
Backers of a North Jersey casino expansion ad campaign, one which supported a referendum vote to take gaming in to the north part of the Garden State, have thrown within the towel.
Investor and estate that is real Jeff Gural (right) with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (left) says that general public mistrust of politicians is really a major good reason why New Jersey’s casino expansion proposal is doomed to failure. Gural ended up being a backer of the expansion push.
OUR Turn NJ, that has been backed by billionaire investor Paul Fireman and real-estate mogul Jeff Gural, pulled its media advertising, apparently unwilling to plow additional money into exactly what looks like a lost cause. Fireman and Gural had hoped to build one casino apiece, in the north for the continuing state near the border with New York.
The OUR Turn NJ (OTNJ) group said that polling showed appetite that is little voters for the proposal to split Atlantic City’s longstanding monopoly on casino gaming and create two new licenses in the north. Voters are set to select the issue on A november 8 ballot, but otnj now appears resigned to your indisputable fact that residents will likely vote overwhelmingly against expansion.
Blindsided by Media Blitz
OUR Turn NJ stated on Thursday said that an internal poll found just 37 percent of the latest Jersey residents supported amending the constitution to pave just how for the new casinos. Meanwhile, a poll that is external this week by Rutgers-Eagleton place the number even lower, at just 35 percent, while noting that 57 percent had been against the idea.
The pro-expansion group admitted that it been blindsided by the news blitz launched by the opposition campaign, ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ which focused nearly entirely on the observed untrustworthiness of hawaii’s politicians, rather than the casinos on their own.
‘Trenton political bosses are as much as their old games,’ proclaims one television spot, which continues to suggest that politicians will use the new casino revenue nonetheless they want, ‘just they bailed out Donald Trump’s failing gambling enterprises. like they did whenever’
Mistrust of Trenton
The campaign has been markedly effective in experiencing general public distrust of lawmakers. Polling by OTNJ unearthed that just ten per cent of voters believed politicians would deliver on making use of the revenue for the purposes promised. Voters had been additionally concerned about the not enough details, such as precisely where the casinos will be built, or the exact rate of taxes they would probably pay.
‘We think deeply that gaming expansion to Northern New Jersey is a remarkable opportunity that shouldn’t be squandered,’ Gural and Fireman said in a formal statement.
‘ We now have committed $4 billion in private investment to the state to create world-class resort destinations with video gaming. The benefits include 43,000 new jobs and vast sums of bucks in recaptured revenue, an opportunity that is rare nj-new jersey.
‘The data, however, speaks for itself,’ the investors noted. ‘The present governmental weather in brand New Jersey and voters’ concerns about the shortage of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming.’
American Gaming Association Recommends Repealing Sports Betting Ban
American Gaming Association boss Geoff Freeman, left, wants sports betting legalized, but that could hamper DraftKings CEO Jason Robins’ day-to-day dream activities market. (Image: Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is recommending to Congress that it repeal the nearly quarter-century old ban that is federal sports wagering.
The expert and recreational Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 prevented states from offering gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were awarded special exemptions, as all four of these states were offering some variation of sports lotteries in 1992.
Now 24 years later, the AGA believes it is time to annul PASPA.
Last year, the AGA formed its Illegal Gambling Advisory Board (IGAB) led by former FBI Deputy Director Tim Murphy. This week, the board issued five conclusions why PASPA should be revoked.
Murphy’s IGAB consists of former law enforcement officials now trying to expose the massive unlawful gambling black market in the United States.
‘ The approach that is current sports wagering in the United States is no longer working,’ Murphy stated this week in a statement. ‘It’s fueling enterprises that are criminal. The time has come to repeal the present sports betting ban and change it with rigorous laws that benefit states, protect consumers and maintain the integrity of the games.’
PASPA Strikeout
In its ‘Law Enforcement Summit on Illegal Sports Betting,’ the IGAB opines that PASPA did precisely the reverse of what it intended to accomplish.
‘Instead of curbing illegal wagering, what the law states has driven activities betting underground, making a thriving, $150-$500 billion black market with no consumer protection,’ the IGAB reports.
The IGAB thinks illegal sports betting fuels unlawful syndicates, and that an open, transparent, and regulated sports betting industry would deliver a blow to those rogue gambling rings.
Though the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, along with the NCAA, recently won a federal appeals court decision against New Jersey to block the state from providing sports gambling, the leagues are gradually easing their hardline stances.
A franchise is being brought by the NHL to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 period, and NFL owner Mark Davis is trying to bring his Oakland Raiders to Sin City. Leagues have traditionally opposed Las Vegas due to its legalized sports wagering.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is also on board. ‘we now have no idea what’s going on and there’s no transparency,’ Silver said in May. ‘we think it should be legal; I think it should be controlled; it should be transparent.’
Canada Battling Too
Sports wagering in Canada is still unlawful, but that was almost changed recently, almost.
Unfortunately for people looking to place wagers legally on displaying occasions in Canada, a bill to authorize single-game betting was refused in the House of Commons this week.
The ‘Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act’ legislation failed 155 votes against to 133 in help.
Much like the AGA, the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) happens to be campaigning for a governed recreations wagering industry.
‘I regret that I do not have better news for Canadians,’ CGA President Bill Rutsey stated in a declaration. ‘ Those who comprehend what exactly is in danger, and the advantages that could occur by implementing regulation, are frustrated and dissatisfied by the vote.’
The CGA estimates over $10.5 billion is wagered illegally on sports by Canadians each year.
Maryland Lottery Controversy Over-Inflated $262 Million Tech Contract
Maryland Lottery Director Gordon Medenica had been a executive that is senior a business venture that had been partially owned by Scientific Games. (Image: Kaitlin Newman)
The Maryland Lottery deliberately inflated the price of a $262 million technology contract, wasting millions of dollars that would otherwise have been spent on general public training and wellness programs, according to the bidder that is losing London-based IGT.
In a letter of complaint seen by the Associated Press, IGT complains that lottery officials overstated the value regarding the contract, an eight-year deal to provide central monitoring and a control system for ticket sales, by including kinds of internet gambling that aren’t legal in the state.
The contract was ultimately awarded to incumbent provider Scientific Games, the bidder that is highest by $50 million.
Flawed Evaluation
IGT says lottery officials later told them they bloated the contract to consist of online gambling to be able ‘to avoid review that is future approvals by the [Board of Public Functions,’ in case that on line gambling is legalized. The Board of Public Works, is required to approve all contracts over $200,000 by state law.
But this amounted to ‘materially flawed evaluation,’ said IGT, particularly for a state facing an $800 million spending plan shortfall.
Curiously, Maryland is not making any noises about regulating online gambling in the near future. Senator Edward Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore and Howard counties), the Senate’s primary budget dolphin treasure slot download journalist, told the Baltimore Sun recently that the legislature is ‘strongly opposed’ to legalizing gaming that is online.
Concerns over Lottery Directors’ Links to Scientific
IGT noted that as the provider that is incumbent Scientific Games needs been in a posture to make a lower offer because it already has staff and infrastructure in place.
And now, conservative news blog RedState.com is questioning whether Lottery Director Gordon Medenica’s past professional association with Scientific has any such thing to do with the problem.
It quotes an anonymous ‘industry insider’ whom said: ‘ The multiple bid protests and legislative scrutiny will certainly be uncomfortable for Gordon Medenica. Medenica was an executive that is senior a nj-new jersey business venture that was partially owned by Scientific Games. Offered this direct and well-known relationship, it is curious that he did not recuse himself from the complete bidding process.’
But Scientific Games’ senior vice president of Global Lottery Systems, Patrick McHugh, said his company won the bidding process fair and square because it outperformed its competitors in testing. He additionally noted that in 2016 the lottery created record admission sales of $1.9 billion creating $570 million to be utilized for good factors.
‘ Our high rating reflects Scientific Games’ investment in new items and services created to continue the lottery’s sales and profitability momentum for the beneficiaries for the state of Maryland,’ he said in a statement.
Wisconsin Gambling Addict Gets Probation for Delivering Hundreds of Pounds of Marijuana
Gambling can be business that is risky but a Wisconsin gambling addict discovered that having to pay for your wagers by delivering marijuana is just a bet that certainly does not repay. Thanks to Judge James Peterson, pictured above he will be getting a 2nd chance. (Image: Scripps Media/rightwisconsin.com)
Wisconsin gambling addict Kongsaden Khammanivong has been given a second chance by a Madison judge.
In July of 2015, Khammanivong ended up being indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to distribute more than 50 kilograms (100 pounds) of marijuana between January 2014 and their arrest in July of 2015.
Khammanivong admitted he turned to delivering medications to fuel his gambling addiction. During their September 20th sentencing, Khammanivong sobbed to the judge as he explained how gambling took over his life.
Khammanivong revealed he’s attended Gamblers Anonymous and contains avoided casinos since his arrest 445 days prior.
In total, Khammanivong faced up to 25 years in jail. But this week District Judge James Peterson in the Western District of Wisconsin went easy on Khammanivong in hopes that the gambling addict are able to turn his life around.
Instead of sending the 49-year-old behind bars, Peterson sentenced Khammanivong to 11 days in jail. A free man with credit for time served stemming from 2015, Khammanivong left the courtroom.
‘He hasn’t relapsed. He’s doubled straight down on helping his household. He gets just how serious this is,’ Khammanivong’s lawyer Marcus Berghahn told the Wausau Daily Herald.
Khammanivong’s casino addiction reportedly cost him his marriage, though it is ambiguous where or how money that is much lost gambling. The court was told by him he was paid several hundred dollars for every marijuana transport.
Pretty Peterson Please
The Western District of Wisconsin estimated Khammanivong delivered as much as 176 pounds of cannabis during the 17-month period.
Based on Narcotic Information, a lb of marijuana is currently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. This means Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of cannabis.
Needless to say, marijuana is not heroin. Peterson apparently believed Khammanivong’s claims he didn’t play an integral role in the medication ring, but simply served as a transporter.
Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is certainly light thinking about the amount of cannabis Khammanivong was moving.
Simply month that is last a previous steel company CEO in Alabama was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for making use of insurance coverage funds to cover off gambling debts incurred at Wynn Las Vegas.
Also in August, a story that is bizarre about two similar yet split incidents involving female gambling addicts. Both women had stolen exactly $1.7 million from their employers that are respective Connecticut and Minnesota, and both lost all of the money gambling.
Diane Eiler of Minnesota was sentenced to 42 months in jail and three years of supervised probation. Patricia Meehan of Connecticut, who was first charged this season and served 46 months behind bars, violated her parole in 2016 and was handed yet another 8 weeks in jail and two years of supervised home release.
Like Brother, Like Brother
The feds nevertheless have a case against Khammanivong, yet not Kongsaden Khammanivong but their younger brother Khongkha Khammanivong.
Khongkha, 43, is facing more charges that are serious. A total of nine counts for distributing methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine have been levied on younger Khammanivong, in which he’s additionally being accused of assisting money laundering.
He is dealing with a total of 60 years in jail and $5.5 million in fines.
Kongsaden Khammanivong is simply another instance of the Vietnamese or Thailand living that is migrant the US who is promoting a gambling addiction. The problem that is rampant recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities struggle with illegal gambling homes.