
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 real estate mogul Jeff Gural (right) with brand New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (left) says that general public mistrust of politicians is really a major reasons why New Jersey’s casino expansion proposal is doomed to failure. Gural had been 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 marketing campaign, apparently unwilling to plow more money into what appears like a lost cause. Fireman and Gural had hoped to build one casino apiece, into the north regarding the state near to the border with New York.
The OUR Turn NJ (OTNJ) group said that polling showed 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 decide on 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 said on Thursday said that an internal poll found just 37 percent of New Jersey residents supported amending the constitution to pave the way for the new casinos. Meanwhile, an external poll released this week by Rutgers-Eagleton put the quantity also lower, at just 35 percent, while noting that 57 percent were 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 nearly entirely on the recognized untrustworthiness of the state’s politicians, instead than the casinos themselves.
‘Trenton political bosses are up to their old games,’ proclaims one television spot, which continues to suggest that politicians will use the new casino revenue however they want, ‘just like they did if they bailed out Donald Trump’s failing casinos.’
Mistrust of Trenton
The campaign has been markedly effective in making use of public distrust of lawmakers. Polling by OTNJ found that just ten % of voters believed politicians would deliver on using the revenue for the purposes promised. Voters were also concerned about the lack of details, such as precisely where the casinos would be built, or the exact rate of taxes they would likely pay.
‘We believe 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 to the state to create resort that is world-class with video gaming. The advantages include 43,000 new jobs and vast sums of dollars in recaptured revenue, a uncommon opportunity for nj-new jersey.
‘The data, however, speaks for it self,’ the investors noted. ‘The current climate that is political brand New Jersey and voters’ issues about the dearth 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 wagering legalized, but which 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 ban that is federal sports gambling.
The pro and recreational Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 prevented states from providing gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were issued special exemptions, as all four of those states were offering 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 why PASPA should be revoked.
Murphy’s IGAB consists of former police officials now trying to expose the massive unlawful gambling market that is black the United States.
‘ The current approach to sports wagering in the United States is no longer working,’ Murphy said this week in a statement. ‘It’s fueling criminal enterprises. The full time has come to repeal the existing activities ban that is betting 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 meant to accomplish.
‘Instead of curbing betting that is illegal the law has driven activities betting underground, creating a thriving, $150-$500 billion black market with no consumer protection,’ the IGAB reports.
The IGAB thinks illegal sports wagering fuels criminal syndicates, and that an available, transparent, and regulated sports industry that is betting deliver a blow to those rogue gambling bands.
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 leagues are slowly easing their hardline stances.
The NHL is bringing a franchise to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season, and NFL owner Mark Davis is wanting to bring his Oakland Raiders to Sin City. Leagues have usually opposed Las Vegas because of its legalized sports wagering.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is also up to speed. ‘We have no concept what are you doing and there is no transparency,’ Silver said in May. ‘I think it should be legal; I think it ought to be controlled; it should be transparent.’
Canada Battling Too
Sports gambling in Canada continues to be illegal, but that was very nearly changed recently, almost.
Unfortunately for the people looking to place wagers legally on displaying activities in Canada, a bill to authorize single-game betting was refused 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) has been campaigning for a governed activities 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 comprehend 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 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 ended up being partially owned by Scientific Games. (Image: Kaitlin Newman)
The Maryland Lottery intentionally 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.
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 Evaluation
IGT says lottery dolphin treasure slots machine online free 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 online gambling is legalized. The Board of Public Works, is necessary to approve all contracts over $200,000 by state law.
But this amounted to ‘materially problematic evaluation,’ stated 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 journalist, told the Baltimore Sun recently that the legislature is ‘strongly opposed’ to legalizing gaming that is online.
Questions over Lottery Directors’ Links to Scientific
IGT noted that since the incumbent provider, Scientific Games needs to have been in a situation 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 problem.
It quotes an anonymous ‘industry insider’ who said: ‘ The multiple bid protests and legislative scrutiny will surely be uncomfortable for Gordon Medenica. Medenica had been an executive that is senior A new jersey business venture that was partially owned by Scientific Games. Given this direct and well-known relationship, it is curious from the whole bidding process. that he don’t recuse himself’
But Scientific Games’ senior vice president of Global Lottery Systems, Patrick McHugh, said his company won the bidding process square and fair since it outperformed its competitors in testing. He also noted that in 2016 the lottery produced record admission sales of $1.9 billion creating $570 million to be used for good reasons.
‘ Our score that is high reflects Games’ investment in new items and services designed 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 risky business, but a Wisconsin gambling addict discovered that spending for your wagers by delivering cannabis is a bet that surely does not pay off. Thanks to Judge James Peterson, pictured above he can be getting a 2nd possibility. (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 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 it 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 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. 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 marijuana during the period that is 17-month.
Based on Narcotic Information, a pound of cannabis is presently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. Which means Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of marijuana.
Of course, marijuana just isn’t heroin. Peterson apparently thought Khammanivong’s claims that he didn’t play a role that is integral the drug ring, but merely served as a transporter.
Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is certainly light taking into consideration the amount of cannabis Khammanivong was moving.
Simply final month, a previous 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 strange story broke about two similar yet separate 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 the money gambling.
Diane Eiler of Minnesota had been sentenced to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised probation. Patricia Meehan of Connecticut, who had been first charged this year 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 nevertheless have a full case against Khammanivong, but not Kongsaden Khammanivong but his younger sibling Khongkha Khammanivong.
Khongkha, 43, is facing more serious fees. A total of nine counts for distributing methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine have been levied on younger Khammanivong, and he’s additionally being accused of assisting cash laundering.
He is dealing with a total of 60 years in jail and $5.5 million in fines.
Kongsaden Khammanivong is just another example of the Vietnamese or Thailand living that is migrant the United States who is rolling out a gambling addiction. The problem that is rampant recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities have trouble with illegal gambling homes.