
Backers of a North Jersey casino expansion ad campaign, the one which supported a referendum vote to take gaming into the part that is north of Garden State, have thrown into the towel.
Investor and estate that is real Jeff Gural (right) with 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 estate that is real Jeff Gural, pulled its media advertising campaign, apparently reluctant to plow more cash into exactly what seems like a lost cause. Fireman and Gural had hoped to build one casino apiece, into the north of the state near the border with New York.
The OUR Turn NJ (OTNJ) group said that polling revealed little appetite among 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 pick 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
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, an external poll released this week by Rutgers-Eagleton put the number even lower, at just 35 percent, while noting that 57 percent had been up against the concept.
The pro-expansion group admitted that it been blindsided by the media blitz launched by the opposition campaign, ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ which focused almost entirely on the identified untrustworthiness of their state’s politicians, instead than the casinos by themselves.
‘Trenton governmental bosses are as much as their old games,’ proclaims one television spot, which continues on to suggest that politicians will use the new casino revenue nevertheless 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 making use of general public distrust of lawmakers. Polling by OTNJ unearthed that just ten percent of voters believed politicians would deliver on making use of the revenue for the purposes promised. Voters had been also concerned about the lack of details, such as precisely where the casinos would be built, or the exact rate of taxes they may likely pay.
‘We think profoundly that gaming expansion to Northern New Jersey is a remarkable opportunity that shouldn’t be squandered,’ Gural and Fireman said in a statement that is official.
‘ We now have committed $4 billion in private investment for this state to create world-class resort destinations with gaming. The benefits 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 present political environment in New Jersey and voters’ concerns about the lack of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming.’
United States 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’ daily fantasy 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 federal ban on sports betting.
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 prevented states from offering gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were given special exemptions, as all four of these states were providing some variation of sports lotteries in 1992.
Now 24 years later, the AGA believes it’s 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 as to why PASPA should be revoked.
Murphy’s IGAB consists of former law enforcement officials now attempting to expose the massive unlawful gambling market that is black the United States.
‘ The current method of sports betting into the United States is no longer working,’ Murphy said this week in a statement. ‘It’s fueling enterprises that are criminal. Enough time has come to repeal the existing recreations ban that is betting replace it with rigorous regulations that benefit states, protect consumers and keep maintaining the integrity of the games.’
PASPA Strikeout
In its ‘Law Enforcement Summit on prohibited Sports Betting,’ the IGAB opines that PASPA did precisely the reverse of what it designed to accomplish.
‘Instead of curbing illegal betting, what the law states has driven recreations betting underground, creating a thriving, $150-$500 billion black market with no consumer protection,’ the IGAB reports.
The IGAB thinks illegal sports wagering fuels unlawful syndicates, and that an open, transparent, and regulated activities industry that is betting deliver a blow to those rogue gambling bands.
Though the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, along side the NCAA, recently won a federal appeals court decision against New Jersey to block the state from offering sports gambling, the leagues are gradually easing their hardline stances.
The NHL is bringing a franchise 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 typically opposed Las Vegas due to its legalized sports betting.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is additionally up to speed. ‘we have no basic idea what’s happening and there is no transparency,’ Silver said in May. ‘it is thought by me should be legal; I think it ought to be controlled; it should be transparent.’
Canada Battling Too
Sports betting in Canada is still unlawful, but that was almost changed recently, almost.
Unfortunately for all those looking to place wagers lawfully on displaying occasions 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) happens to be campaigning for a governed sports wagering industry.
‘I regret that I don’t have better news for Canadians,’ CGA President Bill Rutsey said in a statement. ‘ Those who comprehend what is in danger, 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 was a senior executive for a business enterprise that ended up being partially owned by Scientific Games. (Image: Kaitlin Newman)
The Maryland Lottery intentionally inflated the buying price of a $262 million technology contract, wasting millions 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 which 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 event that on the web gambling is legalized. The Board of Public Functions, is necessary to approve all contracts over $200,000 by state law.
But this amounted to ‘materially flawed evaluation,’ said IGT, particularly for the continuing state facing an $800 million budget shortfall.
Curiously, Maryland has not been making any noises about regulating online gambling in the near future. Senator Edward Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore and Howard counties), the Senate’s chief spending plan writer, 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 while the incumbent provider, Scientific Games needs to have been in a situation 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 relationship with Scientific has any such thing related to the situation.
It quotes an anonymous ‘industry insider’ whom stated: ‘ The multiple bid protests and legislative scrutiny will certainly be uncomfortable for Gordon Medenica. Medenica was an executive that is senior A new jersey business that was partially owned by Scientific Games. Offered this direct and well-known relationship, it is curious that he didn’t recuse himself from the complete bidding procedure.’
But Scientific Games’ senior vice president of worldwide Lottery Systems, Patrick McHugh, said his company won the bidding process square and fair as 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 designed to continue the lottery’s sales and profitability momentum for the beneficiaries associated with 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 business that is risky but a Wisconsin gambling addict discovered that paying for your wagers by delivering cannabis is really a bet that surely does not pay off. Because of Judge James Peterson, pictured above he can be getting a 2nd opportunity. (Image: Scripps Media/rightwisconsin.com)
Wisconsin gambling addict Kongsaden Khammanivong has been given a second possibility by a Madison judge.
In July of 2015, Khammanivong was 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.
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Khammanivong admitted he turned to delivering medications to fuel his gambling addiction. During his September sentencing that is 20th Khammanivong sobbed to the judge as he explained how gambling took over his life.
Khammanivong revealed he’s attended Gamblers Anonymous and has prevented gambling enterprises since his arrest 445 days prior.
In total, Khammanivong faced as much as 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 can change his life around.
Instead of sending the 49-year-old behind bars, Peterson sentenced Khammanivong to 11 days in prison. A free man with credit for time served stemming from 2015, Khammanivong left the courtroom.
‘He hasn’t relapsed. He is doubled straight down on helping his family. He gets how serious this is,’ Khammanivong’s attorney Marcus Berghahn told the Wausau Daily Herald.
Khammanivong’s casino addiction reportedly are priced at him his marriage, though it is ambiguous where or how much cash he 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 period that is 17-month.
According to Narcotic News, a pound of cannabis is currently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. Meaning Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of marijuana.
Needless to say, marijuana is not heroin. Peterson apparently thought Khammanivong’s claims that he didn’t play an integral role in the drug ring, but simply served as a transporter.
Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is definitely light considering the amount of cannabis Khammanivong was moving.
Simply month that is last a former steel company CEO in Alabama was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for using insurance funds to cover off gambling debts incurred at Wynn Las Vegas.
Also in August, a bizarre tale broke about two similar yet split 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 had been sentenced to 42 months in jail and three years of supervised probation. Patricia Meehan of Connecticut, who was first charged in 2010 and served 46 months behind bars, violated her parole in 2016 and was handed yet another 8 weeks in prison and two years of supervised home release.
Like Brother, Like Brother
The feds nevertheless have a case against Khammanivong, although not Kongsaden Khammanivong but his younger bro Khongkha Khammanivong.
Khongkha, 43, is facing more charges that are serious. A total of nine counts for distributing methamphetamine, cannabis, and cocaine have actually been levied on the younger Khammanivong, in which he’s additionally being accused of assisting money laundering.
He’s facing a total of 60 years in jail and $5.5 million in fines.
Kongsaden Khammanivong is simply another instance of a Vietnamese or Thailand living that is migrant the US whom is promoting a gambling addiction. The problem that is rampant recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities have trouble with illegal gambling houses.