is forwarding his findings to the state attorney general’s office.

Gaming board spokesman said Doug Harbach said officials there have consulted with executive-branch lawyers about the agency’s contracting practices, and board officials believe they are complying with the law.

“There’s a difference of opinions on how we’re conducting our contracting and how the auditor general believes it should be done,” Harbach said.

However, Harbach said officials take the findings very seriously and, when practical, will approve contracts with a public vote.