
Backers of a North Jersey casino expansion ad campaign, the one that supported a referendum vote to take gaming into the north part of the Garden State, have thrown within the towel.
Investor and estate that is real Jeff Gural (right) with brand New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (left) claims that public mistrust of politicians is just a major good reason why nj’s casino expansion proposal is doomed to failure. Gural was a backer of the expansion push.
OUR Turn NJ, which was backed by billionaire investor Paul Fireman and real-estate mogul Jeff Gural, pulled its media advertising, apparently reluctant to plow more money into just what appears like a lost cause. Fireman and Gural had hoped to build one casino apiece, in the north regarding the state close to the border with New York.
The OUR Turn NJ (OTNJ) group said that polling showed appetite that is little voters for the proposal to break Atlantic City’s longstanding monopoly on casino video gaming and create two new licenses in the north. Voters are set to select the issue on a 8 ballot, but otnj now appears resigned to the idea that residents will likely vote overwhelmingly against expansion november.
Blindsided by Media Blitz
the 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 up 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 concentrated nearly entirely on the recognized untrustworthiness of the state’s politicians, rather than the casinos themselves.
‘Trenton political bosses are as much as their old games,’ proclaims one television spot, which continues on to claim that politicians will use the new casino revenue however they want, ‘just like they did once they bailed out Donald Trump’s failing casinos.’
Mistrust of Trenton
The campaign has been markedly effective in tapping into general public distrust of lawmakers. Polling by OTNJ found that just ten per cent of voters believed politicians would deliver on using the revenue for the purposes promised. Voters were additionally worried about the lack of details, such as precisely where the casinos would be built, or the rate that is exact of they would probably pay.
‘We believe deeply that gaming expansion to Northern New Jersey is a remarkable opportunity that should not be squandered,’ Gural and Fireman said in a statement that is official.
‘ We have committed $4 billion in private investment for this state to create resort that is world-class with video gaming. The advantages include 43,000 new jobs and vast sums of bucks in recaptured revenue, an opportunity that is rare New Jersey.
‘The information, however, speaks for it self,’ the investors noted. ‘The current governmental weather in brand New Jersey and voters’ concerns about the dearth of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming.’
American Gaming Association Recommends Repealing Sports Betting Ban
American Gaming Association employer Geoff Freeman, left, wants sports gambling legalized, but that could hamper DraftKings CEO Jason Robins’ day-to-day fantasy sports 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 federal ban on sports wagering.
The Professional and recreational Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 prevented states from providing gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were given special exemptions, as all four of those states were providing some variation of sports lotteries in 1992.
Now 24 years later, the AGA believes it’s time to annul PASPA.
This past 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 as to the reasons PASPA should be revoked.
Murphy’s IGAB consists of former police force officials now working to expose the massive unlawful gambling market that is black the United States.
‘ The current approach to sports gambling into the United States is not working,’ Murphy said this week in a statement. ‘It’s fueling enterprises that are criminal. The full time has come to repeal the current recreations ban that is betting replace it with rigorous laws that benefit states, protect consumers and continue maintaining the integrity of the games.’
PASPA Strikeout
In its ‘Law Enforcement Summit on Illegal Sports Betting,’ the IGAB opines that PASPA did precisely the opposite of what it intended to accomplish.
‘Instead of curbing illegal wagering, what the law states has driven sports betting underground, creating a thriving, $150-$500 billion black market with no consumer protection,’ the IGAB reports.
The IGAB thinks illegal sports betting fuels criminal syndicates, and that an available, transparent, and regulated sports industry that is betting 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 slowly 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 wanting to bring his Oakland Raiders to Sin City. Leagues have traditionally opposed Las Vegas because of its legalized sports wagering.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is additionally on board. ‘We have no idea what are you doing and there’s no transparency,’ Silver said in May. ‘it is thought by me should be legal; I think it ought to be regulated; it should be transparent.’
Canada Fighting Too
Sports wagering in Canada remains illegal, but that was very nearly changed recently, almost.
Unfortunately for the people looking to place wagers legitimately on displaying events in Canada, a bill to authorize betting that is single-game refused into the House of Commons this week.
The ‘secure and Regulated Sports Betting Act’ legislation failed 155 votes against to 133 in help.
Much like the AGA, the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) is campaigning for a governed recreations industry that is betting.
‘I regret that I do not have better news for Canadians,’ CGA President Bill Rutsey stated in a declaration. ‘ Those who understand what exactly is at risk, and the advantages that could occur by implementing legislation, 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 intentionally inflated the cost of a $262 million technology contract, wasting an incredible number of dollars that would otherwise have been spent on public education and wellness programs, according to the bidder that is losing London-based IGT.
An eight-year deal to provide central monitoring and a control system for ticket sales, by including forms of internet gambling that are not legal in the state in a letter of complaint seen by the Associated Press, IGT complains that lottery officials overstated the value of the contract.
The contract was ultimately awarded to incumbent provider Scientific Games, the highest bidder by $50 million.
Flawed Assessment
IGT says lottery officials later told them they bloated the contract to consist of online gambling in order ‘to avoid future review and approvals by the [Board of Public Works,’ in the case that on the web gambling is legalized. The Board of Public Functions, is required to approve all contracts over $200,000 by state law.
But this amounted to ‘materially flawed evaluation,’ stated IGT, particularly for a state facing an $800 million budget shortfall.
Curiously, Maryland will not be making any noises about regulating online gambling into the future that is near. Senator Edward Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore and Howard counties), the Senate’s primary budget 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 because the incumbent provider, Scientific Games needs to have been in a situation to create a lower offer because it currently has staff and infrastructure in place.
And now, conservative news blog RedState.com is questioning whether Lottery Director Gordon Medenica’s past professional relationship with Scientific has such a thing related to the situation.
It quotes an anonymous ‘industry insider’ whom said: ‘ The bid that is multiple and legislative scrutiny will really be uncomfortable for Gordon Medenica. Medenica ended up being an executive that is senior A new jersey business venture that was partially owned by Scientific Games. Offered this direct and well-known relationship, it is curious that he don’t recuse himself from the whole putting in a bid process.’
But Scientific Games’ senior vice president of Global Lottery Systems, Patrick McHugh, said his business won the bidding process square and fair because it outperformed its competitors in testing. He additionally noted that in 2016 the lottery produced record ticket sales of $1.9 billion producing $570 million to be utilized for good causes.
‘ Our high score reflects Scientific Games’ investment in services and services created to continue the lottery’s sales and profitability momentum for the beneficiaries of this state of Maryland,’ he said in a statement.
Wisconsin Gambling Addict Gets Probation for Delivering a huge selection of Pounds of Marijuana
Gambling can be risky business, but a Wisconsin gambling addict discovered that having to pay for your wagers by delivering cannabis is a bet that surely does not pay back. As a result of Judge James Peterson, pictured above he can be getting a chance that is second. (Image: Scripps Media/rightwisconsin.com)
Wisconsin gambling addict Kongsaden Khammanivong will be given a second chance by a Madison judge.
In July of 2015, Khammanivong had been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to circulate more than 50 kilograms (100 pounds) of marijuana between January 2014 and his arrest in July of 2015.
Khammanivong admitted he turned to delivering drugs 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 has now avoided gambling enterprises since his arrest 445 days prior.
In total, Khammanivong faced as much as 25 years in prison. But this week District Judge James Peterson in the Western District of Wisconsin went easy on Khammanivong in hopes that the gambling addict can turn his life around.
Instead of sending the 49-year-old behind bars, Peterson sentenced Khammanivong to 11 days in jail. With credit for time served stemming from 2015, Khammanivong left the courtroom a free guy.
‘He hasn’t relapsed. He is doubled straight down on helping his family members dolphin treasure pokies. 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’s confusing where or how money that is much lost gambling. The court was told by him he was compensated several hundred dollars for every single 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.
In accordance with Narcotic News, a pound of marijuana is currently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. This means Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of marijuana.
Of course, marijuana just isn’t heroin. Peterson apparently believed Khammanivong’s claims he didn’t play a role that is integral the drug ring, but simply served as a transporter.
Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is undoubtedly light considering the amount of cannabis Khammanivong was moving.
Just month that is last a former steel company CEO in Alabama was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for using insurance funds to pay off gambling debts incurred at Wynn Las Vegas.
Also in August, a story that is bizarre about two similar yet separate incidents involving female gambling addicts. Both women had stolen precisely $1.7 million from their respective employers in Connecticut and Minnesota, and both lost all 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 an additional 8 weeks in jail and two years of supervised home release.
Like Brother, Like Brother
The feds still have a case against Khammanivong, however Kongsaden Khammanivong but his younger bro Khongkha Khammanivong.
Khongkha, 43, is facing more serious charges. A total of nine counts for distributing methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine have actually been levied on younger Khammanivong, in which he’s also being accused of assisting cash laundering.
He’s dealing with a total of 60 years in prison and $5.5 million in fines.
Kongsaden Khammanivong is simply another example of the Vietnamese or Thailand migrant living in the United States who is promoting a gambling addiction. The rampant problem has recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities have a problem with illegal gambling homes.
