
Backers of a North Jersey casino expansion ad campaign, one which supported a referendum vote to take gaming into the north part of the Garden State, have thrown into the towel.
Investor and real estate mogul Jeff Gural (right) with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (left) says that general public mistrust of politicians is a major reason why New Jersey’s casino expansion proposal is doomed to failure. Gural was a backer of the expansion push.
OUR Turn NJ, that has been backed by billionaire investor Paul Fireman and estate that is real Jeff Gural, pulled its media marketing campaign, apparently reluctant to plow more income into just what appears like a lost cause. Fireman and Gural had hoped to build one casino apiece, within the north associated with the state near to 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 gaming and produce 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 idea that residents will likely vote overwhelmingly against expansion.
Blindsided by Media Blitz
the Turn NJ said 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 put the quantity also lower, at just 35 percent, while noting that 57 percent were from 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 very nearly entirely on the recognized untrustworthiness of hawaii’s politicians, rather than the casinos by themselves.
‘Trenton governmental bosses are as much as their old games,’ proclaims one television spot, which continues to suggest that politicians will use the new casino revenue however 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 % of voters believed politicians would deliver on utilizing 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 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 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, a uncommon opportunity for New Jersey.
‘The data, however, speaks for it self,’ the investors noted. ‘The present climate that is political 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 dream recreations 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 gambling.
The expert and recreational Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 prevented states from providing gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were provided special exemptions, as all four of the states were offering some variation of sports lotteries in 1992.
Now 24 years later, the AGA believes it’s time to annul PASPA.
A year ago, the AGA formed its Illegal Gambling Advisory Board (IGAB) led by former FBI Deputy Director Tim Murphy. This the board issued five conclusions as to why PASPA should be revoked week.
Murphy’s IGAB consists of former law enforcement officials now working to expose the massive unlawful gambling market that is black the United States.
‘ The current way of sports wagering within 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 recreations betting ban and change it with rigorous regulations that benefit states, protect consumers and keep the integrity of the games.’
PASPA Strikeout
In its ‘Law Enforcement Summit on prohibited 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, developing a thriving, $150-$500 billion black market with no consumer protection,’ the IGAB reports.
The IGAB thinks illegal sports gambling fuels criminal syndicates, and that an available, transparent, and regulated sports industry that is betting deliver a blow to those rogue gambling bands.
The leagues are slowly easing their hardline stances 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 offering sports gambling.
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 traditionally opposed Las Vegas because of its legalized sports gambling.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is also up to speed. ‘we now have no idea what are you doing and there is no transparency,’ Silver said in May. ‘we think it should be legal; I think it ought to be regulated; it should be transparent.’
Canada Battling Too
Sports wagering in Canada is dolphin treasure slot machine still unlawful, but that was almost changed recently, almost.
Unfortunately for all looking to place wagers legitimately on sporting events in Canada, a bill to authorize betting that is single-game rejected within the House of Commons this week.
The ‘Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act’ legislation failed 155 votes against to 133 in support.
Much like the AGA, the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) was campaigning for a governed recreations industry that is betting.
‘I regret that I don’t have better news for Canadians,’ CGA President Bill Rutsey said in a declaration. ‘ Those who understand what is in danger, and the benefits that could exist by implementing regulation, are frustrated and dissatisfied by the vote.’
The CGA estimates over $10.5 billion is wagered illegally on sports by Canadians every year.
Maryland Lottery Controversy Over-Inflated $262 Million Tech Contract
Maryland Lottery Director Gordon Medenica was 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 millions of dollars that would otherwise have been spent on general public training and health programs, based on the losing bidder, 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 bidder that is highest by $50 million.
Flawed Evaluation
IGT says lottery officials later told them that 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 the 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 problematic 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 within the near future. 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 online video gaming.
Concerns over Lottery Directors’ Links to Scientific
IGT noted that while the provider that is incumbent Scientific Games must have been in a position to produce 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 such a thing related to the situation.
It quotes an anonymous ‘industry insider’ who said: ‘ The bid that is multiple and legislative scrutiny will certainly be uncomfortable for Gordon Medenica. Medenica had been an executive that is senior a nj-new jersey business venture that was partially owned by Scientific Games. Given this direct and well-known relationship, it is curious from the entire bidding process. that he did not recuse himself’
But Scientific Games’ senior vice president of Global Lottery Systems, Patrick McHugh, said his company won the bidding process fair and square since it outperformed its competitors in testing. He also noted that in 2016 the lottery generated record admission sales of $1.9 billion creating $570 million to be used for good factors.
‘ Our score that is high reflects Games’ investment in new items 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 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 doesn’t pay back. Because of Judge James Peterson, pictured above he’ll be getting a chance that is second. (Image: Scripps Media/rightwisconsin.com)
Wisconsin gambling addict Kongsaden Khammanivong is being 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 their arrest in July of 2015.
Khammanivong admitted he turned to delivering medications to fuel their 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 contains 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 District that is western of went easy on Khammanivong in hopes that the gambling addict can change their life around.
Instead of sending the 49-year-old behind bars, Peterson sentenced Khammanivong to 11 days in prison. With credit for time served stemming from 2015, Khammanivong left the courtroom a free of charge man.
‘He hasn’t relapsed. He’s doubled down on helping his family members. 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 wedding, though it’s unclear where or how money that is much lost gambling. The court was told by him he was compensated several hundred dollars for each marijuana transport.
Pretty Peterson Please
The Western District of Wisconsin estimated Khammanivong delivered as much as 176 pounds of marijuana during the 17-month period.
In accordance with Narcotic Information, a lb of marijuana is presently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. This means Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of cannabis.
Needless to say, marijuana just isn’t heroin. Peterson apparently believed Khammanivong’s claims he didn’t play a role that is integral the medication ring, but simply served as a transporter.
Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is truly 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 pay off gambling debts incurred at Wynn Las Vegas.
Also in August, a bizarre story 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 of 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 had been first charged this season and served 46 months behind bars, violated her parole in 2016 and was handed one more 8 weeks in prison and two years of supervised home release.
Like Brother, Like Brother
The feds nevertheless 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, cannabis, and cocaine have actually been levied on the younger Khammanivong, and he’s also being accused of facilitating cash laundering.
He’s facing a total of 60 years in prison and $5.5 million in fines.
Kongsaden Khammanivong is just another instance of a Vietnamese or Thailand living that is migrant the US who is rolling out a gambling addiction. The problem that is rampant recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities have a problem with illegal gambling homes.
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