Middleboro Remembers

Crosby mulls basic gambling questions

2012-01-29T10:24:00.004-05:00

Crosby mulls basic gambling questions
Gaming chair sits for wide-ranging interview
Kyle Cheney

BOSTON (State House News Service) - When it convenes this spring, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will face an immediate conundrum with multimillion-dollar implications: how closely should gambling regulators partner with and advance the interests of the industry they’re charged with nurturing and policing?

Stephen Crosby, chairman of the new commission, is grappling with that question as he prepares to build a casino industry from scratch over the next two years. In a wide-ranging interview, Crosby wondered whether it is in the public’s interest to encourage gambling, whether casino regulators should work with licensed developers to ensure they maximize their economic impact, and if the commission should conduct its own review of the negative economic consequences of expanded gambling.

“What is the public good here? We know we want to avoid the bad. We know we don’t want criminals in the system. We know we don’t want undue political influence. We know we don’t want crony hiring. We don’t want skimming at the casinos, and all that kind of stuff. We know we’d like to have as much economic impact as possible,” he said. “But do we want to promote the gaming industry? Is that part of our job? Is that a public good? And if so, how do you do it?”

Crosby’s questions underscore the challenge of building an industry with the promise of generating billions of dollars of economic activity in a state with a deep dichotomy of views on gambling; Massachusetts boasts the most successful per capita lottery in the country, but a vocal, persistent anti-gambling constituency appears to have no intention of laying down for casino moguls. How aggressively the Gaming Commission partners with the gambling industry also carries great implications for the strength of the Lottery, another paradox with which gaming commissioners must contend.

In legislation that sanctioned up to three casinos and a slot parlor in Massachusetts – signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in November – the Gaming Commission is imbued with sweeping powers to build and regulate the gambling industry, including the authority to design the criteria applicants must meet to win a casino license and to enforce gambling laws.

Crosby is the commission’s only member so far, appointed as its chairman by Gov. Deval Patrick in December. Four other commissioners are due to be named by March 21, one appointed by Treasurer Steven Grossman, another by Attorney General Martha Coakley and two consensus picks by Patrick, Coakley and Grossman. Crosby said he’s offered his help to Grossman and Coakley in making commission picks, should they seek it.

“I said both to the attorney general and the treasurer that I was very interested in this but I knew I had no formal role, but if they were interested in my participation, I’d be more than happy to do it because obviously this matters to me as much as anybody else on earth,” he said. “Steve Grossman reached out and said, by all means … make suggestions if you have any.”

“That’s what it’s all about with these four people, is personal integrity – demonstrated personal integrity,” he said, “the ability to deal with the kinds of pressures, the kinds of temptations and the kinds of challenges we’re going to deal with, and wisdom and the ability – the demonstrated ability – to exercise that wisdom and sound judgment.”

During the interview, Crosby made clear his own reservations about expanded gambling, but stopped short of saying an anti-gambling advocate belongs on the Gaming Commission.

“I don’t know that it would be a good idea to have somebody who’s explicitly opposed. We don’t want to refight the battle about whether to do this or not. I don’t think we should interpret the law as inviting us to oppose casinos,” he said. “Personally, if I felt like I couldn’t permit casinos to come, I would resign. I don’t think that’s the right way to go here. That would probably be too far on the continuum.”

But Crosby said he’d be willing to attend a forum convened by anti-gambling groups, some of whom criticized Crosby for participating in a conference with potential developers and gambling industry stakeholders last week. That conference was organized by NAIOP, an association representing commercial real estate developers.

“Sure, I’d be open to that,” he said. “The NAIOP experience shows that I have to be very, very careful not only on the reality of a conflict but in even the remotest appearance of a conflict.”

In a nod to gambling critics, Crosby said he’s heard their appeals for a more detailed examination of the ills of expanded gambling, and he said he is reviewing existing data to see whether it is conclusive.

“I’ve heard criticism that they aren’t objective or they’re not comprehensive. I’ve started to read some of them, but I just don’t have my own opinion. But we absolutely do need good, baseline data,” he said. “What kind of economic impact is realistic to expect? What kinds of revenues are realistic to expect? What are the negative consequences? What does it tend to do to compulsive gambling? How does it aggravate compulsive gambling? What does it tend to do in terms of associated criminal activities? If the Legislature and the governor have not done really thorough and objective analysis of that, then I would think the commission would want to do that.”

Opponents of expanded gambling have demanded that the state conduct a cost-benefit analysis of three casinos, arguing that introducing gambling facilities in Massachusetts would drive up addiction, organized crime and drunk driving, shutter small businesses, and simply shift consumer spending in other parts of the economy to casinos. Beacon Hill leaders opted against such an analysis last year, saying numerous studies already exist that measure the economic and other impacts of casinos.

Crosby said the commission, when formed, will be immediately tasked with deciding whether to work as a “partner” of the gambling industry, offering guidance and advice to maximize their success, or whether to act strictly as a regulator and take a “hands-off” approach to industry decisions.

“The question is, What role is there for the commission to become a proactive ally of the industry in Massachusetts?” he wondered. “Do we want to try to think proactively, what can we do to advance our industry’s objectives versus a competitor … Do we want to become their partners, sort of? Do we want to work with them or not?”

In particular, Crosby said, the potential advent of internet gambling or sports betting, as well as the potential reaction to Bay State casinos by border states like New Hampshire or Connecticut, could put pressure on Massachusetts casinos, and working with casinos to address these potential challenges could fall under the commission’s purview.

Other critics of expanded gambling have argued that it would divert money from the Massachusetts Lottery, which generated $4.5 billion of sales per year and sends hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to cities and towns as local aid. Crosby noted that the gambling law’s requirement that casinos minimize harm to the Lottery would require the Gaming Commission to tap into “new markets.”

“But how big are the new markets?” he wondered.

Crosby indicted that however the commission proceeds, Bay State residents are unlikely to see gambling facilities for years.

“We have to build an institution from the scratch. We don’t have office space yet. We don’t have any bylaws. We certainly don’t have any specifications for proposals. We don’t have an executive director. We don’t have anything,” Crosby said. “I would imagine that it’s going to be the better part of this year before we’re even able to really appropriately solicit proposals. So it would be a year or two before even a license 2” – the designation for a slot parlor license – “goes out.”

Crosby said that as soon as the commission reaches three members, enough to constitute a quorum, it may begin signing leases and conducting basic, organizational business.

“You can’t sign a lease, do anything formal until you have a quorum … we’re looking at places where other public agencies have vacated space. We don’t even know how many employees we’re going to have,” he said. “We’ll probably get some interim space that’ll hold 10, 15, 20, 30 people while we’re getting organized and figure out how much space we really need. Do we need space for 200, 100, 300? None of us really knows yet.”

Crosby acknowledged that the new gambling law counted on awarding the slot facility license more quickly than the casinos licenses.

“Because it’s much less capital intensive, much less construction to be done, much less community impacts probably, it certainly could happen more quickly,” he said. “But as I’ve said many times, we’re not going to rush this. And I think a big slots parlor is going to require as much scrutiny and care on our part as a casino. So it probably will happen more quickly, but I’m not going to feel rushed by that.”

Crosby also agreed that a brewing patronage scandal within the state Probation Department will challenge the Gaming Commission to look “clean.”

“It just creates an environment where nobody trusts anybody and it’s all the more important why I, and we, have to be just as assiduous as we can to make it look like we are really paying attention to transparency and equity and merit-based hiring and everything else,” he said, adding, “Knock on wood – the least we’re going to do is not hire under some corrupt system … the challenge is to look as clean as you are. And in this skeptical environment, that’s hard to do.”

Crosby said he expects the commission to adopt anti-patronage reforms proposed by a task force that investigated the Probation Department scandal in 2010.

Failed Policy

2012-01-29T10:17:00.004-05:00

Miami business leader Norman Braman effectively explains why casinos are a failed policy

Bet on gambling? Oh?

2012-01-29T09:50:00.006-05:00

In a bizarre response in a New York newspaper [below], Frank Fahrenkopf [well paid to defend Government Sponsored Addiction] defends the increased CRIME caused by GAMBLING by referencing IOWA?

From: Race to the bottom....

Compare Tourist-Destination Crime Rates

Grinols presented a long list of crimes, pathologies and social problems in which Nevada is first or among the leaders in the nation, including first in suicide (double the national average), divorce, gambling addictions, child-abuse deaths and per capita bankruptcy, to cite a few. He said crime associated with gambling is not explained merely by the fact that it draws large numbers of people.

His research compared crime at Las Vegas to that at high-tourist destinations not associated with gambling – Branson, Mo.; and the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

Las Vegas’ crime rate is 1,040 percent higher than Branson’s and 15.7 times higher than Bloomington’s, Grinols reported, although both destinations draw far more visitors per resident than does Las Vegas.

A similar pattern is found when comparing crime rates at large tourist destinations in the National Park System to Las Vegas.

“So it’s not just a matter of number of visitors. It’s also a matter of who is visiting,” he said.

One need not look very far to see the harm wrought by casinos:

• “Embezzling Grows from Addiction to Casinos” (Buffalo News, Feb. 17)

• “Killer Who Was Compulsive Gambler to Be Released from Prison” (Las Vegas Sun, Feb. 17)

• “Problem Gambling Group Hears Former Lawyer’s Addiction Story” (Louisville Courier-Journal, Feb. 12)

Tragically, these are not isolated cases, but are integrally related to the existence of the predatory gambling, especially casinos, upon which state governments are becoming increasingly reliant – and for which states and cities have failed to realize their expected revenue gains.

Bet on gambling

Many peer-reviewed studies have found no connection between casinos and the social problems Sam Skolnik attributes to the influence of gaming (“The House Loses,” PostScript, Jan. 22). [Those peer reviewed studies are paid for and reviewed by the Gambling Industry.]

For many years, Iowans were asked to vote every eight years on a referendum to continue allowing gaming. Each time, voters overwhelmingly approved the measure. If casinos were responsible for bringing crime and corruption to communities, Iowa’s casinos would have closed long ago. [How is this connection even relevant?]

Finally, multiple reports have confirmed the prevalence rate of pathological gambling has held steady at approximately 1% of the adult population for more than 30 years despite the widespread growth of casino gambling. [Beg to differ!]

Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., President & CEO, American Gaming Association, Washington, DC

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/letters/letters_lzrZc1bWXQOiyzv0ZvfZzH#ixzz1krKlQxxs

Editorial: Ks. can't forget addicted gamblers

2012-01-29T09:44:00.003-05:00

Posted as a comment in response to this article:

It's like opening a crack house and asking the crackheads to call this 800 number if they need help. Why do we create a problem and try to fix it by creating more problems? No casino= no addicts=problem solved. Simple.

Pretty simple!

Editorial: Ks. can't forget addicted gamblers
By The Capital-Journal Editorial Advisory Board
Gambling in Kansas is becoming much more convenient, which means becoming addicted to the action offered by casinos also is becoming more convenient.

That makes the state’s use of money that was to be dedicated to treating problem gamblers troubling, to say the least.

State law stipulates that 2 percent of the state’s revenue from gambling is to go into a fund for treatment of problem gamblers and people with equally debilitating addictions. But of $3 million expected to be generated for the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund during the current fiscal year from casinos and the lottery gambling, only $717,000 has been earmarked for that cause.

The state has diverted to Medicaid $1.3 million of the revenue that is supposed to go to the grant fund, and $900,000 is being used to fill a hole elsewhere in the state budget.

Clearly, the money isn’t being used for its intended purpose.

That must change.

Kansas officials decided the state should get into the gambling business and take a share of the profits. Now the state must fulfill its promise to help those who become incapable of pulling themselves away from the slot machines and gaming tables.

Granted, the state has financial needs and Medicaid is one of the state’s most expensive programs. But problem gamblers are a growing population and the money allocated to help them shouldn’t be so readily diverted.

The Problem Gambling Coalition reports that since the state casino in Sumner County’s recent opening, calls to the statewide problem gambling hotline have doubled. The hotline received 526 calls in November and 993 in December.

A new casino in Wyandotte County will open soon, and the coalition expects a further spike in gambling addiction. That spike will only increase the existing need for more treatment of problem gamblers.

News reports show that in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011, the state spent only about $8,000 on one-on-one gambling treatment.

That isn’t going to cut it.

The state made its first foray into gambling in the 1980s when Kansans approved, all in the same year, open saloons, pari-mutuel wagering at horse and greyhound race tracks, and the lottery.

Consequently, casino gambling appeared in Missouri and Kansas was required to negotiate with its American Indian tribes to allow reservation casinos. Tribal casinos also opened in Oklahoma. The horse and dog racing tracks couldn’t compete with the casinos and all are closed now.

But Kansas, during former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ administration, decided to get into the casino game by allowing four destination casinos in different areas of the state. Two of those casinos are open, one in Dodge City and one in Sumner County, and one in Wyandotte County is close to opening.

The law allows a fourth casino in southeast Kansas, but it doesn’t appear one will be built there anytime soon.

Some Kansans view the casinos as entertainment and risk only a predetermined amount. Wealthy gamblers may risk more, but most also have an established threshold for losses. Many people, however, can’t step away from the action. They are the gambling addicts that often risk everything they have.

Now that Kansas has made casino gambling convenient, it must make treatment much more convenient.

Members of The Capital-Journal Editorial Board are Gregg Ireland, Mike Hall, Fred Johnson, Ray Beers Jr., Garry Cushinberry, Joyce Martin, John Stauffer, Frank Ybarra and Sally Zellers.

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Bribes, Chinese Mob Ties Alleged at Casino of Gingrich Money Man

2012-01-29T09:38:00.002-05:00

Bribes, Chinese Mob Ties Alleged at Casino of Gingrich Money Man
By BRIAN ROSS, MATTHEW MOSK, CINDY GALLI and RHONDA SCHWARTZ
[video on link]

The casino company run by the principal financial backer of Newt Gingrich's presidential bid, Sheldon Adelson, has been under criminal investigation for the last year by the Department of Justice and the Securities Exchange Commission for alleged bribery of foreign officials, according to corporate documents.

In a separate civil lawsuit, a former executive of the company has alleged that Adelson ordered him to keep quiet about sensitive issues at the Sands casinos on the Chinese island of Macau, including the casinos' alleged "involvement with Chinese organized crime groups, known as Triads, connected to the junket business." The triads -- Chinese organized crime syndicates -- are allegedly involved in organizing high stakes gambling junkets for wealthy Chinese travelers.

In its filings with the SEC, Adelson's company says it became aware of the investigation in February 2011 when it received a subpoena from the SEC requesting "documents relating to its compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act." The company said it "intends to cooperate with the investigation," which it said may have been triggered by the allegations in the lawsuit by Steven C. Jacobs, a former Sands executive who says he helped run the Macau operation. The federal investigation was first reported last year by Las Vegas newspapers and the financial press.

At a gaming forum last year, Adelson said the lawsuit "is not a serious case" and that the federal investigations would find no wrongdoing. "When the smoke clears, I am 1,000 percent positive that there won't be any fire below it."

Gingrich says gambling is a "worry."

2012-01-29T09:28:00.003-05:00

Helped by $10m from casino magnate, Gingrich says gambling is a "worry."

Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign has gotten a $10 million boost thanks to cash from Las Vegas Sands gambling magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife, but Gingrich says he isn't necessarily buying into gaming. But it's not really clear what his position on gaming is.

"Well, let me say up front, at the risk of offending some of my friends who've been very helpful," Gingrich said, "I worry about the degree to which the poor are the most likely to end up spending a large percentage of their income gambling in the false hope that they can mathematically beat the system."

Gingrich, however, never said whether he supported or opposed casino gaming.

Gingrich was asked about the issue by evangelical activist John Stemberger, a Rick Santorum supporter, at the Orange County Liberty Counsel Forum in Winter Park. The issue is huge in Florida right now as the Legislature considers whether to expand casino-style gaming in Florida. The issue is being pushed by Genting and Adelson's company. Note: Adelson and his wife (not Las Vegas Sands) have contributed the $10 million that has helped Gingrich via the political committee Winning Our Future.

Gingrich, like Romney explaining his relationship with the PAC Restore Our Future, said he only knows about the Adelson money because of press accounts.

“I have read articles," Gingrich said. "I haven’t known anything technically because I’ve not been briefed because it’s illegal. But I’ve read articles and Sheldon Adelson has clearly, according to the articles, been very generous.”

Gingrich said he met Adelson nearly 20 years ago on Capitol Hill, where Adelson is a major player due in large part to his support of pro-Israel policies.

"Sheldon Adelson's passion in life is the survival of Israel. And he and I are in agreement that Iran is a deep and immediate threat, posing the risk of a second Holocaust with three or four nuclear weapons," Gingrich said.

"So Sheldon has said – to offset, by the way, Goldman Sachs, the big banks and everybody who’s been helping my opponent – he stepped in and said, 'look I really want somebody to be there who understands foreign policy, who understands national security,'" Gingrich said. "I’m happy to tell you my relationship with Sheldon is about a very specific public thing: I believe we should be strong enough to stop the Iranians and that Israel should e allowed to exist and I’m prepared to defend it."

--with Alex Leary

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/01/helped-by-10m-in-money-from-casino-magnate-gingrich-says-gambling-is-a-worry-.html#storylink=cpy

Gingrich Deflects Questions About a Big Supporter’s Casino Interests

2012-01-29T09:24:00.001-05:00

Gingrich Deflects Questions About a Big Supporter’s Casino Interests
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

WINTER PARK, Fla. — The possibility of gambling exploding across Florida has worried many on the religious right, and they questioned Newt Gingrich on Saturday about his financial backing by Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate.

Mr. Adelson and his wife have contributed $10 million to a “super PAC” supporting Mr. Gingrich, in effect bankrolling his presidential campaign.

Before Mr. Gingrich arrived at a campaign stop here at Aloma Church, several religious leaders expressed concern about the expansion of casino gambling and the potential for the spread of problems such as substance abuse that they said often accompany gambling.

When Mr. Gingrich arrived at the event, sponsored by the Orange County Liberty Counsel Forum, he was asked whether, despite his backing by Mr. Adelson, he could “reassure” the audience that he would not encourage the spread of gambling.

Mr. Gingrich essentially dodged the question, one that is rarely asked at his public events.
At first, he responded, “At the risk of offending some of my friends who’ve been very helpful, I worry, not just about casino gambling, but about the degree to which the poor are the most likely to end up spending a large part of their income gambling.” This drew approving murmurs from the audience.

He then said that he had read articles saying that Mr. Adelson had been “very generous” to his campaign, emphasizing that he had not been briefed by Mr. Adelson, because such coordination with the super PAC supporting him would be illegal.

He then diverted the question away from Mr. Adelson’s gambling interests and toward his support for Israel, an issue of utmost concern to the religious audience.

“Sheldon Adelson’s passion in life is the survival of Israel,” Mr. Gingrich said. “And he and I are in agreement that Iran is in deep, immediate threat of posing the risk of a second Holocaust” with nuclear weapons.

And so, Mr. Gingrich said, Mr. Adelson decided, ” ‘I really want someone to be there who understands foreign policy, who understands national security’ — I was called at one time the best speaker of the House in terms of Israel that we’ve ever had because I thoroughly understand how dangerous that part of the world is.”

Mr. Gingrich concluded this way: “So I’m happy to tell you that my relationship with Sheldon is about a very specific, public thing. I believe we should be strong enough to stop the Iranians and that Israel should be allowed to exist, and I’m prepared to defend it.”

The audience gave him a big round of applause. And the gambling question was left on the table.

NYRA's Choice

2012-01-29T09:13:00.004-05:00

Without taxpayer subsidies, RACING can't survive and isn't surviving.

Shouldn't that be the question we're asking?

When the grossly flawed legislation was passed in Massachusetts, it contained generous subsidies for the RACING INDUSTRY - an industry that has lost attendance, lost public interest.

What other industry are taxpayers subsidizing to this extent?

Editorial: NYRA's choice

THE ISSUE:

The state comptroller fears that the people who run New York's racetracks will squander the take from video slot machines.

THE STAKES:

That money might be racing's last, best hope.

Why, it's the New York Racing Association, back in the news and on the receiving end of a stern warning from the state comptroller's office. The best way for all those who care about horse racing to sort out this latest critical report is to think of NYRA as one more bettor at the racetrack.

Make that one more somewhat overextended horse player, albeit one who has just come into some money. If nothing changes, that windfall could be little more than additional money to lose.

NYRA has more money than it's had in a long time, thanks to its share — some $48 million a year — of the take from the video slot machines at Aqueduct Race Track.

That's good, of course, for an outfit that was in bankruptcy just four years ago and still is losing money even as it has cut its costs.

That's good, we mean, as long as NYRA understands what's behind the admonishing words of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. He warns not to squander this money.

That might sound painfully obvious, especially in an economy like this one. Who can be against thrift?

NYRA can. It sure showed that in the bad old days, when its prior management escaped prosecution for tax fraud only after promising to clean up NYRA's act.

Even now, a very new and different NYRA has been able to make its case for state subsidies in a more promising context — that its share of the windfall from the Aqueduct racino offers a way out of hard fiscal times for New York horse racing.

The NYRA management might bristle at Mr. DiNapoli's warning, yet he has no choice but to make it.

"NYRA stands to squander significant revenue from the recently opened VLT franchise at Aqueduct," he says.

"NYRA still has not conducted a top-to-bottom review of its financial operations and taken necessary steps to curb costs, particularly for staffing and consulting contracts," he continues.

To that, NYRA says its house is in considerably better order than it gets credit for. Its president, Charles Hayward, predicts a profit of about $19 million this year, a far cry from the $19 million Mr. DiNapoli forecasts it will lose on racing operations.

How nice it would be to see NYRA turn out to be right — proving all the while that it took the comptroller's admonition to heart.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Editorial-NYRA-s-choice-2789375.php#ixzz1krAgJJe6

Alabama gambling corruption retrial will be 'a new game'

2012-01-29T09:07:00.002-05:00

Alabama gambling corruption retrial will be 'a new game'
Written by Sebastian Kitchen

An attorney in the second round of the federal corruption trial of VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor and six others compared it to the national championship game between Alabama and Louisiana State University.

"We played the game before, but this is a new game," said Jim Parkman, a defense attorney for state Sen. Harri Anne Smith, an independent from Slocomb.

LSU beat Alabama in the first contest. But in the second, Alabama overwhelmed LSU to win the national championship.

Parkman said, although there were no convictions out of the more than 130 counts in the first trial, they are taking nothing for granted. They are preparing an offense and a defense and will be ready to go a second time.

Jury selection begins at 9 a.m. Monday.

The new trial will feature two fewer defendants, a different prosecution team, the absence of key prosecution witnesses from the first trial, and at least the possibility former Gov. Bob Riley could be called by the defense.

McGregor, Smith, and five others are accused of having taken part in an alleged scheme in which casino owners and their lobbyists bribed state lawmakers to support pro-gambling legislation.

Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley and two of his lobbyists, Jarrod Massey and Jennifer Pouncy, pleaded guilty before the start of the first trial, which ended in August.

The jury found two of the nine defendants in that trial not guilty on all of the charges against them, and found the defendants not guilty on a total of 91 counts.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson also threw out several counts before the case went to the jury and declared a mistrial on 33 counts after the jury could not reach a consensus on those counts.

After declaring a mistrial on those undetermined counts against the remaining seven defendants, Thompson set a retrial for Monday.

Much like that national championship game, the retrial could be a very different affair than the first.

Change in prosecution team

The lead prosecutor for the federal government, Justin Shur, left the U.S. Department of Justice in the last month for private practice. And the two local assistant U.S. attorneys who handled much of the heavy lifting in the first trial, Louis Franklin and Steve Feaga, will not be prosecuting the case.

(Page 2 of 3)

Parkman said the prosecution has "plenty of good lawyers" and he does not believe that the change in prosecutors would "affect anything."

"I think they will have somebody to fill in for (Shur) and do a good job," he said.
Franklin and Feaga questioned some crucial witnesses, including Gilley, state Rep.
Barry Mask and state Sen. Scott Beason.

Beason, R-Gardendale, and Mask, R-Wetumpka, recorded conversations for the FBI.

A juror who spoke to the Associated Press after the trial said there were credibility issues with Beason and other witnesses, including Gilley and Massey. She also said that a majority of the jury leaned heavily toward not guilty verdicts on those charges they could not agree on.

Different witnesses for prosecution

Parkman said other defense attorneys told him that prosecutors said they do not plan to call Beason or former state Rep. Ben Lewis, a Dothan Republican who is now a judge.

But defense attorneys could call them as witnesses.

"If they're not going to call them, they believe the credibility issues outweigh the evidence they could get in -- (that it) could be more damaging to have their testimony than not to," Parkman said.

One of the conversations that Beason recorded -- one in which he talked to Lewis and another Republican lawmaker -- referred to supporters of a west Alabama casino in predominantly black Greene County, as "aborigines." Beason, who has since announced he is running for Congress, later apologized for the comment, but fellow Republican leaders in the Senate stripped him of a key leadership post.

Thompson, in a ruling leading up to the second trial, wrote that Beason and Lewis lacked credibility and that their intentions had political and racial roots.
New testimony, faster trial?

Attorneys for McGregor, after a ruling from a magistrate judge, could call Riley, who did not have to take the stand in the first trial.

McGregor and his attorneys have been bitterly critical of Riley, who formed a task force to shut down what he believed was illegal gambling in the state.

(Page 3 of 3)

McGregor has long contended that part of the impetus for the crackdown was because of campaign funds Riley received from Mississippi Indian casino owners who wanted to shut down competition in Alabama.

Parkman expects the second trial to be smoother than the 10-week trial that started in June 2010 and ended with the attorneys for the nine defendants only calling one witness.

He expects "it to be a little faster than last time and not as drawn out."
"Of course we're taking this very seriously, and we're not relying on what happened the last time," Parkman said.

Parkman said they have discovered new information since the first trial, which he said could shed some "more light on people there and their thought process."
Parkman said they will "face good lawyers with the government," which he said has power with the number of investigators it can use.

"We're nervous about it. We always are," Parkman said.

The other defendants are McGregor lobbyist Tom Coker; former state Sens. Jim Preuitt of Talladega and Larry Means of Attalla; former Country Crossing spokesman Jay Walker; and former legislative analyst Ray Crosby.

Federal authorities arrested the defendants Oct. 4, 2010, and charged them with conspiracy, bribery and other crimes.

Prosecutors have declined to comment throughout the trial.

Repeal the Casino Deal

2012-01-28T09:16:00.004-05:00

No one at this public meeting spoke in favor of a Slot Barn in their neighborhood.

Even the elected officials who foolishly championed this issue remained silent.

Public, Reps Discuss Plans for MetroWest Casino
Could a nearby casino complex impact Westborough?

By Justin Saglio

During the question and answer portion of the meeting, area residents spoke out against the casino and asked how to stop it from being implemented.

John Pibeiro, a Winthrop resident, asked the meeting's attendees to sign a petition to repeal November's legislation that permits casino gambling in the state.

"Why would you ever want something that requires mitigation?" Pibeiro [Ribiero] asked.

"If in two years our property value tanks, what are we supposed to do?" Steve Guerrera, a Holliston resident asked.

Casino foes popping up

2012-01-28T09:08:00.001-05:00

Casino foes popping up
Some opponents also were against wind farm
By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

BRIMFIELD — Two weeks after absorbing the news that an international gambling corporation based in Las Vegas is eyeing a rural part of town for a $600 million casino development, some townspeople are beginning to publicly speak out against the idea.

Key players in the movement that fought off a proposed wind farm atop West Mountain last year said in interviews this week that they expect to mount a similar battle against the casino proposed by MGM Resorts International. Anti-casino fliers headlined “The Unfortunate Truth” have begun appearing around town, and casino opponents have set up an email distribution list to spread information and coordinate their efforts.

An MGM executive said he welcomes all input as the company draws up specific plans to present to the town and that representatives of the company hope to meet with opponents in the coming weeks to hear their concerns.

Would-be casino operators in Massachusetts must first secure host community approval before submitting a bid on one of the three casino licenses to be offered in the state.

“I think there’s going to be organized resistance,” said Virginia A. Irvine, who was a member of and spokeswoman for the anti-wind farm group No Brimfield Wind. “We didn’t want to industrialize our town with wind turbines, and I would expect people who didn’t want that won’t want to industrialize our town with a casino.”

Judith A. Sessler, another vocal opponent of the wind farm plan that ultimately was withdrawn by the developer in the face of stiff resistance, said she’s also girding for a fight over the casino plan.

A portion of Ms. Sessler’s wooded property off John Haley Road, a winding country road along a stream, abuts the proposed casino parcel, about 150 acres owned by businessman David Callahan of West Brookfield just north of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

The opponents are under no illusions, though, that taking on a gambling industry heavy-hitter that reported $6 billion in revenues in 2010 will be equivalent to going up against First Wind, a Boston-based green energy firm that had proposed building at least eight 400-foot-tall windmills on West Mountain near the proposed casino site.

MGM hired Brown Rudnick LLP, a prominent national law firm with offices in Boston, to handle public relations and lobbying in Massachusetts. MGM spent $60,000 on lobbying Beacon Hill last year, according to records on file with Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle,” Ms. Sessler said. “We have so many new people in Brimfield that don’t realize what a treasure it was. We were hit so hard by the tornado. I’m really concerned that we’re so battered emotionally and that gives less incentive to think about the long-term (effects) of the casino.”

In announcing the casino plan in Brimfield earlier this month, MGM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren stressed the potential for thousands of permanent jobs at the finished casino in addition to construction jobs to build it. Mr. Callahan, the land owner, and Mr. Murren said the developers would listen to input from residents and seek to incorporate their suggestions as more specific plans are drawn up.

In a telephone interview from his office in Las Vegas, MGM Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Alan Feldman said the company is eager to talk with any townspeople wary of a casino. At this stage, the company has only announced plans to submit a proposal, and there’s plenty of time to hear and address concerns from residents, Mr. Feldman said.

“At the end of the day, all we can do is try to show folks that we’ve been sensitive to their concerns and listened to what they had to say. I don’t think it’s going to be possible to win every person over, but I think we can prove we’re good listeners,” he said. “We intend to be good community partners and work hard to find solutions to any problems folks raise.”

But Ms. Irvine seemed less concerned with the particulars of the plan than with the fact that a large casino of any kind might harm the rural nature of the area.

“I moved here in 1978 because I wanted to be in the country. My neighbors moved out here because they enjoy the rural community and the quiet,” she said. “One person who lives down the street from me said he travels to cities all over the country for work, and when he gets home and gets out of his car, he likes that he can see the stars.”

MGM’s Mr. Feldman said in early meetings with architects, engineers and other consultants, the company has emphasized that the casino design must mitigate concerns about traffic as well as light and noise pollution. He said the company is excited by the challenge of developing a proposal appropriate for a landscape and region so different from Nevada.

“It’s got to fit into its surroundings. God forbid it look like a Las Vegas casino. That would be terrible,” he said.

But John R. Mortarelli, who lives about five miles from the proposed casino parcel, isn’t buying the notion that a major resort-style casino can be built in such a way that it won’t fundamentally alter the rural nature of the town.

“Totally against it. Absolutely stupid. Bad idea,” said Mr. Mortarelli, who predicted townspeople will reject any proposal put forward by MGM. “There’s a good chunk of people that just want to live a rural residential life. We don’t have any industrial zoning of any kind. We just want to live a country life.”

Mr. Mortarelli, who has lived in Brimfield for three decades, said there’s a high correlation between opponents of any large commercial development in town and politically active residents who always vote. The members of an e-mail distribution list set up to oppose the wind farm last year have been added to a new list designed to coordinate resistance to the casino plan, he said.

“There will be organized opposition. How can you help but organize to fight them when they come in with stuff like this?” Mr. Mortarelli said.

Mr. Feldman said MGM is not so naive as to think it can win over every person in town, but the company would like to talk with opponents just the same.

“We’d love to meet with them,” he said. “We’d love to hear what they’re worried about and at least start a dialogue.”

Although there’s no firm timetable yet, and the state is still assembling a gambling commission to evaluate casino bids and regulate the eventual license holders, Mr. Feldman said he would expect the MGM proposal to be put to voters in Brimfield at some point later this year.

In the meantime, the company and casino opponents will be working to win over townspeople to their side of what could become a contentious issue from Brimfield.

Tucson woman who stole fees for methadone sentenced

2012-01-28T09:05:00.002-05:00

Tucson woman who stole fees for methadone sentenced
Kim Smith, Arizona Daily Star

A Tucson woman who stole nearly $183,000 from a local social-service agency told her sentencing judge Friday she has sought help for a gambling addiction and hopes to educate high school students about the dangers of gambling.

Mary Ann Diaz, 53, was indicted last April on one count each of fraud and theft. She pleaded guilty to theft last month.

Assistant Arizona Attorney General Jesse Delaney asked Judge Teresa Godoy to sentence Diaz to probation and jail and Assistant Pima County Public Defender Leo Masursky asked for a strictly probationary term.

Godoy sentenced Diaz to five years probation, ordered her to repay what she stole from La Frontera and to pay the Attorney General’s Office $2,000 in investigation costs.

Diaz was responsible for collecting fees from people seeking methadone at La Frontera and then depositing those fees, Delaney said.

However, between July 1, 2007, and March 23, 2010, Diaz would routinely take one or two days' worth of fees and use them to gamble, Delaney said.

A tearful Diaz told Godoy she’s not the woman she was last year. She’s been seeing a therapist and is involved in a gambling recovery group.

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/tucson-woman-who-stole-fees-for-methadone-sentenced/article_d03b1ebc-4924-11e1-8997-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1klIH9NRQ

Former CHEK TV ad rep to be sentenced in March

2012-01-28T09:01:00.002-05:00

Former CHEK TV ad rep to be sentenced in March
Times Colonist

The sentencing hearing for a former advertising sales rep at CHEK TV who defrauded friends in the business community out of $235,000 to finance his gambling addiction will continue March 15 and 16.

Michael Muir has pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud over $5,000 between June 2007 and January 2009.

At his sentencing hearing, which began Jan.10, Crown prosecutor Laura Ford told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Johnston that the offences were a classic Ponzi scheme - a form of fraud in which belief in a nonexistent business venture is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money paid by subsequent investors. Ford asked Johnston to impose a prison sentence of two to 2 1 ?2 years.

Muir, who was a respected member of the media business community, persuaded friends he met in the business world to give him money, Ford said.

Muir told them he was buying a large number of flatscreen TVs from a supplier and selling them to high-end hotels. He promised them a 20 per cent return on their money within a few months.

The frauds were sophisticated, with Muir creating false documents using letterhead for the flatscreen TV company, Ford said. Initially, the "investors" saw a return on profit, although it was rolled over into the next purchase of TVs.

"Multiple fictitious deals were concocted by Mr. Muir," Ford said. "But all the money was spent on gambling and it all came crashing down in a cascade of lies and excuses in February 2009."

The hearing was adjourned to allow lawyers to make submissions on restitution - how much Muir owes his victims. Johnston also asked counsel for submissions on whether Muir was in a position of trust when he committed the offences.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Former+CHEK+sentenced+March/6067030/story.html#ixzz1klHGdZxw

Targeting the poor

2012-01-28T08:39:00.005-05:00

In the US, the Gambling Industry is more subtle.

They locate Slot Barns in poor neighborhoods and call it JOB CREATION!

Codes need to kick their gambling addiction
Richard Hinds.

This is sport walking its social responsibility talk. As it does in other areas such as charitable causes, community fitness programs and - if you remove some awful exceptions, such as the NRL's embarrassing cheerleading squadrons - even women's rights.

But, when it comes to social responsibility, sport has a bottom line. One horribly exposed by the sad dependency of the leading codes on poker machine revenue.

When Julia Gillard abandoned her pledge for meaningful poker machine reform this week, the AFL and NRL quietly toasted a significant ''victory''. Unencumbered by $1 limits and mandatory pre-commitment, the aces would keep spinning in the clubs. The only mild threat is Gillard's stalling device - an absurd trial in mostly middle-class Canberra, from where anyone who wants to dodge pre-commitment and put their entire pay packet down the slot can drive a few kilometres to neighbouring Queanbeyan.

Confronted by sad tales of gambling addiction, and well aware that poker machines rob those who can least afford to lose, you would think our ''socially responsible'' leagues would have found alternative revenue streams. Just as they did when cigarette advertising was banned.

Perhaps the football codes cannot help others tackle their gambling addiction because they are still battling their own. The sick dependency on revenue from poker machines and corporate bookmakers diminishes everyone who is involved. Even the Channel Nine commentators who gave their scripted support for the poker machine lobby during the NRL finals.

The lobbyists rhetoric about poker machines providing ''freedom of choice'', and ''paying for community facilities'' is so blatantly self-serving it barely warrants response. Not when you have spoken with the administrator of an investment fund, who admits his company cynically targets the lowest demographic. Put the machines in the new estates with low-cost housing and little alternative entertainment or public transport. Then watch the punters swarm in like bees to the honeypot.

Or if you have lived, as I once did, in the same street as a large, 24-hour poker-machine venue. See the punters wander out in the morning, eyes still spinning like the reels upon which they have been fixated. See them wander slowly away, pockets empty but still entrapped. They are seldom gone for long. They'll find the money somewhere.

Which is why it is sickening when the lobbyists and opportunists hide behind weasel words such as ''entertainment complex'' and ''community hub''. Pocket the money, but call the pokies what they are: a poor tax.

A tax on the very people rugby league, particularly, purports to champion. The so-called ''battlers'' who they are encouraging, with ever louder voices, to buy memberships, merchandise and television subscriptions.

The hard sell on memberships often comes with a tinge of emotional blackmail. ''Do you support the game?'', ''Do you love your club?''.

But when it comes to poker machines that love and care is not returned. Sorry, we're just putting on the show. That money you couldn't afford to lose? That's your responsibility.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/codes-need-to-kick-their-gambling-addiction-20120127-1qlc0.html#ixzz1klCFbP4A

Casino collapse to delay building's construction

2012-01-28T08:28:00.005-05:00

Casino collapse to delay building's construction
OSHA is investigating Horseshoe Casino site that was to open in 2013
By John Nolan, Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — Construction of a new casino will be indefinitely delayed following the building’s partial collapse Friday.

More than a dozen construction workers were injured Friday morning, with four remaining hospitalized Friday night, in the collapse at the $400 million casino in downtown Cincinnati, city fire Chief Richard Braun said.

There were no life-threatening injuries in the Horseshoe Casino accident, which came just weeks after a similar accident at a Cleveland casino with the same developer.

Workers were taken to area hospitals after the 7:45 a.m. collapse at the site.

A male worker was in serious condition is at Bethesda North on Friday night, and the only worker from the collapse at the hospital, said Joe Kelley of at TriHealth System. The system’s Good Samaritan Hospital treated and released two workers.

Ten workers were treated at University Hospital, said spokesman Matt Kramer, with seven released and three that stayed overnight for monitoring of non-life-threatening injuries.

OSHA was called in to begin investigating the incident.

Steve Rosenthal, principal in Rock Gaming LLC, a partner in the casino project said the construction will not resume at the site until Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials and construction managers determine it is safe to do so.

The workers were pouring concrete in a 60-foot by 60-foot section on the third floor, described as a “bay,” when a beam gave way, the fire chief said.

“It went down in a ‘V.’ The workers on top rode it down,” Braun said.

Shouts could be heard on a 911 call right after the collapse as the caller told the dispatcher “we’ve got one guy that’s in desperate position.”

“There’s about 20 guys just fell through the floor pour. You’ve got to get down here as quick as possible. ...They fell about 15, 20 foot. Hurry,” he said.

“We’ve got men under a beam as well. We got to get this beam off of them.”

The collapse caused nearby roadways to close for a short time.

Jessie Folmar, a spokeswoman for Cincinnati-based Messer Construction Co., said the company was trying to learn what happened.

“Our top priority is to ensure everyone at our jobsites can return home safely to their families at the end of each day,” Messer’s president and chief executive Tom Keckeis said in a statement. “We have stringent safety processes and protocols in place to ensure our jobsites remain safe and our structures secure.”

Messer has a clean safety record with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration since 2006, according to information from the agency’s database. Its last Ohio incident was that year, when it was penalized for four serious violations and paid a penalty of $3,125. One involved a lack of adequate fall protection for workers.

OSHA inspectors, as well as investigators from the state, were looking into the accident. The developers said work won’t resume until the construction team and authorities say it is safe.

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati is a $400 million development under construction in the northeast corner of the city’s center and was expected to open in spring 2013, an official with the company told an Ohio House panel at a hearing this week.

The casino is being developed by Rock Gaming in partnership with Caesar’s Entertainment. The same team is behind a casino project in downtown Cleveland where a garage partially collapsed Dec. 16. A second-level section of the parking deck gave way while concrete was being poured. No one was injured.

Casino development was touted during a statewide legalization campaign in 2009 for the immediate boost it would give to Ohio’s economy, particularly through the temporary construction jobs needed to build the four new facilities in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. According to a recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America, construction jobs rose in Ohio this past year — from 163,400 in December 2010 to 168,600 last month. According to a recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America, construction jobs rose in Ohio this past year — from 163,400 in December 2010 to 168,600 last month.

Nationwide, OSHA statistics show there were nearly 196,000 job-related injuries in 2010 in the construction industry, almost four injuries for every 100 fulltime workers. In Ohio, there were 21 fatal injuries in the construction industry in 2010, the agency said

The Cincinnati casino is expected to attract nearly 6 million visitors and create 1,700 jobs, said Lee Dillard, vice president of finance for the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland. It will feature three restaurants, about 2,000 slot machines, 85 table games and a 31-table World Series of Poker room.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

“mad at every level”

2012-01-27T16:10:00.005-05:00

Grab a seat and watch the unfolding of backroom deals and political corruption crafted on Beacon Hill to subsidize the Kraft/Wynn deal in Foxborough at the expense of Massachusetts taxpayers.

Transportation heads: Gillette rail plan through Walpole 'not a focus'.
By Veronica Hamlett and Dave Eisenstadter
Walpole Times

WALPOLE — The MBTA is still mum on any plans to increase commuter rail service to Foxboro via Medfield and Walpole.

In the midst of a $161 million budget and the possibility of increasing fares and reducing services, Transportation Secretary Richard Davey and MBTA acting general manager Jonathan Davis said at a Wicked Local editorial board meeting last Friday that their focus is on current projects and contracts, even though customers are calling for more.

“The MBTA has a problem that every company in America would want in that customers want more of us but we can’t deliver,” Davey said. “People want more or expanded service.”

The MBTA is working on securing a new contract for its current commuter rail services. Its contract with Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail expires in June. Davis said the MBTA could entertain talks with a private entity willing to expand service.

“Thinking of longer term projects, perhaps we could give the opportunity to whoever the service provider is to invest their own capital and experience,” he said.

The Green Line extension to Tufts University and a South Coast rail line will continue as planned, as both are state obligations as part of the Big Dig, but neither will be paid for by the MBTA, according to Davis.

Worcester-based law firm Mirick O’Connell drafted a proposal for regular rail service from Boston to Foxboro on the Franklin line through Medfield and Walpole. The pilot program would still operate at a deficit of $1.4 million.

Local legislators are trying to prevent said expansion by amending the state budget. The senate passed an amendment last Friday 31-3 prohibiting the MBTA from expanding capital projects that would operate at a fiscal deficit. It also requires the MBTA to do a cost analysis study for any and all rail service expansion and to not proceed if the results come back unprofitable.

“This is an extremely important issue to Walpole and for the Commonwealth as a whole,” Sen. Jim Timilty (D-Walpole) said in a statement. “I share the concerns of an overwhelming number of constituents who have contacted me for months now, urging that we act appropriately on this matter. This is an issue of fiscal prudence, and it has to happen in a timely manner so that we do not add another generation of debt to our public transportation.”

Davis would not comment on the new legislation, which must now earn House approval.

“We’re committed to the green line and to South Coast rail and will not add to the debt burden the MBTA currently carries,” he said.

The MBTA is considering two proposals with different levels of fare increases and service reductions to close its $161 million budget gap. The first scenario would eliminate 60 bus routes and increase fares by an average of 43 percent. The second eliminates more than 200 bus routes, reduces the length of 11 others and would increase fares by an average of 35 percent.

The second plan eliminates the 34E bus from Walpole to Dedham.

Both plans discontinue all ferry routes, suspend all weekend trains and service after 10 p.m. on commuter rails and eliminate weekend service on the Mattapan line and Green Line E branch.

Neither plan is inevitable, but are instead being proposed to gauge what level of fare increases or service reductions customers are willing to endure, Davis said. The most drastic estimates predict a 17 percent reduction in ridership, or 94 million rides annually.

A series of public hearings are being held to gather feedback about the two proposals, including one in Framingham on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Town Hall, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Read more: Transportation heads: Gillette rail plan through Walpole 'not a focus' - Walpole, MA - Wicked Local Walpole http://www.wickedlocal.com/walpole/news/x1672347278/Transportation-heads-Gillette-rail-plan-through-Walpole-not-a-focus#ixzz1khAtwi7Q

State Sen. Timilty rails against expanded train service in MetroWest
Senator Timilty talks about plans to expand the rail lines.

By Marc Filippino/Correspondent
Wicked Local Walpole
Posted Dec 23, 2011

WALPOLE — State Senator James Timilty is “mad at every level” at plans for a proposed commuter rail that would run through his home town of Walpole, and is looking to do everything in his power to stop it.

Timilty led a small group of reporters on a walk of the rail line near the South Walpole Post Office on Summer Street Tuesday. Along the way, he ripped the MBTA for its history of debt and questioned its ability to responsibly manage the finances of a proposed commuter rail expansion into Foxborough, Walpole, Medfield and throughout the MetroWest region.

Timilty cited a proposed pilot project’s projected $4 million annual operating loss as a sign that the project is doomed to fail.

“If [the MBTA] were a private sector agency, they’d fire everybody,” Timilty said. “30 percent of their operating budget goes to debt, and they’re thinking of spending upwards of $10 million to activate a line? They have some monumental challenges they need to deal with now.

“We were the first subway in America, and in an urban setting, we’re probably the worst,” he said. “Their systems are old and faulty, and if you’ve ever gone through Park Street, it’s a disaster.”

The controversy began in October when the Westborough-based law firm Mirick O’Connell proposed a pilot commuter rail expansion project, dubbed the 495 Rail Study, that focused on enhancing train service to Foxborough. The pilot program called for utilizing existing rail equipment, while seeing whether a long-term plan was feasible.

Walpole residents were immediately up in arms. Walpole is where the Foxborough spur splits off from the Franklin Line, and residents opposed having to bear the brunt of the constant noise from a high-speed train and the construction that would be associated with building a new rail line and station. Town officials even contacted John Mirick to register their complaints.

On Dec. 2, in a strongly worded letter to Jody Ray, director of railroad operations for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Rep. Dan Winslow objected to expanded commuter rail service to Foxborough on the grounds that it was a taxpayer giveaway to billionaire casino gambling interests.

Winslow called for a halt to any further discussions or planning until the impacts on surrounding towns of such a service increase could be assessed, and warned, “Not one thin dime of limited public money should be spent for the private benefit of billionaires in a private transaction.”

Timilty objected not only to the Foxborough pilot project, but to the entire notion of explanded commuter rail service in the MetroWest area.

He sees the plan becoming dangerously long-term and compared commuter rail expansion to the problems that plagued the “Big Dig” project in Boston, but on a smaller scale. The pilot project alone would cost an estimated $84 million, with $6 million more annually to operate it, according to the MBTA’s 2010 Foxborough Commuter Feasibility Study Report.

With projected stops in several Norfolk County towns including Medfield, Timilty said the construction would devastate local property values, repel businesses from the area, and damage the overall quality of life.

“The American dream is have control over your own property, and for the state to take it for the greater good, there needs to be a significant cause for that,” Timilty said, referring to the possibility that Massachusetts would acquire land needed for the expansion through eminent domain.

“I have to see what happens to these communities when you have these trains,” he said. “It’s not what we need and it’s not what we can afford.”

Currently in Walpole, freight trains traverse a one-track, north-south rail twice daily. Timilty sees this single track turning into a double track, which would bring the 40-mile-per-hour commuter rail through Walpole 16 times a day, disrupting residential areas and small businesses.

Brickman Group Landscaping is located on Summer Street in Walpole, no more than 25 yards from the tracks.

Kelly Page, an employee at Brickman, said she understands the usefulness of commuter rail, since all Brickman employees must now commute by car. But she also understands the frustration of Walpole citizens. When she was living at home in Northbridge, she said, nearby train traffic disrupted the household several times a day.

“When you have a property right next to a railroad,” she said, “it’s extremely annoying, especially if you have small kids and you’re trying to get them to go to bed at night. My daughter was only five years old when the railroad was going through Northbridge and that was only a couple of times a day.

“It was loud and it shook the entire neighborhood. We had cracks in the walls and cracks in the ceilings and damage to the house, so I can see why residents would not want it.”

Still others are not as stridently opposed to expanding commuter service as Timilty.

“The MBTA has been discussing this for a number of years,” said Paul Matthew, executive director of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, a public-private collaborative that encourages development in the region. Mirick O’Connell brought the 495 Rail Study to Matthew’s group for feedback and regional input while it was being developed.

Matthew said the casino issue raised by Winslow is a red herring. “I think the discussion started long before the casino proposal and will continue long after the casino proposal,” he said. He also said casinos usually attract a more affluent crowd, which is not dependent on public transportation. [but the low wage workers are dependent on less expensive public transportation at great cost to Massachusetts taxpayers]

Matthew said this public discussion is good for the community, since towns such as Walpole will be affected the most. However, he noted the outlines in the pilot program are not permanent, and that it will take decades before the 495 Rail Study is likely to become a reality.

Timilty put it more bluntly.

“It’s a pie in the sky idea,” he said. “If it was built 50 years down the road, it may not have any impact, but right now? Can we afford it? Is it necessary? On both accounts, I offer the most vehement ‘no’ I can get out.”

Read more: State Sen. Timilty rails against expanded train service in MetroWest - Walpole, MA - Wicked Local Walpole http://www.wickedlocal.com/walpole/news/x1980198478/State-Sen-Timilty-rails-against-expanded-train-service-in-MetroWest#ixzz1khBza7Mh

How Cozy is Too Cozy?

2012-01-27T16:06:00.002-05:00

How Cozy is Too Cozy?

It's no secret that SugarHouse Casino supports Fishtown Action, the neighborhood group that actually wants a casino on North Delaware Avenue. FACT and SugarHouse throw neighborhood picnics and concerts together, SugarHouse has given thousands of dollars to local causes at FACT's request, and the two are working on a community benefits agreement in which SugarHouse would give $1 million or more each year to needs in the community.

And SugarHouse had to be happy that FACT sent out a press release late Monday night, along with a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell, state Rep. Dwight Evans and State Sen. Vince Fumo demanding that they be included on any meeting to move SugarHouse and Foxwoods Casino from their chosen sites on the Delaware River.

"The former Jack Frost Refinery is a blighted, unsightly lot that has been vacant for 20 YEARS," read the letter, with nearly 200 signatories. "Our community wants and needs the jobs and the vendor opportunties that this development will bring to our city and community."

But SugarHouse was NOT excited to see the media contact list of its spokeswoman, Leigh Whitaker, included with the letter and press release. Are SugarHouse and FACT too tight? FACT President Maggie O'Brien said she asked Whitaker for her list because she didn't have a good one of her own. "We're not professionals," she said, taking a poke at several anti-casino activists who actually make a living as professional protesters. "I asked her, give me your contacts, because then maybe someone will get back to us."

While some casino opponents like to paint FACT as a creation of SugarHouse, it was started by residents who have been involved in Fishtown for a long time. "We didn't ever get into this to help SugarHouse, we got into this to help our neighborhood," said O'Brien, who broke from Fishtown Neighbors Association, which she co-founded in 2000, because of the casino issue. O'Brien works for Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, the company that owns The Inquirer, and hence, Heard in the Hall.

Whitaker said FACT's use of her list isn't a big deal -- "it is just a list of reporters that cover casino issues -- Doesn’t make sense to ask the Art Alliance for their media list." Posted by Jeff Shields

Connecticut Budget Deficit Grows To $144.5 Million

2012-01-27T16:02:00.002-05:00

State Budget Deficit Grows To $144.5 Million
By CHRISTOPHER KEATING
The Hartford Courant

In more bad financial news for the state, the legislature's nonpartisan fiscal office now says the state budget deficit has grown to a projected $144.5 million.

The Office of Fiscal Analysis released new numbers Wednesday night that say the state is spending more than expected and collecting less revenue than projected.

Only two months ago, the same office was estimating a surplus of about $100 million in an overall state budget of about $20 billion. But the state is not collecting tax money as quickly as expected, partly because Wall Street bonuses were lower than expected at Christmas. As a result, some major taxpayers in Fairfield County are not paying as much in taxes as originally hoped.

Fairfield County Overall, the state expects to collect $8.38 billion from the state income tax and $3.88 billion from the sales tax – the two biggest revenue generators by far. The tax on corporate profits is expected to generate $707 million in the current fiscal year, while another $444 million would be collected in cigarette taxes.

The income, sales, corporation and cigarette taxes were all increased last year by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Democratic-controlled legislature in an attempt to close the state's budget deficit that started growing deeper with the collapse of the Lehman Brothers investment bank and the huge Wall Street downturn during the recession. The state economy remains sluggish as unemployment remains relatively high and real estate sales are far below the peak days of several years ago.

State officials are struggling to balance the budget through "lapses," which means that agencies are being ordered to spend less money than is allocated in their budgets. In other words, if an agency had a budget of $10 million, it might be ordered to spend only $9.5 million because of the difficult fiscal times and then essentially return $500,000 to the state.

"The budget is heavily reliant on budgeted lapses to achieve balance,'' the nonpartisan fiscal office said in a three-page summary. "Of the $777.9 million budgeted [for lapses], we have been able to identify $651.4 million in lapses. About five months remain in the fiscal year, and the remaining $126.5 million may still be achieved through various savings or budgeting mechanisms.''

The fiscal office noted that its projections were made before Malloy said this week that he was using his unilateral authority to make budget cuts of $78.7 million in order to keep the state in the black for the current fiscal year.

Republicans have complained that Malloy's strategy is flawed because he enacted the largest tax increase in Connecticut history and the state is still facing a deficit. Malloy has pledged that the state will finish the fiscal year on June 30 in the black.

Bribes, Chinese Mob Ties at Sands

2012-01-27T15:46:00.003-05:00

Bribes, Chinese Mob Ties Alleged at Casino of Gingrich Money Man
By BRIAN ROSS, MATTHEW MOSK, CINDY GALLI and RHONDA SCHWARTZ

The casino company run by the principal financial backer of Newt Gingrich's presidential bid, Sheldon Adelson, has been under criminal investigation for the last year by the Department of Justice and the Securities Exchange Commission for alleged bribery of foreign officials, according to corporate documents.

In a separate civil lawsuit, a former executive of the company has alleged that Adelson ordered him to keep quiet about sensitive issues at the Sands casinos on the Chinese island of Macau, including the casinos' alleged "involvement with Chinese organized crime groups, known as Triads, connected to the junket business." The triads -- Chinese organized crime syndicates -- are allegedly involved in organizing high stakes gambling junkets for wealthy Chinese travelers.

In its filings with the SEC, Adelson's company says it became aware of the investigation in February 2011 when it received a subpoena from the SEC requesting "documents relating to its compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act." The company said it "intends to cooperate with the investigation," which it said may have been triggered by the allegations in the lawsuit by Steven C. Jacobs, a former Sands executive who says he helped run the Macau operation. The federal investigation was first reported last year by Las Vegas newspapers and the financial press.

At a gaming forum last year, Adelson said the lawsuit "is not a serious case" and that the federal investigations would find no wrongdoing. "When the smoke clears, I am 1,000 percent positive that there won't be any fire below it."

Adelson and his wife have given at least $10 million to the pro-Gingrich Super PAC "Winning our Future" and ABC News political analyst Amy Walter said the Adelsons' money "has been a major factor in keeping Newt Gingrich's campaign alive." The candidate and the Super PAC are not legally allowed to coordinate their efforts, but the political action committee's goals are unambiguous, as they finance ads supporting Gingrich and attacking his opponents.

ABC News received no response to calls and emails to the Gingrich campaign seeking comment.

Sheldon Adelson Owns 49 Percent of Sands Company

Adelson has become a symbol of the new, no-holds-barred environment for campaign money, with recent Supreme Court rulings opening the door for one wealthy individual to single-handedly bankroll one of the costliest aspects of a political campaign: television advertising. Adelson, who is one of America's richest people, has the means to do so. The billionaire owns 49 percent of the Sands casino company and as chairman, is directly involved in its operations. Its operations in Macau have made the Sands the world's leading gambling operation.

But the company operates where corruption is described as "a major and growing problem," according to a 2011 report from the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

"The growth of gambling in Macau, fueled by money from mainland Chinese gamblers and the growth of U.S.-owned casinos, has been accompanied by widespread corruption, organized crime and money laundering," the commission found.

The Venetian-Macao, a casino owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, was also the subject of a reported "sex-trade crackdown" that occurred in 2010 on the same day Adelson arrived on the island for meetings with government leaders in Macau, according to published accounts in 2010. Chinese press reported that authorities found more than 100 prostitutes inside the casino.

Jacobs alleges in his lawsuit that Adelson demanded that Jacobs refrain from telling the corporate board of Sands China about issues including "junkets and triads." He also alleges that Adelson wanted to investigate high-ranking Macau officials to provide him "leverage" to thwart any initiatives that would hurt the company.

"The triads are making a ton of money off the gambling industry," said Ko-lin Chin, a Rutgers University criminal justice professor who is one of the leading experts on Chinese organized crime. "They are still there, they are still very active."

Sands corporate spokesman Ron Reese told ABC News he did not wish to comment, instead pointing to earlier statements that Adelson has made about the case.

Adelson said at the gaming forum last year the lawsuit "is pure threatening, blackmailing and extortion" and said the case created a "foundation of lies" upon which the subsequent investigations have been based. He told the Wall Street Journal in October "we have a substantial list of reasons why Steve Jacobs was fired for cause and interestingly he has not refuted a single one of them. Instead, he has attempted to explain his termination by using outright lies and fabrications which seem to have their origins in delusion."

Last year, a judge rejected a motion by Las Vegas Sands to dismiss the case.

Gingrich’s Extremist Anti-Palestinian Stance

2012-01-27T15:41:00.003-05:00

Gingrich’s Extremist Anti-Palestinian Stance Follows Millions from Casino Magnate Sheldon Adelson

Many analysts say Newt Gingrich’s recent rise in the Republican contest would have been impossible without the backing of one man: multi-billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Adelson and his wife have donated $10 million to the pro-Gingrich super PAC, Winning Our Future, which has run a series of ads attacking Gingrich’s opponent Mitt Romney. Gingrich has openly admitted Adelson’s support came down to a single issue: Israel. Gingrich has adopted the most extremist anti-Palestinian stance of the Republican presidential field, calling the Palestinians themselves an "invented" people. We speak with Gal Beckerman of the Jewish Daily Forward and Linda Sarsour of the Arab American Association of New York. [includes rush transcript]

Guests:

Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York and the advocacy and civic engagement coordinator for the National Network for Arab American Communities.

Gal Beckerman, opinion editor at the Jewish Daily Forward and author of the book, When They Come for Us, We’ll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry.

JUAN GONZALEZ: We turn now to the issue of money and politics. Over the past two weeks, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary and has surged in the national polls. Many analysts say Gingrich’s rise would not have been possible without the backing of one man: multi-billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. With a net worth of over $20 billion, he is the world’s 16th richest person, according to Forbes.

Ahead of the South Carolina primary, Adelson donated $5 million to the pro-Gingrich super PAC, Winning Our Future, which ran a series of ads attacking Gingrich’s opponent Mitt Romney. On Monday, it was revealed his wife, Miriam Adelson, gave another $5 million to the pro-Gingrich super PAC. Under the nation’s campaign finance laws, the Adelsons could give the super PAC an unlimited amount of money in the coming months.

In a recent interview with Ted Koppel on NBC, Newt Gingrich was asked about why the Adelsons would give so much money. Gingrich admitted it came down to a single issue: Israel.

TED KOPPEL: But what do these multi-millionaires expect?

NEWT GINGRICH: They want—they want—they want—

TED KOPPEL: When you give someone five million bucks—

NEWT GINGRICH: They want their candidate to win.

TED KOPPEL: But there has to be a "so what" at the end of that. So, if you win, what does Adelson get out of it?

NEWT GINGRICH: Well, he knows I’m very pro-Israel. And that’s the central value of his life. I mean, he is very worried that Israel is going to not survive.

AMY GOODMAN: Sheldon Adelson is the owner of Israel’s largest daily newspaper, a financial supporter of Birthright Israel, and a close friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Adelson has also supported the Clarion Fund, which produced The Third Jihad film, which we just discussed.

The Washington Post reports Adelson and Gingrich met when Gingrich was House speaker and Adelson was lobbying to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Gingrich raised this very issue at last night’s debate when he was questioned about his past claims that the Palestinians are an "invented" people.

NEWT GINGRICH: It was technically an invention in the late 1970s, and it was clearly—it was clearly so. Prior to that, they were Arabs. Many of them were either Syrian, Lebanese or Egyptian or Jordanian.

There are a couple of simple things here. There were 11 rockets fired into Israel in November. Now imagine, in Duval County, that 11 rockets hit from your neighbor. How many of you would be for a peace process? And how many of you would say, "You know? That looks like an act of war." You have leadership, unequivocally—and Governor Romney is exactly right—the leadership of Hamas says, "Not a single Jew will remain." Well, you’re not having a peace negotiation then. This is war by another form.

My goal for the Palestinian people would be to live in peace, to live in prosperity, to have the dignity of a state, to have freedom. And they can achieve it any morning they are prepared to say, "Israel has a right to exist. We give up the right to return. And we recognize that we’re going to live side by side. Now let’s work together to create mutual prosperity." And you could, in five years, dramatically improve the quality of life of every Palestinian.

But the political leadership would never tolerate that. And that’s why we are in a continuous state of war, where Obama undermines the Israelis. On the first day that I am president, if I do become president, I will sign an executive order directing the State Department to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

AMY GOODMAN: To talk more about Newt Gingrich and Sheldon Adelson, we’re joined by Gal Beckerman, who is the opinion editor at the Jewish newspaper, The Forward. He recently wrote an article called "What Sheldon’s Money Buys: Adelson Millions Ensure Gingrich Steers to Far Right on Israel." Still with us, Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York.

Gal, explain what it is, this Adelson-Gingrich relationship, why he supports him.

GAL BECKERMAN: Well, he supports—the relationship is really symbiotic, in a way. It developed, as you said, in the mid-'90s over issues of union busting. Adelson wanted some help; Gingrich was able to offer it. And it developed as time went on. It seems to have helped kind of in Gingrich's evolution in terms of his pro-Israel stance. Wayne Barrett recently reported in The Daily Beast that, you know, if you look at what Gingrich was saying about Palestinians and Israel in 2005, even, as recently as 2005, it was kind of a different line. He was talking about investing in their ancestral lands. He was really speaking a much different language. This is now changed. You won’t hear Gingrich saying anything like that anymore. And it’s not—you know, one can’t draw a direct causal link, you know, find the telephone call in which Adelson said, you know, "I want you to say this." But it’s not hard to imagine that if your political life depends on a man who has very extreme-right views when it comes to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, that you’re going to hear that same language come out of that candidate’s mouth.

JUAN GONZALEZ: And Adelson has a determined opposition even to a two-state solution in the Middle East, doesn’t he?

GAL BECKERMAN: He does. I mean, in my column, I quote him from last year speaking to The Jewish Week, saying, "I believe" — and I’m paraphrasing here, but "that a two-state solution is a stepping stone to the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people." So, you know, this is even more further to the right than the current Israeli government is, which is engaged now, whether, you know, successfully or not, in talks in Jordan with the Palestinians. You have a prime minister who, you know, whether he wants a two-state solution to eventually happen, he’s speaking the language of a two-state solution. He’s talking about the need for a Palestinian state. So, you know, Adelson really, in the spectrum of political belief in Israel, really falls, you know, to the right even of the current government.

AMY GOODMAN: AIPAC, where does Sheldon Adelson stand on his views on the American Israeli Political Action Committee?

GAL BECKERMAN: Right, well, here’s another example where you—

AMY GOODMAN: Public Affairs Committee.

GAL BECKERMAN: Right. Here’s another example where you can see that Adelson really kind of is on that right side of the spectrum, because he broke with AIPAC in 2007 over a congressional initiative that AIPAC was backing, and that the Israelis actually were backing, as well, to provide more economic aid to the Palestinians. He didn’t feel that this was a good idea.

AMY GOODMAN: Adelson and super PACs?

GAL BECKERMAN: I mean, the one thing that should be said is that, you know, we can talk about Adelson’s influence, you know, all we want, but there’s nothing illegal about it. I mean, the real problem here is this vehicle that he’s been allowed, through super PACs, to be able to have this kind of outsized influence, which really wasn’t the case before the Citizens United case two years ago.

JUAN GONZALEZ: And Linda Sarsour, as we’re talking here about the influence of Sheldon Adelson—we were just discussing how he helped fund the group that produced the jihad film—your reaction?

LINDA SANSOUR: I’m also—I happen to be Palestinian, too. And listening to a couple of debates ago and having my children sit in front of the TV and playing on their laptop and hearing, you know, our potential presidentials talk about the "invented" people and hearing Palestine, and stopping and saying, "What does he mean by we’re invented people?" and having to explain that to, you know, a 12-year-old and 11-year-old, it’s just so disappointing in this country that money is what buys power in this country and buys influence.

And we actually agree. One-state solution, one-state solution over here. One-state solution, for me, is the only way to go. And that’s an equal state for all, for justice for all. So, we can agree on that area, as well. But really, the views that Newt Gingrich is spouting in these debates, he’s making George Bush look like a walk in the park. I mean, it’s getting—I mean, we’re not—we’re supposed to be progressing in the peace process. We’re supposed to be moving forward. And what we are doing, and the GOP is doing, is moving back. So if the American people have any sense, we cannot let this guy go forward.

AMY GOODMAN: Linda, I wanted to get your response to this issue of the "invented" people. You heard it last night at the debate. Last month, Gingrich defended his claim the Palestinians are an invented people. The former speaker of the House made the comment during an interview with the Jewish Channel.

NEWT GINGRICH: Jewish people have the right to have a state, and I believe that the commitments that were made at the time—remember, there were—there was no Palestine as a state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. And I think that we’ve had an invented Palestinian people, who are in fact Arabs, and who were historically part of the Arab community. And they had a chance to go many places. And for a variety of political reasons, we have sustained this war against Israel now since the 1940s, and I think it’s tragic.

AMY GOODMAN: That was presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. Linda Sarsour?

LINDA SANSOUR: I mean, he must have been politically asleep for the first 50 years of his life. And he talks about us being invented in the '70s? Like, what is he talking about? I mean, it's just—I mean, for me, when I watch this, it’s just that—it’s like a comedy. It’s like Saturday Night Live. It’s like, where have you been all this time? And for the Palestinian people, we’ve been—I mean, we’ve been talking about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at least for the past 60 years. So, for me, honestly, I just laugh, and I think that, unfortunately, the way that our political system is set up is you talk about issues that are going to get you elected depending on who gives you money. So you talk about immigration because you want Latino votes. You talk about Israel because you want Jewish votes. I mean, it’s all, for me, a scam. And for me, I don’t know about anybody else, but it doesn’t—it doesn’t do anything for me.

JUAN GONZALEZ: And Gal, I’d like to ask you about the impact of the Adelson money on the general tenor of the foreign policy debate among the Republican candidates. It almost seems that he has single-handedly been able to shift the entire debate more to the right on a variety of issues.

GAL BECKERMAN: Right. Well, I mean, and this is what I think is the much bigger concern, is that, you know, if you have Gingrich saying the things that he believes Adelson wants him to say, nobody wants to be outflanked to the right, and so everyone is going to kind of move in that direction. And you get kind of this dynamic where it’s kind of like toughness for toughness’s sake, you know, on a range of issues, any time that talk turns to foreign policy, whether it’s Cuba or, you know, when you talk about Afghanistan. Romney was asked twice what he would do with the Taliban, whether he would negotiate with the Taliban, and he said, "No, we’re going to beat them," which, as far as I’m concerned, is what we’ve been trying to do for the last 10 years without much effect. So, you know, he—there is—and then Iran, of course, is the ultimate example, where everyone is trying to just kind of have this kind of belligerent language that doesn’t really kind of offer any alternative solutions, that doesn’t kind of look at all the full implications of some of the things that they’re saying. It’s just kind of, you know, let’s talk as tough as possible. And it pushes people into a corner.

AMY GOODMAN: Go very quickly, the newspaper in Atlanta, where the editor was just forced out.

GAL BECKERMAN: Right, right.

AMY GOODMAN: Can you explain what happened?

GAL BECKERMAN: This was an editor of a very small—about 2,500, I think, was their circulation—newspaper, one of two or three Jewish newspapers in Atlanta, who wrote this incredibly, extraordinarily inflammatory column that said that one of the things on the table, in terms of dealing with Iran, should be a possible assassination of President Obama. And this was kind of roundly condemned by everybody. The guy eventually came out himself, you know, in this kind of half-an-hour tearful confession a few days ago, saying he doesn’t know what he was thinking. And, you know, I think it’s possible to see this as just the production of one crank, you know, who’s—you know, but underneath—underneath it is a real kind of, I think, irrational fear that you see among some people in the Jewish community that Obama and his policies towards Iran is somehow harming Israel.

AMY GOODMAN: Thirty seconds, how did Adelson get his fortune?

GAL BECKERMAN: He is a casino magnate, built a lot of casinos in Vegas and, in the last 15 years, has grown even richer through building the same types of resorts and casinos in China.

AMY GOODMAN: We want to thank you both for being with us. And that editor, the publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, named Andrew Adler, said Israel should consider assassinating President Obama, quote, "take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel." We’re going to end it there. Gal Beckerman, thanks so much for being with us, opinion editor at The Forward, author of When They Come for Us, We’ll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry. And Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York, also with the National Network for Arab American Communities. She was just named a "Champion of Change," honored at the White House, a Palestinian-American activist. Thanks much for both for joining us.

This is Democracy Now! When we come back, we look at immigration and the primaries. Stay with us.

There they go again on gambling

2012-01-27T15:36:00.002-05:00

This comment should shock you:

The study found that 15 percent of Marylanders gamble weekly and spend an average of $549 per month. That amounts to a whopping $6,588 per year!

Allan J. Lichtman: There they go again on gambling

Politicians are so predictable. They almost make it too easy for columnists to skewer them in the pages of The Gazette. On no issue are Maryland politicians more predictable or more vulnerable than on legalized gambling.

During the many years that I have been writing about this issue in Maryland I made several predictions.

First, slot machine parlors would be slow to develop and would not bring in the big bucks that the politicians promised (nearly $700 million yearly). Second, the gambling industry and their flaks among Maryland’s politicians would not stop with legalized slots, but would continue to grind down the opposition until they gained full casino gambling in Maryland.

Sadly, these predictions have come to pass. The implementation of slot machine gambling in Maryland has barely gotten off the ground and has so far brought in only a trickle of revenue. In fact, the state is so far spending more than it brings in.

According to Megan Poinski on MarylandReporter.com, the state already has spent $99 million to purchase 1,825 slot machines for facilities at Perryville and Ocean Downs. It has now apparently given up on buying machines. Instead, the state will lease machines for a new and larger facility at Arundel Mills, with a cost to the taxpayers of some $168 million — for devices that we won’t even own.

Ironically, the failure of slot machine gambling to live up to expectations has led advocates to call not for a reconsideration, but for an escalation in Maryland to full gaming casinos. As always, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. is leading the charge.

Not surprisingly, gambling interests are also asking for a bigger share of the take, and Miller is all too eager to oblige them. According to John Wagner in The Washington Post, Miller is preparing legislation that would increase the share of proceeds that casino operators are allowed to keep and would authorize the addition of Las Vegas-style table games, such as blackjack and roulette. Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach said operators might be able to keep all proceeds from those new offerings.

Unfortunately, not just Mike Miller but otherwise admirable leaders in our state have fallen victim to the siren song of easy money from legalized gambling. Converts include Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III. Baker was elected on a platform of ending the corruption of the discredited Jack Johnson administration. Does he really want to bring the corrupting influence of casinos to his county?

Of course, there is no free lunch on revenue. A 2011 study by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy found that compulsive gambling is already a problem in Maryland. The study found that 15 percent of Marylanders gamble weekly and spend an average of $549 per month. That amounts to a whopping $6,588 per year!

Such expenditures are fine for people who can afford them and gamble in their private lives. But studies also show that most regular gamblers are people of limited means and that state legalized gambling amounts to a regressive tax on people who can ill afford to pay.

Legalized gambling also can mean more than a leaner wallet. The UMBC and Schaefer Center study concluded that “research findings are generally consistent with the view that increased availability leads to more gambling and problem gambling.” The researchers found that some 3.4 percent of Marylanders are currently problem or pathological gamblers and that such gambling “results in a long list of individual and social dysfunctions.”

In Pennsylvania, which recently adopted casinos, calls to the state’s problem gambling help line jumped by 26 percent in the first quarter of last year, according to the Pennsylvania Council on Compulsive Gambling.

There are some courageous politicians who have resisted the fool’s gold of legalized gambling. Comptroller Peter Franchot cast the lone dissenting vote on the Board of Public Works on spending taxpayer dollars to lease slot machines.

Franchot said he was “appalled that our citizens are forced to pay for these machines that will further enrich gambling companies" and that he remained “disgusted by the fact that we as a state are holding on to this notion that slots are a solution to our fiscal situation.” More of our leaders need to be equally appalled and disgusted.

Allan J. Lichtman is a professor of history at American University and a national political analyst.

Party Crasher?

2012-01-27T09:04:00.004-05:00

In the most bizarre comment, Bobby Blair seems to have ignored that this was a public meeting that provided some misinformation that Mr. Ribiero attempted to correct.

Where in the Open Meeting Law is there a restriction on attendance solely by residents?

Sometimes, when you get mired in the glories of dollar bills being tossed around to satisfy every need and special interest, you overlook the facts.

One out-of-the-area casino opponent did seem to crash the party. John Ribeiro said he traveled all the way from Winthrop. Ribeiro is heading up a group to repeal the legislature's casino act. Ribeiro cited stats from Connecticut that showed local aid to host communties [sic] had not risen since the casinos arrived there.

Instead of encouraging local residents to organize, educate and collect their facts, elected officials placated the crowd in attendance with "Wait! We'll tell you when you can speak."

Instead of forming Resident Study Committees to calculate the costs and impacts, false assurances were offered that the Gambling Investors would provide the funds somewhere down the line and that they would have a voice.

The frustration of local residents was clearly expressed in conversations after the meeting.

CasiNo Forum
by Bobby Blair 1/26/12

Most of those who attended Thursday night's "not a gripe session" concerning proposed casinos in Massachusetts were from Holliston. Others attending by a show of hands were from Hopkinton and Ashland, a few each from Medway and Millis. Only several in the audience were from Milford one of the three prosposed sites in the eastern district. There will be three districts, the other two in our district being Foxboro and Suffolk Downs in Boston.

Organized by Holliston Board of Selectmen Jay Marsden (above right) State Senator Karen Spilka (left) told those attending "I don't know any other area in the state where a collabrative such as this is taking place this early in the process. Spilka thanked Marsden for organizing the forum. Spilka went on to outline the process which will take place from the state level on down. As the Chairwoman of the Senate Economic Development Committee, Spilka was at each step of the process before it was voted on by the legislature. Spilka voted against casinos but insured that surrounding communities for proposed casinos have a say in the process. Spilka outlined the process that Chapter 194 (an act establishing expanded gaming in the commonwealth) will now take.

Spilka noted that the process is still young, and while Governor Patrick has announced Stephen Crosby to head up the Gaming Commission, four others must be appointed by March 21st. Best practices for expanded gaming were taken from 38 other states who allow gaming. Timewise it could be 12-18 months before the Gaming Commission gets going, 18-24 months before the Commission receives bids from developers and yet another 1-24 months before the first casino is built. The minimum bid to build a casino is 500 million and 125 million for the only-slots parlor. There would be a one time license fee for casinos of 85 million and 25 million for a slots parlor.

While the state will realize a portion of the yearly revenues generated from casinos, those monies have already been designated to such purposes as local aid, community colleges, community mitigation and tourism. Rep. Carolyn Dykema spoke about regional and local mitigation boards and the safeguards and protection in Chapter 194 along with the impact on local facilities. Dykema, like her counterpart Spilka, voted against casinos.

In what was the only humorous moment of the night, David Bastille who lives on the Milford line near Washington Street told the audience that he had written a few notes but then realized one was a rant and the other a rave. He said the people of Milford are the elephants in the room while the residents of Holliston represent the rhinoceroses. "I now wished I had more friends who live in Milford." Bastille is an opponent of a casino in Milford and is the creator of the little "CasiNo" signs scattered about Holliston.

The audience was addressed by Rep. Tom Sannicandro and Ashland Selectman Jon Fetherston who is also a member of the MetroWest Regional Collabrative.

While not speaking during the forum, I asked Hopkinton Selectman Brian Herr (above left) what the feeling about the proposed casino was in his town. "The residents are very concerned and if I had to score it, I'd say 70% are against the casino and 30% in favor.

One out-of-the-area casino opponent did seem to crash the party. John Ribeiro said he traveled all the way from Winthrop. Ribeiro is heading up a group to repeal the legislature's casino act. Ribeiro cited stats from Connecticut that showed local aid to host communties had not risen since the casinos arrived there.

Residents will be notified as local legislators and municipal boards discuss and follow the process according to Selectman Jay Marsden.

Southern Baptist leader queasy over Newt's casino haul

2012-01-27T08:25:00.003-05:00

Southern Baptist leader queasy over Newt's casino haul
By Jeremy Redmon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A top official with the Southern Baptist Convention said it's troubling that a casino magnate's $10 million is funding much of the effort to make Newt Gingrich president.

Gingrich should distance himself from casino gambling, said Richard Land, president of the Nashville-based Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the public policy arm of the nation's second largest religious denomination. The SBC has more than 16 million members, according to denomination websites, more than 1.3 million of them in Georgia.

A spokesman for Gingrich said the former Georgia congressman doesn't gamble and would leave the issue for the states to decide if elected president.

Several other Christian conservatives said that while they don’t support gambling, they don’t fault Gingrich, because he doesn’t control the pro-Gingrich Super PAC that received the contributions.

Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire chairman and CEO of Nevada-based Las Vegas Sands Corp. –- which owns the Venetian and Palazzo casino resorts –- and his wife, Miriam, each contributed $5 million to the Winning Our Future Super PAC this month, according to news reports.

“When you are so prohibitively in debt to one particular lobbying group, that is a great concern,” Land said. “And it will be a great concern to many Southern Baptists because we believe gambling is a scourge. It is the fastest growing addiction in the country. And we certainly don’t want a president who is going to promote it.”

The Adelsons declined to comment through a spokesman.

Matt Towery, an Atlanta-area political pollster and former Gingrich aide, said Gingrich’s campaign would be in trouble if it were not for the Adelsons' financial backing. Gingrich's chief rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has a much bigger campaign war chest, and a Super PAC supporting Romney has been savaging Gingrich with critical television ads in recent weeks.

Rick Tyler, a former Gingrich aide and now a senior adviser to Winning Our Future, declined to comment on the Adelsons' donations. But he did confirm that the PAC was able to buy $6 million in campaign advertisements in Florida this week, including a TV ad that links Romney to President Obama on the federal healthcare overhaul.

Christian conservatives were not united on the question of the Adelsons' support for Gingrich. Jody Hice, an Atlanta-area Baptist minister and former Republican congressional candidate who is not aligned with any presidential candidate, said that although he doesn’t support casino gambling, the donations are “not necessarily a sign of Newt's support of them [the Adelsons] or their business.”

“To be distracted by varying views regarding casinos and gambling is to miss the point, in this circumstance,” Hice, a conservative radio talk show host, wrote in an email. “The money in question is not even going to a candidate but to a PAC.”

Jerry Luquire, president of the Georgia Christian Coalition, didn’t criticize Gingrich but said the former House speaker should explain his position on gambling. “He should answer the question regardless of the source of his funding, just because it is a matter of interest,” said Luquire, whose coalition opposes the expansion of gambling in Georgia.

Forbes magazine lists Adelson as the eighth richest person in the United States with a net worth of $21.5 billion. His company operates convention centers, casinos and resorts in Las Vegas, eastern Pennsylvania, Macao and Singapore. Nearly 90 percent of its operating profit comes from Asia, Forbes reported.

While Adelson is associated with casino gambling, a separate issue seems to have cemented him to Gingrich: Israel.

"Sheldon Adelson is very deeply concerned about the survival of Israel and believes that the Iranians represent a mortal threat to Israel and the United States, Gingrich told reporters in Florida this week. "He is deeply motivated ... by the question of having a commander in chief strong enough and making sure the Iranians don't get nuclear weapons."

When a reporter asked Gingrich if he had promised Adelson anything, Gingrich responded: "I promised him that I would seek to defend the United States and United States allies."

Adelson told The Washington Post this month he was introduced to Gingrich in 1995 in the course of lobbying for a bill to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Gingrich said in December that he would issue an executive order to move the embassy to Jerusalem on Day One of his administration.

That same month, Adelson agreed with controversial comments Gingrich made about Palestinians on the Jewish Channel. Gingrich told the cable network: “Remember, there was no Palestine as a state. It was part of the Ottoman Empire. We have invented the Palestinian people, who are in fact Arabs and are historically part of the Arab people, and they had the chance to go many places.”

In a published statement, Adelson said: “My motivation for helping Newt is simple and should not be mistaken for anything other than the fact that my wife, Miriam, and I hold our friendship with him very dear and are doing what we can as private citizens to support his candidacy."

Towery, who served as a debate coach and campaign chairman for Gingrich, also dismissed concerns that the contributions would prompt Gingrich to support casino gambling. “Newt is not that way," he said. "Newt generally bites the hand that feeds him. ... This guy can give him all the money he wants, but Gingrich won’t do him any favors.”

Staff writer Daniel Malloy contributed to this article.

Hypocrisy Survives on Beacon Hill

2012-01-27T07:59:00.003-05:00

Enticing ads of "Something for Nothing" riches fill the airways, blanket billboards, while hypocrisy reigns on Beacon Hill.

Governor "Slot Barns" Patrick took office with his own hidden agenda to promote Predatory Gambling, consequences be damned, yet is blinded by the hidden consequences of his Folly.

When he lives in an Ivory Tower, carefully isolated from the population, how could we expect otherwise?

Could casino gambling take over hole left by alcohol ads on MBTA?
Sharman Sacchetti

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Alcohol ads may be banned from MBTA trains and buses, at a cost of $1.5 million, but ads for casino gambling are still a sure bet for Massachusetts.

"I don't think it's hypocritical at all," Governor Deval [Slot Barns] Patrick tells FOX 25's Sharman Sacchetti.

Governor Patrick supports the move to ban alcohol ads from the MBTA, even though it comes at a time when the state is looking to you for more money to help the debt ridden agency.

Several public meetings on fare hikes are being held across the state. The governor says banning alcohol ads is all about public health.

FOX 25 asked Governor Patrick what the difference was between alcohol ads and ads for casino gambling.

"Well the one difference is we've struck a balance as you know with expanded gambling with a tremendous amount of investment on how we protect the public from some of the harm that comes with expanded gaming,” says the governor. [Have we, Governor?]

Representative Marty Walsh is sponsoring the bill that bans alcohol ads from any state owned property, including ads on privately owned billboards on state land overlooking the highways.

He says alcohol ads on the “T” and elsewhere can promote underage drinking.

Sharman Sacchetti asked Representative Walsh if there was a difference between alcohol ads and casino gambling ads.

"That's a good question. In some cases, absolutely not, it's the same thing."

When asked if there are any plans to ban casino advertising, Representative Walsh said not yet.

"We'll wait until we get them and then we can ban them," says Walsh.

However, when asked if he’s concerned about finding new advertisers in a tight economy, Representative Walsh’s answer was far more telling.

"Oh sure there's plenty of advertising,” he says, “I live in Dorchester and you have plenty of advertisements for Mohegan sun and Twin Rivers. I'm only assuming there's going to be more advertisements for those places as time moves on."

Meanwhile, the MBTA has said it will work hard to find advertisers, but Representative Walsh says he doesn’t think the agency will have a hard time.

Read more: http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/could-casino-gambling-takeover-hole-left-by-alcohol-ads-on-mbta-20120126#ixzz1kfDZzlV5

5-Year-Old Alone In Mohegan Sun Casino Hotel

2012-01-27T07:53:00.002-05:00

Cops: Mom Left 5-Year-Old Alone In Mohegan Sun Casino Hotel While She Went To Gamble
Prosecutors: Wu Xiao Xu Felt That There Was Nothing Wrong With What She Did

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A New York City mother took a gamble and lost, big time.

She was behind bars Thursday and charged with leaving her 5-year-old son alone in a Mohegan Sun hotel room, reports CBS 2’s Kathryn Brown.

Police say Wu Xiao Xu took her gambling to the extreme — when she bet she could leave her son alone in their hotel room and get away with it.

Her luck ran out when the little boy woke up from a nap to find himself all alone on the 30th floor and picked up the telephone and called 9-1-1.

Operators talked to the confused little boy and tried to reassure him.

Operator: “Is there anybody there with you?”

Boy: “No.”

Operator: “Are you okay?”

Boy: “Yeah, I’m watching TV.”

But once the operator figured out what was going on — you can hear the anger in her voice as she’d talking to people in the background.

“There’s a kid alone up there. The kid sounds little,” the operator said.

Police say Xu had left the hotel room to gamble, and left her cell phone number on the nightstand — with instructions not to open the door for anyone.

But the little boy told 9-1-1 operators he couldn’t read the note.

Operator: “Does she usually leave you in the room by yourself?”

Boy: “Yeah.”

Xu was arrested and charged with risk of injury to a minor. According to prosecutors, she told them she “felt that there was nothing wrong with what she had done.”

But other parents were outraged.

“She brought it on herself. There are plenty of places at the casino if you want to gamble. You bring your kids there and they’ll watch ‘em,” Carolyn Woodsen said.

“It’s sad. It’s sad that kids have to be put through stuff like that,” Chris Rossi added.

Federal Immigration officials said Xu is in the country illegally. For now, she is behind bars and her son is in protective custody.

Police said there is an outstanding warrant for Xu’s arrest in North Carolina for possession of counterfeit handbags and shoes.

Sioux Falls Casino Robbed

2012-01-27T07:32:00.003-05:00

Sioux Falls Casino Robbed by Intoxicated and Stoned Rambo
Written by: Derek Sebastian

Casino crimes happen all the time [and are generally not reported]. Usually the stakes are high. Not this time as the stories of South Dakota ....

Casinos like to hire some good security staff to take care of the property and visitors as large sums are at stake. Nevertheless, recently one Sioux Falls, South Dakota based casino was robbed of $400 by Rambo-looking but barely conscious cowboy.

According to casino gambling news, Kory S, 35, had entered Sioux Falls casino without any weapons, while barely standing on his feet after consuming large quantities of alcohol and smoking some joints.

The South Dakota spaced-out cowboy walked to the cashier, and barely speaking, demanded cash. The terrified clerk immediately handed the real casino money, but the bad news is that it was a petty $400. Then, it is rumored, Mr. S gained strength and quickly sped away for new supplies of booze and weed.

Caught and Punished For Casino Crime
Luckily for the public safety, the police proved to be less pusillanimous than casino security guards. The man was arrested the next day, but already blew most of the money on alcohol, drugs and, allegedly, on a cheap $10 crack hooker.

Since the man didn’t have a previous record of violent crimes, and was unarmed during the casino robbery, he may be able to get out of prison within two years.

Repeal the Casino Deal

2012-01-27T07:14:00.004-05:00

John Ribeiro, president of Repeal the Casino Deal in Winthrop, said he is leading an effort to overturn the casino law, but Marsden steered conversation toward local concerns.

Residents urged to stay alert in casino debate
State Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, speaks during a public forum to discuss casino gambling bill at Robert Adams Middle School in Holliston last night.

By Laura Krantz/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News

HOLLISTON — With casinos a grim reality in the state, one lawmaker last night urged hundreds of worried residents to keep on top of the ongoing saga so the region has a say in developments.

“We need to be able to act quickly, and we need to be able to act in concert,” state Rep. Carolyn Dykema told a packed auditorium at the middle school.

The Holliston Democrat and two other legislators hosted the forum to explain how area communities can protect themselves if a casino lands in their backyards.

Many in the audience wanted to talk about how they don’t want casinos, but organizers steered the discussion toward how towns can cope with them.

“We’d like to talk more about mitigation and less about just say no,” Holliston selectmen Chairman Jay Marsden said.

In November, the Legislature authorized casinos for three regions in the state and one slot parlor. A developer has plans to build a casino in Milford.

Dykema, who voted against the casino bill, said casinos are the number one issue for her constituents.

She explained that Milford and MetroWest are in the same region as Foxborough and Suffolk Downs, also potential casino sites.

“It’s not even clear at this point whether they will apply and seek to move forward,” Dykema said about a casino in Milford.

State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, who also voted against the bill, explained what control the five-member gambling commission has over casino locations.

The commission, she said, can require developers to show how they will support local businesses and require them to pay a community’s legal fees during the process.

There also has to be a signed agreement and vote from the host community to allow a casino, she said. Local casino committees can receive state money to pay for casino-related expenses.

“The city or town has the right to request money to get that mitigation,” she said.

Spilka also talked about the revenue cities and towns would get from a casino.

“We really want to make sure that a lot of the funds from casinos and the slots go to local aid,” she said, adding that the money would also support education, transportation and tourism.

The state estimates that, once the casinos are running, they will bring in about $300 million in one-time licensing fees plus ongoing revenue.

State Rep. Tom Sannicandro, D-Ashland, who voted for the bill, spoke briefly about casino revenue before inviting audience questions.

John Ribeiro, president of Repeal the Casino Deal in Winthrop, said he is leading an effort to overturn the casino law, but Marsden steered conversation toward local concerns.

Barry Schneider of Holliston asked if, once the cost of a casino to a community is determined, it can later be re-evaluated.

“What happens 10 years or 15 years down the road?” he asked.

Spilka said there is state money reserved for ongoing mitigation.

“I’m very concerned that Milford is going to be seen as the path of least resistance,” said Gregg Smalley of Holliston, who worried that opposition from area residents hasn’t been heard as loud as that from Foxborough or Suffolk County residents.

Others said they are worried their property values will plummet with a casino nearby.

Read more: Residents urged to stay alert in casino debate - Holliston, MA - Holliston TAB http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x842386854/Residents-urged-to-stay-alert-in-casino-debate#ixzz1kezaC34w

Bethlehem police conduct first prostitution bust at Sands casino hotel

2012-01-26T08:32:00.002-05:00

Bethlehem police conduct first prostitution bust at Sands casino hotel

Joseph Janis, 50, of Whitehall (left), and Danielle Moser (right), 24, of Toledo, Ohio, were among those arrested in this weekend's first-ever prostitution raid involving the Sands casino in Bethlehem. Three women told police Janis was their pimp, according to court records. Moser was charged with prostitution

By Pamela Lehman and Riley Yates, Of The Morning Call

In a first-ever prostitution raid involving the Sands casino, Bethlehem police conducted an undercover sting over the weekend, charging five women with prostitution and a Whitehall Township man with acting as their pimp.

The 2 1/2-hour operation came after casino hotel officials complained to police about prostitutes catering to their guests. Two of the accused were sent to prison, including the suspected pimp, who has faced prior prostitution charges in Allentown and Bushkill Township.

Though casino critics fretted about prostitution before the gambling hall opened in 2009, police said the bust was an isolated event in what has been a "relatively quiet and safe environment" at the Sands and its neighboring hotel. [This is a common problem associated with Slot Barns. Notice how the issue is downplayed by proponents.]

"With these arrests, we intend to keep it that way," said Bethlehem police Lt. Mark DiLuzio.

Before the Sands opened, hundreds of Bethlehem residents packed town hall meetings to voice fears that gambling would bring a spike in prostitution, drugs and crime. But DiLuzio said most crime at the casino and its hotel has been petty, consisting largely of public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, fights in the parking lot and vehicle break-ins.

Although state police gaming enforcement troopers assisted city police with Saturday's investigation, troopers have not charged any casino patrons with prostitution or related offenses, said Sgt. Robert Caprari, commander of the state police office at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

A search of Pennsylvania Uniform Crime reporting figures turns up no prostitution arrests at area casinos by state police, whose gaming officers are responsible for crime that occurs inside casinos.

In the Bethlehem bust, police said Joseph John Janis, 50, of 3036 Rosewood Place, Whitehall, was arrested Saturday while circling the Sands casino and hotel in his car, according to court records. He was charged with three felony counts of promoting prostitution and sent to Northampton County Prison under $25,000 bail.

Police said three women at the hotel — all of whom admitted they were prostitutes — told investigators that Janis was their pimp, court records state. The women said Janis set up their encounters, drove them to the location and took a cut of the money they received for performing sex acts, the records state.

Police also charged the following with summary prostitution and related charges: Mary Bartholomew, 50, of 421 N. 16th St., Allentown; Kim Hutchinson, 40, of Phillipsburg; and Kim Rexroad, 34, and Stacy Hoffman, 47, both of Reading.

Danielle Moser, 24, of Toledo, Ohio, is also charged with prostitution. She was sent to Northampton County Prison under $10,000 bail after offering an undercover officer sex for $300, according to court records.

According to court records:

A woman who was not charged was detained at the hotel for suspected prostitution. She told police that Janis, her "pimp," would set up her appointments, drive her to the hotel and take a cut of the cash she received in exchange for sexual favors.

Janis ran a business called "At Your Pleasure" that included an ad offering suspected prostitution services and his cellphone number.

An undercover officer called Janis early Saturday and made arrangements to meet with a prostitute. Hoffman and Rexroad met with the officer and offered sex acts for cash.

Police saw Janis driving around the parking lot of the casino and hotel and the women identified him as their pimp. Inside Janis' car, police found suspected "prostitution paraphernalia," paperwork relating to massage parlors, two cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Janis has been charged with promoting prostitution twice before.

The first time was in 1995, when he and two women were accused of running a prostitution ring out of massage parlor in Allentown. He was eventually accepted into a first-offenders program that allowed him to avoid a criminal conviction, according to court records.

The next was 12 years later, in Bushkill Township, and he eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of procuring a prostitute and received 60 days of house arrest, 16 months of supervision and 40 hours of community service.

Janis was charged in the second case after a police sting in October 2007 at the Red Carpet Inn in Bushkill , where an undercover officer met a prostitute he had found through a phone number for "Dream Girls," according to court records.

After the prostitute, Jami Tomiselli, was arrested, she agreed to lead police to her pimp. Janis was taken into custody carrying marked bills after he met her in a parking lot and took some of the money she had received, police said.

At the time of his arrest, Bushkill police found a machine used for credit card transactions inside Janis' car. While he was in custody, his cellphone was constantly ringing, police said.

But when Janis pleaded guilty in September 2008, defense attorney Philip Lauer denied his client ran a prostitution business, saying that "would be dramatically overstating what occurred," according to court transcripts.

"On the other hand, Mr. Janis does not deny that through some connections he had, he was able to on occasion procure someone, if that is what someone wanted," Lauer said.

Assistant District Attorney John Obrecht said at the time that given Janis' 1995 case, it was clear prostitution "is an area that he doesn't necessarily stray too far from."

Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden was taken aback by the price the prostitute charged, of which "at least half" went to Janis, according to Obrecht.

"In Wind Gap, $250?" McFadden asked.

"I have no knowledge of these things, your honor," Obrecht said, before adding: "That is the full-service price, however."

Lauer said there was a long period between Janis' two cases in which he stayed away from prostitution. But Lauer said "hard times" caused his client to fall back on his "prior experience."

Alabama: Judge won't dismiss counts against McGregor

2012-01-26T08:19:00.003-05:00

Judge refuses to toss out 2 bribery counts against Alabama casino owner Milton McGregor
PHILLIP RAWLS Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal judge refused Wednesday to throw out two bribery charges against casino owner Milton McGregor just days before his retrial starts in Alabama's gambling corruption case.

McGregor's attorneys contended the two charges should be tossed because prosecutors recently informed them that they failed to turn over some information from two state officials related to the charges. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruled Wednesday that the charges stand because prosecutors had long ago provided similar information to McGregor's lawyers through records of grand jury testimony.

The two charges accuse McGregor of bribing a co-defendant, former legislative employee Ray Crosby. Crosby wrote gambling legislation for the Legislature. FBI wiretaps recorded him talking to McGregor about changes McGregor wanted in a bill to keep open electronic bingo casinos like his VictoryLand in Shorter.

McGregor contended the two charges should be tossed because prosecutors recently notified McGregor's attorneys that they failed to turn over some information from two state officials related to the charges.

Earlier this month, prosecutors notified McGregor's attorneys that they had failed to notify them about federal investigators' interviews with two of Crosby's supervisors. One of supervisors told them that he believed a legislator had authorized Crosby to talk to McGregor about the gambling legislation.

Prosecutors successfully argued that two officials provided similar information to the grand jury, and the records of their testimony were provided to McGregor's lawyers before the first trial in the gambling corruption case.

The trial ended in August with two acquittals, no convictions and the jury unable to resolve all charges against seven defendants, including McGregor and Crosby. The retrial of the case starts Monday.

McGregor's casino 15 miles east of Montgomery was once the largest in the state with more than 6,000 electronic bingo machines, but it closed in 2010 during the gambling investigation. The machines were also the financial linchpin for McGregor's adjoining dog track, which suspended live races.

Judge won't dismiss counts against McGregor
Read the full text of the ruling here
By: Lance Griffin Dothan Eagle

A federal judge declined to dismiss two bribery counts in the gambling corruption case against casino owner Milton McGregor and legislative analyst Ray Crosby, determining the prosecution did not withhold important information from the defense.

McGregor is accused of bribing Crosby. Prosecutors claim McGregor paid Crosby $3,000 per month over a period of several months in exchange for favors Crosby gave McGregor while working on pro-gambling legislation in the Alabama Legislature.

Attorneys for McGregor claimed the casino owner did not do anything improper while working with Crosby on the bill, claiming that Senate majority leader Roger Bedford had authorized McGregor to deal with Crosby.

The McGregor defense sought to have the counts dismissed after receiving what it believed to be new information that had not previously been disclosed by the prosecution. Criminal law requires the prosecution to disclose all potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense prior to trial.

Less than three weeks ago, prosecutors e-mailed the McGregor defense notes from two interviews it conducted prior to the first trial with Legislative Reference Service Director Jerry Bassett and a reference service employee. Crosby worked as an analyst at the Legislative Reference Service.

Both indicated they believed McGregor’s conversations with Crosby were authorized.

Government prosecutors claimed, however, that the same or similar information had been made available to the defense through grand jury testimony and interviews Crosby had with the FBI. Further, the government argued that even if Bedford had given authorization for McGregor to speak with Crosby about the bill, the $3,000 monthly payments provided evidence of a bribe.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson agreed with the government’s argument.

“Through the combination of Crosby’s (FBI interview report) and Bassett’s grand jury testimony, the defendants were on notice about this evidence. The defendants were free to interview Bassett to confirm whether Crosby’s (FBI interview report) was credible,” Thompson’s ruling stated.

The public corruption retrial begins Monday. McGregor, Crosby, former Country Crossing spokesperson Jay Walker, former senators Larry Means and Jim Preuitt, lobbyist Tom Coker and Sen. Harri Anne Smith still face various public corruption charges.

Also Wednesday, Thompson granted a government motion allowing two FBI case agents to be present at the prosecution table during the trial. Documents indicate the government seeks to have agents Nathan Langmack and Keith Baker at the table. Thompson said the complexity of the trial and volume of information connected to the case provide reason for two investigators to be allowed at the prosecution table. During the first trial, only one investigator, John McEachern, was seated at the prosecution table.

According to Thompson’s ruling, the government has indicated it does not plan to call Baker or McEachern to testify.

Harness racing club fraudster pleads guilty

2012-01-26T08:17:00.000-05:00

Harness racing club fraudster pleads guilty

THE former Geelong Harness Racing Club committee member who stole more than $30,000 from the club to fund his gambling addiction has walked from court on a suspended jail sentence.

Trent Scott also used the club's credit card to purchase flights and holiday accommodation for friends, a court was told.

Scott, 33, who now resides in NSW, pleaded guilty in Bairnsdale Magistrates' Court yesterday to 23 counts of theft and deception totalling $30,226.56.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Leigh Groves said Scott became a committee member of Geelong Harness Racing Club and was given access to club funds in June 2010.

"This included access to club credit cards," Sen-Constable Groves said.

"He also ran a business on the track selling harness racing supplies."

The prosecutor said the offences took place between June and October 2010.

He said that on one occasion Scott gambled away $7000 of a club cheque for $12,000, which was supposed to be used to purchase items for the harness racing supplies business.

Sen-Constable Groves said on another occasion Scott used the club's credit card to purchase an $835 plasma television, which he promptly sold to obtain gambling funds.

"He received $2000 on behalf of the club for a claiming race, but lost that gambling," the prosecutor said.

"He then presented a cheque for $6000 for a horse in a claiming race but the cheque was dishonoured due to lack of funds."

Sen-Constable Groves said Scott also stole a float from the supplies business and lost that on gambling.

"Other incidents include the theft of a cash cheque for $185, which he altered to read $785," the prosecutor said.

"He also stole syndicate fees totalling $2758."

The prosecutor said the club called in a forensic accounting firm when a number of discrepancies came to light.

Sen-Constable Groves said Scott had since repaid $10,000 of the stolen money to the club.

Magistrate Lou Hill convicted Scott on all counts and sentenced him to five months' jail, suspended for two years. Scott was also ordered to pay remaining restitution of $20,226.56.

Gambling, it’s the Australian way

2012-01-26T08:12:00.002-05:00

Gambling, it’s the Australian way
BY JUSTIN LAW

Problem gambling in clubs and pubs along with the increasing exposure to gaming through Internet betting begs the question; why not outlaw gambling altogether?

When that question was put to Eden-Monaro member Dr Mike Kelly, his response was, “Mate, this is Australia! I don’t think you could ever get rid of gambling.”

However, there is increasing awareness of the impact that gambling addiction is having on families particularly in low socio-economic areas such as Eden, and the radical Andrew Wilkie strategy of mandatory pre-commitment was seen as a big step forward in addressing it.

But the financial impact of introducing the technology on clubs in rural areas and the subsequent loss of revenue would have been devastating.

Many clubs along the Sapphire Coast that rely so heavily on gaming revenue would have been forced to close altogether.

General manager of the Eden Fishermen’s Recreation Club, Peter Cook, said gaming represented 60 per cent of the revenue generated at the club.

“We’d like to be able to reduce that figure,” he said. “We’re looking at diversification as well in how we can better address the needs of the future without being so reliant on gaming revenue.”

However, he said it’s a big challenge, particularly in small communities. City clubs have branched into restaurant, accommodation and even nursing home ventures, but Mr Cook said these areas are already over-subscribed in Eden.

“We’d be competing against our own town and that makes it more difficult,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean we’re not addressing it. We’ve done a risk analysis and a strategic plan lately where all these things have been identified and we’re looking at how we would still be here in the community in the next 50 years.”

In the meantime there’s the work on trying to minimise problem gambling and Mr Cook said they’ve had some success there.

“In my eight years here we’ve entered into probably 30 self-exclusions - whether they’re three-month exclusions or six-month exclusions or whether they sign up again, most of those people who have signed up don’t come to the club for gambling anymore,” he said.

“So it has been a tool that has assisted the club to help them and assist with them personally as well.”

However, he said that there was more that could be done, although it would require a change of legislation to make work one idea he believes could.

“One of the best things that could happen on this issue is to have a third party approach us,” he said.

“At the moment in NSW if, say, a gentleman comes and says, ‘Oh, my girlfriend has a problem with gambling’, I can’t discuss that matter with him because of privacy rules, but if that legislation changes and we are able to listen to third parties then we’d be able to approach the people and talk to them about their potential problem.”

Mr Cook and Dr Kelly say they are now hopeful that the ACT trials will yield solid data and that will assist in further strategies to combat problem gambling.

Murray gets it wrong again

2012-01-26T08:04:00.004-05:00

Murray gives casinos rules of road
By Thor Jourgensen / The Daily Item

SALEM — Before they bring gambling to a Massachusetts city or town, casino owners must be ready to pay for roadway improvements and traffic reduction work in that community, Massachusetts State Senate President Therese Murray warned Thursday.

Addressing about 80 North Shore Alliance for Economic Development members at Salem State University, Murray said gambling legislation approved last year will create 10,000 to 15,000 "good-paying, long-term jobs" for Massachusetts and increase tourism.

[Senate President "Cha Ching" Murray is quoting outdated job creation figures and knows they are incorrect. She is also fully aware that the problem with Slot Barns is that they offer low wage jobs, many of which are part-time. Experience shows that workers tend to be transient. Tourism will be adversely effected, which studies have proven. It should be noted that Murray prided herself with never reading anything 'anti' Gambling.]

"But with additional visitors will come additional traffic. Any gaming facilities must pay for transportation infrastructure improvements associated with a casino. They won't be allowed to open unless they do," Murray said.

The Plymouth Democrat also talked about burdensome health-insurance costs, job creation and her plan to significantly reform the state budget-making process.

She said the average health insurance premium hike for small businesses and individuals will be 4.8 percent this year, but Christine Sullivan, head of Salem State's Enterprise Center, told Murray small business owners are telling her they will pay 12 percent to 20 percent more for health coverage this year.

"It's killing employment by eroding revenue you can apply to hiring someone," Sullivan said.

Murray called those reported hikes "unacceptable" and said the Legislature will soon focus on health insurance payment reform in an effort to reduce consumer costs.

In response to a question following her speech, she said a court case assuring health insurance coverage for legal immigrants will cost the state $54 million to more than $100 million this year, depending on how the expense is budgeted.

"It's going to be significant," she said.

She noted that insurance for legal immigrants "will add to the $200 million Medicaid deficit."

Murray said she wants to initiate a major budget overall establishing "zero-based budgeting" by 2017.

Under her proposal, state department chiefs would use performance measurements and other guidelines to calculate spending needs instead of submitting their previous year budget and factoring in increases.

"It's going to make government more transparent," she said.

Murray drew applause from her Alliance audience when she announced a newly-released 6.8 percent unemployment rate for Massachusetts. She told Alliance members that community colleges and vocational training schools must combine forces to help fill highly-skilled jobs.

She said specialized welding and machinist positions are among 144,000 jobs in Massachusetts that employers have difficulty filling.

"They are well-paid jobs, but not many people are trained to do them," Murray said.

Murray predicted a nearly $1 billion investment in life sciences and research agreements with Ireland and Finland will bring additional jobs to Massachusetts.

She criticized Congress for not working together, and called on Republicans and Democrats to come together to boost employment.

"Congress can't get out of its own way. You can't get elected and then say, 'I won't compromise,'" she said.

Murray credited fellow legislators during her speech with passing proposals to crack down on financial mismanagement by quasi-public educational organizations and for protecting domestic violence victims' jobs while they seek medical and legal help.

She also praised state Sen. Frederick Berry, the Senate majority leader who is planning to retire from the Legislature this year. Murray said a cold kept Berry away from Thursday's Alliance meeting, but she credited him with helping Salem State make the transition from a state college to a university.

Berry and the late Walter Boverini before him ensured a North Shore presence in the state Senate's leadership, but Murray said substantive talk about a new leader will not take place for almost a year.

What happens in Vegas...Wynn Slapped by Prostitute

2012-01-25T22:19:00.003-05:00

Wynn, 'known prostitutes' in tussle, LV police captain says
Steve Wynn
Casino developer declined to press battery charges against sisters in tussle, Las Vegas police say

Posted: Aug. 5, 2008 10:00 p.m.
Updated [?]: Sep. 26, 2008 5:20 p.m

Wynn Resorts Ltd. Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn was slapped in the face at his hotel during a recent run-in with two sisters with a history of prostitution, Las Vegas police said.

The incident unfolded about 9:30 p.m. July 25 at the VIP valet parking area of Wynn Las Vegas, according to a police report.

As Wynn headed for the doors, Sarah Cournede stepped out from a small crowd and propositioned him, the report said. Wynn put his arm around the woman and continued toward the doors, where he told a door man to summon security, the report said.

Wynn held onto Cournede as she struggled to escape, and her sister, Maria Cournede, eventually joined the fray and tried to pull her sister away, the report said. During the struggle, Maria Cournede slapped Wynn in the face, the report said.

Both women had been banned from the property in the past and were arrested on trespassing charges, said Capt. Brett Zimmerman of the Vice and Narcotics Bureau.

"They were known prostitutes," he said.

Wynn was unavailable when police arrived and did not immediately press battery charges related to the slap, he said.

A spokesman for Wynn could not be reached Monday evening.

Neither Cournede sister could be reached for comment.

Selling yourself, for cheap

2012-01-25T18:54:00.005-05:00

Interesting collage of articles about New York.

Noteworthy are those that provide information about how cheaply New York sold itself to Genting.

Columnist calls for simpler sales records as deals become complex, Genting becomes keyword in city politics … and more

1. Industry needs to simplify sales records as transactions become more complex, Lois Weiss says [Post, 4th item]
2. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall said a second convention center at Willets Point would compliment Genting’s plans for Aqueduct [NYDN]
3. Meanwhile, Genting shoots down Markowitz’s call for a casino in Coney Island, saying rival gaming hall would threaten Queens plans [Post]
4. Finally, the Malaysian firm donated $100,000 to state politicians hoping to push legalization of casino gaming [NYDN]
5. Donald Trump says the U.S. hotel industry would be booming if banks would only lend more [WSJ]
6. But he plans to build 10 hotels in major cities outside the U.S. [Bloomberg]
7. Success Academy founder plans six more charter schools in NYC by 2013 [NYDN]
8. Glenwood Management, RFR Holdings bundle combined $236,000 for Scott Stringer’s campaign [Post]
9. Sports editor of “The Nation” challenges Michael Ratner, Bruce’s brother and president of Center for Const. Rights, to open forum discussion of Atlantic Yards project [NYDN]
10. Memorial Sloan-Kettering signs direct lease for entire third floor at Chrysler building after years of subleasing from Wachovia [Post, 3rd item]
11. Ex-Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. will step down from federal housing post, likely to pursue politics in the city [NYDN]
12. Howard Beach Chinese restaurant to become $5M autistic center June 1 [NYDN]
13. Fairfield, Conn. pushes for easy transit link to Bronx, where many employees of Fairfield companies commute from [NYDN]

Racino operator donates $100,000 to state pols
Genting donations come amid push in Albany for full-scale gambling
By Kenneth Lovett / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

ALBANY — The operator of the Aqueduct racino ponied up $100,000 to state lawmakers amid Gov. Cuomo’s push for full-scale Las Vegas-style gambling in the state.

The first-ever donations in New York by Malaysia-based gambling giant Genting come as the company also gears up to build a $4.4 billion convention center at the racino site.

The donations are on top of the $1 million in Albany lobbying Genting spent last year.

A Genting rep had no comment.

Gambling foe David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values, called the donations “disappointing, but not surprising.”

“If there is a real public discussion on the issue, these casino lobbyists will not succeed so they try to use money and secrecy to get their way,” Blankenhorn said.

Genting spread the wealth around to both parties, though its biggest focus was on the politically-fractured state Senate.

Genting donated $20,000 to the Senate Republicans’ reelection arm in November — and $10,000 to a similar Democratic committee.

Genting also gave $10,000 to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, but did not give directly to Cuomo.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/racino-operator-donates-100-000-state-pols-article-1.1011447#ixzz1kW9pCCxf

Racino warning
By CARL CAMPANILE

A casino in Coney Island? Fuhgeddaboutit!

Aqueduct racino operator Genting yesterday said that opening a rival gaming hall threatens its plans for a $4billion Queens convention center.

“If we have no protection whatsoever,” the plans aren’t viable, Genting’s Christian Goode told The Post editorial board.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz calls Coney Island a “perfect” gambling site.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/racino_warning_D9ewggu7VnExOULiWyf9oK#ixzz1kWAZWxt2

Veteran's Abandoned

2012-01-25T18:43:00.003-05:00

States desperate and addicted to gambling revenues seek any source to fund sorely needed programs.

In this case, the federal government has abandoned Veteran's who have served their country honorably and in many cases, made incredible sacrifices.

As a nation, we have an obligation that Washington has ignored.

Casinos fight Nixon proposal to jack up admission
BY VIRGINIA YOUNG

JEFFERSON CITY • The gambling industry will fight Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal to raise casino entrance fees by $1 per patron to help finance the state's veterans homes.

Casino lobbyist Mike Winter told the House Veterans Committee on Tuesday that the proposal amounts to "a bottom-line hit of $53 million for our companies" each year and could prompt cuts in marketing, capital projects and staffing at the state's 12 casinos.

Legislators said they're open to compromise, but they made clear they're looking for a dedicated source of money to operate the state's seven nursing homes for veterans and possibly build a new home to accommodate a mounting waiting list.

"Our veterans are out of money in 2013," said Rep. Charlie Davis, R-Webb City. "If something doesn't happen, where are they going to go?"

The Missouri Veterans Commission's $80 million budget comes from several sources: 46 percent from federal money, 26 percent from charges paid by residents of the homes, 23 percent by state general revenue and 5 percent from special accounts such as a trust fund that is used for cemetery expenses.

Now, because of the state's budget problems, the trust fund also will be tapped to help pay operating expenses at the veterans homes, which include one in Bellefontaine Neighbors in St. Louis County.

But the trust fund was designed to cover repair bills when, for example, a boiler breaks at a home, as well as the state's share of construction costs for any new homes. The fund also finances the state's six veterans cemeteries and programs that help veterans sign up for federal benefits.

While the trust fund stands at $19 million, it will run dry by June 2013 if it is used at the projected rate, Larry Kay, the commission's executive director, told the House committee on Tuesday.

Kay said the veterans commission needs a funding source that provides at least $35 million a year "just to stay even."

Nixon's budget proposal, which he released last week, would generate $50 million a year for veterans through a $1 fee increase for every gambler who goes through casino turnstiles.

The current entrance fee is $2, with half going to the state and half to the home-dock city or county. Last year, the veterans trust fund got $6.5 million under a law that divvies up the state's share. Winter, who lobbies for the Missouri Gaming Association, noted that casinos also pay a tax equaling 21 percent of their adjusted gross revenue. Combining the tax and entrance fee, Missouri's effective tax rate is about 27 percent, which he portrayed as high compared with states such as Nevada, which he said charges 6.75 percent.

But the Missouri Gaming Commission's annual report showed Missouri is competitive with most nearby states. At 27.18 percent, Missouri's effective tax rate is lower than Illinois (33.92 percent) and Indiana (31.31 percent), but higher than Kansas (25.08 percent) and Iowa (22.33 percent), according to the report.

Legislators pointed out that casinos could pass on any fee increase to their patrons. But Winter said they had no plans to do so. They absorb the current $2 fee.

The gambling industry got some backing from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which said veterans homes should not be borne by "a single sector."

Dewey Riehn, who represents the VFW, said a higher admission wouldn't break casinos, which pulled in $1.8 billion last year.

"If they think they can convince me that a $1 entry fee will cause them to close boats, that's ridiculous," Riehn said.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/casinos-fight-nixon-proposal-to-jack-up-admission/article_c2065af9-13ed-5a40-b9af-db4ca2606778.html#ixzz1kW78KKv1

Sputtering over crime

2012-01-25T18:37:00.002-05:00

The Gambling Industry wants to pretend increased crime isn't connected with its business of promoting Addiction and political figures sputter, juggle, dance around statistics, sometimes tell outright lies.....

please don't believe that spike in CRIME is connected....sputter....sputter....

Give it a year and see if South Ozone Park isn't as crime riddled as Atlantic City.

Officials dispel rumors of crime spikes near Racino
By Melissa Chan

While reported rumors surface about crime spikes near the Racino, officials hope to dispel the so-called fallacies.

A recent New York Post article alleged petit larcenies and misdemeanor assaults have increased within the 106th Precinct — which covers the new Resorts World Casino — though they say it’s unclear whether the offenses can be tied to the South Ozone Park gambling operation.

The published story started a flurry of worry, according to Captain Thomas Pascale, the 106th Precinct’s commanding officer.

However, local officials said so far there’s no cause for concern.

“There’s no indication that any increase in crime is related to activities at the casino,” said Betty Braton, chair of Community Board 10. “We work closely with the police department and casino security to monitor what is actually going on. So far, there’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

According to the Post, “at least three” separate crimes have occurred on casino property, including “a car stolen from a parking lot, a dropped wallet snatched in the Racino by a patron, and one gambler who tried to use a counterfeit bill in a slot machine.”

Though Stefan Friedman, spokesperson for Resorts World, declined to comment on these specific allegations, he said the facility has been “incredibly safe.”

“The safety of our patrons is priority number one,” Friedman said. “Our commitment to keeping criminal activity out of our project has resulted in extremely few incidents on and around the casino property since our opening.”

Pascale of the 106th Precinct directed comment — in regards to statistics and allegations — to NYPD officials, who did not respond as of press time.

Paving the streets with gold.....P.T. Barnum was right

2012-01-25T18:21:00.003-05:00

If you watch long enough, you've seen THE PLAYBOOK ....

You know how it works.....

Pity the small town of Chipley, about to be duped!

Ebro Greyhound Park Pledges Schools a Share of Potential Slots Revenue
Ebro Greyhound Park has delivered a letter of intent to Washington County Schools, promising the schools a share of revenue should voters approve slot machines at the park.

CHIPLEY -- Ebro Greyhound Park announced Tuesday they had presented a letter of intent pledging that Washington County Schools would share in the revenue created by slot machines, should voters approve them at the track.

The letter was presented to Dr. Sandra Cooke, superintendent of Washington County Schools, and signed by Stockton Hess, president and general manager of Ebro Greyhound Park.

The track announced that the document earmarks revenues specifically for teachers’ salaries, transportation and ground maintenance, as well as other school and classroom needs. The community revenue sharing funds will go directly to the Washington County School District without passing through Tallahassee or any other hands, the statement said.

Big sigh! All things, to all people, paving the streets with gold.....

“State statutes dealing with gaming revenues do not provide for direct revenue sharing, however, we feel this is unfair to local communities,” Hess said in a statement. “We believe it is our civic duty to share revenues directly with our home county, communities and schools.”

The letter of intent to the school district follows other letters of intent to share slot machine revenues delivered last week to the county and the town of Ebro.

Hess said in the statement that the letters of intent make the revenue sharing more than a pledge, and that they are "both legally and morally binding and guarantee the revenue sharing will take place if voters support the slots initiative.

The letters will be followed by final, binding legal agreements if voters approve the addition of slots to the facility in a Jan. 31 referendum, he added.

Should slots be approved by voters, the letters commit Ebro Greyhound Park to paying an estimated combined total of two percent to three percent of gross slot machine revenue on a monthly basis to the county, Town of Ebro and Washington County School District, the track announced.

The exact percentage will be based on projected revenue and will be determined at a later date. The funds for the county and Town of Ebro are earmarked for public safety, public works and the general fund.

The track projects the amount of community revenue sharing as near $2 million annually.

In the statement from the track, Hess also asked voters "not to be swayed by misleading political mail coming from Tallahassee attempting to defeat the slots initiative and block community revenue sharing."

“These are big city outsiders who don’t care about Washington County,” he said. “They will do and say anything to sell out Washington County and protect Tallahassee’s monopoly on gaming revenues.”

Duped?

2012-01-25T18:15:00.002-05:00

Duped?
by Ed Meyer

We better react, and not wait until it is too late. For the longest time, we have heard about the sport of racing dying on the vine, but as they say in football… After further review, I think the message that the sport of kings is dead has been greatly exaggerated…..

Paul Moran wrote another great piece. Another ESPN.com ditty that sums up that our casino saviors have another card up their sleeve. They feel that racing is the ugly step-sister, and is tiring of supporting a game where the demo is dying off. His piece speaks to the fact that maybe we are keeping racing and the glitz of gaming separated.

Using Indiana Downs as a model, you first have to walk through this glamorous building to get to the aged area known as the grandstand. I know tracks that are not ready to raise the white flag. Take Turfway Park, where they always have something going. They have tried to reach new demos, and keep existing players happy by addressing their needs. Nobody said it was going to be easy, but efforts such as these with some funding from alternative gaming could keep racing growing and competitive. Every business needs growth time, and I remember 20 years ago going to Vegas was thought of as a sin……. Now, it is cleansed entertainment. We have washed away all of the stigma, and turned it into valued enetertainment. Racing can, and will do the same if given the chance… But, gaming companies are growing tired of supplementing that side of the business. Can anyone tell me what the hell casinos are doing at racetracks in the first place? It was a given that racing needed help, and just when things start moving, the cash cow dries up because they want more money. I always thought that one was allowed to work with the other to introduce a new form of excitement, while keeping the historical game of racing alive. It was to be a mutual relationship..

But, as casinos are rolling, they are growing tired of funding racing. Was there ever a time that fans of racing said we are dying off, and we might as well just hang up our hat and play blackjack? Not to my knowledge. We have been duped, slipped a mickey, taken for a ride, and lied to… Racing can survive. But as every business model will show, it will have to trim some edges to be more streamlined, and take cues from NASCAR, The NFL, and others on how to reach out and market to our fans. So, don’t sign that death certificate just yet…. The demise of racing may have greatly exaggerated…….

Gambler died in Genting Highland casino

2012-01-25T18:13:00.001-05:00

Gambler died in Genting Highland casino on the eve of Chinese New Year 2012
Published by scheng1

According to the Chinese newspaper in Singapore, a Singaporean lady was found dead inside the casino in Genting Highland on the eve of Chinese New Year 2012.

This Singaporean lady was over the age of 60. Her actual age was unknown.

She was found dead inside the casino at 3 am. Apparently she visited the casino in Genting Highland on her own. The speculation was that she took the night coach from Singapore to Genting Highland on Saturday, and reached Genting Highland in the wee morning of Chinese New Year eve 2012.

The cause of death was unknown as well.

Racing in Decline

2012-01-25T18:10:00.001-05:00

Controversial greyhound races are in steep decline
By SUE MANNING Associated Press
Publication: The Day

For years, fans of greyhound races have faced off against animal welfare activists who say the dogs are kept muzzled in small cages, fed inferior food, injected with steroids and frequently injured at the track. Dog breeders, owners and racing lobbyists counter that the dogs are well-tended and love to run.

Despite their disagreement, there is no disputing this: Greyhound racing is in a steep decline. Racing fans blame the economy and competition from instant gambling like slot machines.

Ten years ago, there were 50 greyhound tracks in 15 states. Today there are just 25 tracks in seven states, with 13 of them in Florida. Nationally, money bet on greyhound races dropped from $3.5 billion to $1.1 billion between 1991 and 2007, said Gary Thompson, director of corporate communications for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas.

There are probably fewer than 300 greyhound farms today, down from as many as 750 in the 1980s, said Gary Guccione, executive director of the National Greyhound Association.

Tucson Greyhound Park in Arizona was built in 1944 and at one time drew 3,000 bettors a day. Today, they are lucky if 50 or 60 people show up. Tom Taylor, the park's CEO and general manager, attributes the slide to state lotteries and tribal casinos along with the aging of racing fans and animal activist campaigns. He says adding slot machines could help save the park, but would face serious opposition from the tribes who run Arizona's 27 casinos.

Iowa's two track owners want to call it quits, but can't because they were allowed to build casinos or gambling halls on track grounds on the condition they keep the races running. Now the casinos subsidize 94 percent of race purses, Thompson said.

"The gaming industry is subsidizing a dying greyhound racing industry in Iowa," Thompson said.

Track owners have offered Iowa $10 million a year for seven years for permission to end the races, but the Iowa legislature would have to change the law that made casino operations contingent on the tracks' existence. That seems unlikely to happen this season with the legislative session ending in a matter of days.

Measures introduced in the Florida state legislature would allow some tracks to close there as well, but the Florida Greyhound Association opposes the proposal, with lobbyist Jack Cory saying it could cost 3,000 families their jobs or businesses.

Greyhounds live an average of 12 years and run between 42 and 45 mph, making them the fastest dogs in the world. Most races are just over a quarter-mile and average 31 seconds. Marathons are just under a half-mile and average 44 seconds, while middle distance races cover 3/8 of a mile and take about 38 seconds, Guccione said.

Ann Church, of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has been fighting the industry since the 1970s.

"Racing is dangerous," she said. "As they go around the different turns, they are prone to crashing into each other. Their legs get mixed up and they go down and when they go down, there are often broken bones, punctured lungs and other problems."

Injuries include broken legs, paralysis, head trauma and cardiac arrest, said Carey Thiel, co-founder and executive director of Grey2KUSA, a Massachusetts-based anti-racing group. He points to state records that show nearly 900 reported dog injuries in Massachusetts from 2002 to 2009.

As the industry has lost money, Church claims conditions for the dogs have degenerated. "Dogs are confined, often with their muzzles on, for 20 hours a day because there are not enough people to care for them," she said.

But Guccione, of the National Greyhound Association, says kennel crates are "very comfortable and plenty big enough. They jump into them gladly." He also says the chance of injury per race start is less than one-tenth of 1 percent.

Greyhound farm inspections have been conducted since 1987 through a joint effort of the NGA and the American Greyhound Council, Guccione said. "We find the vast majority of farms to be in great condition and the greyhounds on those farms are in great condition," Guccione said.

Taylor says the activists' "blinders are so tight they can't see outside their agenda."

Church and Thiel might agree. "We are out to end racing because greyhound racing in this country is cruel, and we see no way it could be anything but cruel," Church said.

"...the heart of the country’s epidemic of problem gambling..."

2012-01-25T18:03:00.004-05:00

Gambling expansion: Still a losing political bet for state

One of the most irresponsible ideas kicking around the 2012 Legislature is the Republican proposal to pack local card rooms across the state with thousands of slot machines.

THE NEWS TRIBUNE

One of the most irresponsible ideas kicking around the 2012 Legislature is the Republican proposal to pack local card rooms across the state with thousands of slot machines.

What Washington really needs is less casino gambling, not more.
A new Washington State University survey provides a timely reality check for those who think commercial gaming is a harmless industry that promises a free lunch to needy governments.
Commissioned by the st
ate Gambling Commission, the scientifically designed survey suggested that:

• About 88 percent of Washington’s population doesn’t want to see gambling expanded in the state. This helps explain why ballot initiatives to legalize more slot machines get consistently defeated.

• Nearly 60 percent of the population is concerned – for good reason – that some gamblers commit crimes to get betting money.

• Six percent of the respondents said they were concerned about their own gambling habits. Given the embarrassment involved in such an admission, that number likely understates the problem considerably.

• A particularly disturbing finding: Rising numbers of Washingtonians appear to believe that gambling is “a way to make money.” The young and the poor are especially vulnerable to this costly delusion.

• More than a quarter of Washingtonians believe they know someone with a gambling problem. “Of those,” reported WSU, “22 percent said that they believed the person had committed a crime as a result of their gambling problem.”

The concerns about crime are not misplaced. As casino gambling proliferated in the United States through the 1990s and 2000s, many researchers investigated its social impacts.

Studies not connected to the industry found that crime and other social problems – including crushing personal debt and suicide – were frequently correlated with casino gambling. Compulsive gamblers have a much higher arrest rate than other Americans.

One of the broadest studies, published by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006, concluded that roughly 8 percent of the crime in “casino counties” was attributable to the casinos.

Slot machines are far and away the most popular casino games, in Washington and elsewhere; they’re at the heart of the country’s epidemic of problem gambling. And some lawmakers think it’s a good idea to have more of them?

The thousands of slots now operating in Indian casinos are plague enough. But at least the tribal establishments are relatively few and far between; most Washingtonians have to drive some distance to get to them. Inconvenience has a dampening effect on impulsive gambling.

The new WSU report should remind Washington’s political leaders that casino gambling is still a political loser. Nor is it a free lunch, or a cheap lunch. It’s more like a lunch with mayonnaise left in the hot sun: Expect food poisoning.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/25/1997704/gambling-expansion-still-a-losing.html#storylink=cpy

Bloomberg Not Sure NY Gambling's A Good Bet

2012-01-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

Bloomberg Not Sure NY Gambling's A Good Bet
BY Celeste Katz

Mayor Bloomberg was overwhelmingly positive in his assessment of Gov. Cuomo’s budget during his testimony before state lawmakers Tuesday. But the mayor’s praise cooled rapidly when, during a Q&A with reporters afterward, he was asked about Cuomo’s plans to legalize casino gambling in the state and whether a casino should be placed in Manhattan.

Our man on the scene, Glenn Blain, passes along this transcript of the mayor's response:

“I’ve always thought that if we are going to have gambling that New York City should share in the revenues. Where you put them? People always want to locate them in places where they think the neighborhoods would benefit from the jobs. I think history shows they don’t do an awful lot for the surrounding neighborhoods and I don’t think they are all that profitable, but every government in this country seems to think that gambling is a newfound source of revenue and I suppose I think the governor should probably try it as well.

"Do I think it is the panacea for everything? No. If you wanted to have it, I am not even sure why you shouldn’t have it everyplace. I’d prefer to have it no place.”

Buying the votes in New York and Shutting Out the Public

2012-01-25T17:47:00.003-05:00

Genting’s bid to influence US lawmakers

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a deal with Genting to build the country’s largest convention centre next to its racetrack casino.

NEW YORK: As the battle over casino expansion heats up in New York, gambling interests are ratcheting up their spending on lobbyists—and their campaign contributions.

Over the last year and a half, two of the biggest spenders on the gambling front—the Seneca Nation of Indians and Genting New York—have dramatically boosted their efforts to influence the state’s lawmakers.

And opponents of gambling said the casinos’ political dollars will make it hard for lawmakers to hear their side of the story.

“We can’t begin to spend money like they are,” said Joel Rose, chairman of the Coalition Against Gambling in New York, which includes secular groups that fear gambling’s economic impact and religious groups that oppose it on moral grounds.

“We will be talking to legislators and we will get our message out. Not as repeatedly as they will—they’re trying to buy the state.”

The Seneca Nation of Indians, which operates three full-fledged casinos, gave $142,500 in campaign contributions in the last half of 2011, more than any other gambling-related entity.

Genting New York, the unit of the Malaysian company Genting Berhad that operates the recently opened Resorts World New York racino at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, was the next-largest gambling-oriented donor in the second half of 2011, with nearly $100,000 in contributions.

The company contributed $96,900 to an array of elected officials, party committees and a political action committee dedicated to expanding gaming solely at the state’s nine racetrack casinos, including Genting’s lucrative new facility at Aqueduct.

Genting gave $20,000 to the state Senate Republican Campaign Committee and $10,000 each to the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, the state Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Genting spent $975,000 last year on a team of lobbyists in its bid to carve out a place for itself in the state’s gambling landscape. The Senecas spent $73,557 in the first half of 2011; its second-half numbers have not been posted.

“Most groups do end up spending more on lobbying than on campaign contributions,” said NYPIRG’s Bill Mahoney.

“There’s no limits on that, first off. And they’ve mastered the art of running ads that have just as much of an impact in terms of influencing elected officials that lobbying works better for them in some ways.”

For Genting, the spending may be paying off. This month, Cuomo announced a deal with Genting to build the country’s largest convention center next to its racetrack casino, though the governor quickly had to defend the plan against criticism that it was premature and that his negotiations lacked transparency.

The deal also raised concerns that the company would have the inside track to getting exclusive rights to operate a casino in New York City. A spokesman for Genting did not respond to a request for comment.

Agencies

‘Exchange Bandit’ speaks out on gambling addiction

2012-01-25T08:32:00.002-05:00

‘Exchange Bandit’ speaks out on gambling addiction
Ashleigh Smollet, CityNews.ca

Kevin Pinto, otherwise known as the “Exchange Bandit,” was once convicted of robbing 10 banks in Toronto and Peel Region. But he now wants to put his past behind him and campaign in support of gambling awareness.

A former Bay Street financier, Pinto is currently on parole, serving the final stretch of his six-year sentence. Earlier this week, he appeared at the Problem Gambling Provincial Forum to discuss the toll gambling has taken on his life.

“I don’t have an issue with legalized gambling; my issue is the lack of awareness of what a gambling addiction is and how dangerous and devastating it can be to an individual who does get caught up in gambling.”

In 2008, Pinto walked away from his high-paying job at Paradigm Capital to gamble full-time. His criminal behaviour began out of a need to fund his increasing gambling addiction.

Pinto earned the nickname the “Exchange Bandit” because he would always ask bank tellers for the U.S. exchange rate before the robbery began. He was convicted in 2009.

“I’m extremely remorseful. A lot of the stuff I did was based on impulse. I never thought about the consequences. I never thought about the people I hurt while I was doing it.”

Pinto says there is a real lack of awareness of gambling problems.

“Gambling is in your face, everywhere. TV, it’s on the radio, it’s in convenience stores. Yet there’s no awareness on what a gambling addiction can do to a person.”

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation says it’s doing its part to help problem gamblers.

“Ontario Lottery and Gaming spends $50 million a year dealing with the issue of problem gambling. $40 million of that goes to the province, to the ministry of health, who distributes that to treatment providers, to researchers and to prevention specialists to improve the situation for problem gamblers to help try to prevent it,” said Paul Pellizzari, Director of Policy and Social Responsibility for the OLG.

Pinto calls this “smoke and mirrors” and says the majority of the OLG’s revenue comes from problem gamblers or borderline problem gamblers.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 3-4 per cent of gamblers are addicts and four times that many are on the borderline of addiction.

With files from Andrew Krystal

Gambling addiction brings agencies together

2012-01-25T08:28:00.001-05:00

Gambling addiction brings agencies together

By Cara Brady - Vernon Morning Star

Gambling is here to stay in the community and so are the benefits and challenges.

The Responsible Gambling Awareness Week Community Dialogue brought together representatives of service agencies to discuss what the community response could and should be.

Janice Mercredi, problem gambling support specialist, who provides individual and family counseling in the North Okanagan and an instructor in the schools of social work for UBC-O and Thompson Rivers University, outlined how problem gambling develops.

“Many people who win big early develop unrealistic expectations,” she said. “Another influence is the feeling of self-worth when winning. Others use gambling to escape from loneliness or boredom. The problems start when gambling is taking time from family, work and other responsibilities, and it is affecting their mental and physical health, as well as their finances.”

The person who is gambling may find themselves spending more time gambling and thinking about gambling, placing more and larger bets, lying to get more money for gambling or in a “brown-out” or “space out” losing track of time and surroundings while gambling.

There are different types of problem gamblers. The normal problem gambler might have selective memory only about winning, have magical thinking that there are special times to gamble, or that they have developed a unique system to win.

The emotionally vulnerable problem gambler is usually someone who has difficulty managing the stresses of daily life and finds gambling is mood altering so that they don’t have to think about their problems.

Biologically based problem gamblers have issues with impulse control and may also have attention deficit disorder.

“The progression of problem gambling follows a general pattern,” said Mercredi.

“If people start with a winning streak and then start losing, they may cut down or quit. Others continue despite the negative consequences, including money problems. One complexity of gambling is that it is different from other addictions in that it has an element of invisibility and family friends may not be aware until there is a financial crisis.”

When people reach a sense of desperation and hopelessness with their gambling, they may come for help.

Mercredi, who can be reached through the toll free line, provides free and confidential counseling, helping clients set individual goals to learn responsible gambling or to stop completely.

Paul W. Smith, director corporate social responsibility, BC Lotteries Corporation (BCLC), spoke about how the corporation developed its program to inform people about gambling as a legitimate form of adult entertainment and problem gambling.

“BC Lotteries Corporation encourages people to take advantage of the services that are provided,” he said.

A survey done in casinos showed varying opinions, with many people who believed that the government should take some responsibility, while others thought adults should be responsible for their own actions, and most agreed there should be more awareness and information.

The BCLC approach in the GameSense program is to provide GameSense advisors in the 17 B.C. casinos who give information and suggestions about gaming and resources for people who want to regulate their own gambling.

Dwayne Nittel, prevention specialist BC Responsible & Problem Gambling Program, provides prevention education for school, parents and community groups.

“People gamble for fun, entertainment, escape and to win. Gambling impacts a person’s time, money, energy and attitude and if these are kept in balance, there will be no problem. Gambling should be just one of the recreational activities you choose to do with your time.”

He mentioned some of the myths that some gamblers believe: I have my lucky charm; the hot slots are near the door; I feel lucky; I’m due for a win; you have to keep playing to win; and I have a system.

Research shows that while seniors often visit casinos, they tend to come more for the safe, comfortable atmosphere and the socializing, and are less likely to develop problem gambling. The most at-risk group is 18-35-year-olds, who are more likely to take risks in all areas of their lives.

Smith said parents don’t often think of gambling as something their children might be involved in as there are so many concerns but 45 per cent of youth say they have gambled in the past year and parents should talk with them about it and be good role models.

County corruption wiretaps connect Jimmy Dimora to Flats condo sex rendezvous, poker party

2012-01-25T08:25:00.002-05:00

County corruption wiretaps connect Jimmy Dimora to Flats condo sex rendezvous, poker party

By: Ken Trump, newsnet5.com
AKRON, Ohio - Federal prosecutors on Tuesday morning played a series of wiretap cell phone calls linking former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora to a condo in the Flats which they said Dimora used for sexual rendezvous and poker parties.

The wiretaps concentrated on a series of 2008 calls among Dimora, his intermediary J. Kevin Kelley, and Kevin Payne, the now-deceased former chief of staff for the Cuyahoga County engineer’s office. Multiple calls involved Kelley and Payne coordinating the identification of a specific condo Dimora could use to meet with a female Dimora later described as “just some old friend.”

Dimora eventually settled on a condo unit being used as a model, instead of a presidential suite at the Embassy Suites at Reserve Square in downtown Cleveland.

“He’s not going to want to go to a hotel. I know that,” Kelley told Payne.

Dimora later proved Kelley to be right, saying he would prefer the condo model over Embassy Suites, in part, because a local news station is housed in the same Reserve Square complex and he feared accidentally running into someone from that station.

The Flats condos of interest were in the Stonebridge complex. Both Stonebridge and Reserve Square are owned by developer K&D Group, the developer linked on Monday afternoon to hiring Daniel Gallagher for his perceived “influence with county commissioners."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon walked FBI Special Agent Michael Massie through a series of wiretap recordings, transcripts, and surveillance photos linking Dimora, Russo, Kelley, Payne and others to condo unit 808 at The Plaza at Stonebridge, which they used for a poker party.

In one wiretap, Dimora made a reference to having a specific woman brought to the party.

“Get the one with the thing in her tongue,” Dimora told Kelley, referring to a woman with a pierced tongue.

Condo unit 808 was identified by Massie as a two-bedroom and two-bath 1,186 square foot condo with a skyline and river view valued at $279,900.

In another wiretap with Kelley, Dimora said he needed to keep a key to a Flats condo.

“I’ve gotta have it for an emergency. In case a terrorist attacks, it’s my county emergency management location,” Dimora joked.

Massie also identified a number of limousine records linking Payne and a woman Massie identified as Rebecca.

Bacon asked Massie if during his investigation he identified Rebecca.

“Rebecca was a female escort hired by Kevin Payne to provide services to Jimmy Dimora,” Massie testified. He later identified her as Rebecca Johnson and said she advertised in Scene Magazine.

Payne worked not only as a county employee, but also was an attorney in private practice. Federal officials said one of his clients was A Touch of Class, a limo service company they said Payne bartered services with to build up credits for limo services in addition to charging up thousands of dollars in rides for Dimora and his family.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon walked Massie through numerous records seized by the FBI from the limo service in their search to locate records involving casinos, Stonebridge, Rebecca Johnson, another female named Allyson, and Dimora.

In addition to a 2003 gambling junket to Casino Windsor in Canada, federal officials entered into evidence records and testimony showing gambling trips including two trips to casinos in Niagara Falls and New Orleans. Photos seized from a FBI raid at Russo’s house showed Dimora, Kelley, Russo, Russo’s housemate Michael Calabrese, and others posing for pictures in front of a fountain at what Massie identified as the Niagra Fallsview Casino in Canada.

Johnson and another woman Massie identified as Allyson Peterson, a now-deceased escort who lived for a time in Florida and had been picked up and dropped off at Hopkins, were frequently referenced in limo company records that linked the two women to Payne.

Using the records, Massie also identified Tanya Calhoun as the black female referred to as “Egypt” who was picked up in Toledo by Payne and former county employee Kevin Gallagher on the way to Casino Windsor in 2003. According to Gallagher’s Monday afternoon testimony, Dimora left a Casino Windsor gaming table with Egypt shortly after he was introduced to her.

Federal prosecutors and Massie reviewed document after document detailing thousands of dollars worth of limo trips for Dimora and his family over a multi-year period.

Prosecutors began attempting to link Dimora's limo rides and condo favors as things of value offered by Payne in exchange for Dimora's influence on getting a salary increase for Payne's boss at the time, county engineer Robert Klaiber. A wiretap conversation revealed Payne wanted Klaiber's county controlled salary rate increased from $50,500 to $59,500 in one increase and not spread out over four years.

"I want to make this happen for Bob. Hit him hard now and get the cost of living," Payne told Kelley.

Massie testified it was around this time that newspaper reporters were making inquiries about

salaries in county offices. Payne and Kelley, whose salaries were each greater than that of Klaiber, wanted Klaiber's county controlled salary increased so the disparity between his salary and their salaries was not as noticeable, Massie said.

Payne and others also wanted Dimora to support leaving the county engineer's offices at the Stonebridge property where the county had a multi-million dollar lease with Stonebridge's owner, the K&D Group developer. They did not want the offices moved to another location.

Prosecutors planned to continue on this aspect of their case after a lunch break.

The wiretaps played Tuesday morning included one of the few conversations in which jurors have heard Dimora’s co-defendant Michael Gabor. Gabor was identified in a call talking with Dimora about Rebecca and other women.

Earlier in the morning as he arrived at court, Gabor's defense attorney Leif Christman was asked about his pattern of brief cross-examination questions of prosecution witnesses who have repeatedly distanced Gabor from dinners, meetings and other schemes highlighted so far by prosecutors.

“You can’t be part of a conspiracy if you don't know about it,” Christman responded.

Dimora and Gabor have maintained their innocence of all federal charges.

Continue to follow newsnet5.com and NewsChannel5 for ongoing trial developments.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/political/corruption_probe/county-corruption-wiretaps-connect-jimmy-dimora-to-flats-condo-sex-rendezvous-poker-party#ixzz1kTaWyngp

On tap: Gambling, Part II

2012-01-25T08:18:00.002-05:00

On tap: Gambling, Part II

The second round of the gambling corruption trial begins this Monday in Federal Court in Montgomery. Last year’s first trial ended in a victory for all defendants. A jury of 11 women and one man quickly returned not-guilty verdicts on 91 charges and could not reach a unanimous decision on 33 charges. Two defendants, Montgomery Sen. Quinton Ross and lobbyist Bob Geddie, were cleared of all charges. The remaining seven defendants go on trial Monday. The odds favor their acquittal.

In the first trial, the defendants’ lawyers were so confident that the prosecution had failed to make a case that they never even offered any rebuttal testimony. The 91-to-0 score proves that they were correct in their course of action. The federal government spent millions of taxpayer dollars, used every trick in the book, and spent weeks offering testimony and witnesses and still got embarrassed by the decision.

The prosecution asking for another trial is analogous to a football team, which used its best plays and players but still lost 91 to 0, asking for a rematch with the team that dominated them without even using its first string. Furthermore, the odds have even gotten worse for the prosecution. A federal judge ruled that former Gov. Bob Riley must testify. Along with Riley will be his former cabinet members and campaign lieutenant Bill Johnson. Johnson has presented evidence to U.S. attorneys and the FBI and will testify that Riley’s 2002 campaign for governor received $3 million laundered and funneled from the Mississippi Choctaw Indians.

This assertion is pretty much common knowledge. There was some testimony to the same effect during Sen. John McCain’s Indian casino corruption hearings in Washington. The FBI testified that Indian gambling money went to the Alabama governor’s race to inhibit gambling expansion by Alabama entities.

Convicted Indian gambling lobbyist Jack Abramoff, in his recently released book, “Capitol Punishment,” writes that over a five year period the Mississippi Choctaws spent $20 million in Alabama to fight the expansion of gambling in our state. Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon were both convicted in the Indian gambling scam in what has been called the largest corruption scandal in the nation’s history. Scanlon worked for Riley when he was a congressman.

This new trial could develop into a colorful show. Defense attorneys will be able to show jurors that the entire episode and trial are simply politics. Riley was on the side of the Indian gambling interests and fought to preserve their monopoly. Milton McGregor and his Alabama gambling interests wanted to be able to compete with the Indians on a level playing field. Both sides gave money in the form of political contributions to their political allies. Neither side offered personal bribes. Giving campaign contributions to your friends is not illegal. If it were, the feds didn’t have to come all the way to Alabama to indict folks. They could have just walked down the street and indicted all 435 members of Congress.

One of the jurors in the first case granted an interview after the first trial. She is a rural mail carrier in Covington County. She said the federal prosecutor told the jury in his opening statement that wiretapped phone calls and secretly recorded meetings would tell a story of greed and corruption in Alabama but she continued by saying the tapes never lived up to their billing. It just looked like politics. She said from the very beginning when listening to the tapes, “Surely this cannot be all they have. I kept waiting and waiting.”

This trial should be more interesting and entertaining than the last but will probably conclude with the same result.

Host community pursues $$$$ not received

2012-01-24T19:26:00.000-05:00

Falls casino cash lobby group formed
By Mark Scheer
The Niagara Gazette

NIAGARA FALLS — The city of Niagara Falls will soon be getting some outside help for its casino cash problem.

In a 4-1 vote Monday, city council members agreed to form an ad hoc committee to assist in efforts to secure slot machine money that has been tied up for several years amid a dispute between the Seneca Nation of Indians and the state of New York.

“It’s a good start,” said Councilman Glenn Choolokian, one of the four lawmakers who supported the committee’s creation. “We’ve got to be aggressive. We just can’t sit by for another three years.”

The city has not received an allocation of casino revenues since March of 2010 and is now owed roughly $60 million for 2009, 2010 and 2011. The lack of funds has forced the city to begin cutting back on programs tied to casino dollars, including its neighborhood revitalization coordinator program.

Council Chairman Sam Fruscione said the committee will consist of three volunteer members who would not be paid salaries for their work, but could be eligible for reimbursement for expenses related to their lobbying efforts. He said the committee may consist of individuals who have experience with lobbying in Albany. He added that the council has received resumes from several individuals interested in the posts.

Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti voted against formation of the committee, saying she believes the city should speak with one voice on the issue — with that voice coming from Mayor Paul Dyster himself. She added that she’s not comfortable with the possible makeup of the committee itself or the members that may be asked to be involved. She declined to elaborate.

“I don’t think it’s the appropriate time for this committee,” she said.

The council had considered allowing the law department to set aside $500,000 to cover outside consultant costs for professional lobbying services tied to the casino issue. The measure was pulled from consideration on Monday. Fruscione said the council made the decision after hearing from several constituents who suggested it would not be appropriate to allocate those kinds of funds to the lobbying cause in light of the loss of the revitalization coordinator positions and other cuts.

Would a Casino in Foxborough Put Your Home's Value at Risk?

2012-01-24T19:03:00.003-05:00

Fact: Homes in Middleboro near the 'proposed' Mashpee Wampanoag Slot Barn location were not selling. Even though it appears the Mega Monster is not coming, potential buyers are still asking questions and considering that in purchasing.

Would a Casino in Foxborough Put Your Home's Value at Risk?
A look into the impact a possible casino would have on home values in Foxborough.

By Christine OConnor

Aside from a potential increase in local revenue, job creation and a larger business tax base, proponents of the Wynn-Kraft Foxborough casino venture are citing another positive: a potential increase to home values. According to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), a single-family home in Foxboro averages $416,000. This figure is based on selling prices of homes sold over the past six months.

"There are numerous studies that clearly show that casinos have either no effect on housing prices, or a modest positive effect, likely due to increase in employment and subsequent sales activity," said Scott Farmelant, a Jobs For Foxborough spokesman.

One such study Farmelant highlighted was conducted in 2005 by the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Titled, "Betting on the Future: The Economic Impact of Legalized Gambling," the study analyzed whether legalized gambling in Massachusetts would be beneficial or harmful to a prospective casino community. Regarding home values in a casino community, the study found that casinos produced "a limited positive effect on some house prices.

"Median house prices in casino counties rose about $6,000 more than in non-casino counties," the study stated. "Median house prices in more urban casino counties were about equal to those in similar non-casino counties." The same was discovered in the 1999 National Gambling Impact Study, sponsored by former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. "This study, which is considered the most authoritative and exhaustive peer-reviewed study of gambling in the history of the country, noted that counties that added casinos between 1991 and 1994 suggests that counties had relatively poor growth in property values before the introduction of gambling compared to similar counties and that the introduction of gambling increased the rate of growth of property values," Farmelant said.

However, there are a few flaws to Farmelant's argument, said Rich Owens, a member of the No-Fox-Vegas group. Each study cites growth in terms of a county, Owens said, and the Foxborough casino is not a county issue. "Further, Norfolk County is not a sparsely populated rural county," he said. "The 2010 census reveals a population of more than 670,000. That same study (Rappaport) also says no increase in employment, increase in bankruptcies and more crime," Owens continued.

Vivian Nelson, a Realtor with ReMax, has spent the past 33 years selling real estate in and around Foxborough. Lauded as one of the top-producing agents in ReMax New England, Nelson said the addition of a casino to Foxborough is "a complete unknown," regarding its affect on home values.

"Foxborough prices are where they are because of its location and proximity to Boston," Nelson said. "That mentality of closeness to Boston is what affects real estate prices. I'm not sure if the addition of a casino would affect them one way or another."

In the past 12 years, Foxborough has grown in infrastructure with the addition of Patriot Place, the new Gillette Stadium, a YMCA and a skating rink. Despite that growth, Nelson said, home prices were hardly affected, if at all.

"Through the years, we've maintained where we've always been," she said. "With all the amenities, (our home prices) haven't gone higher than the towns north of us: Walpole, Sharon, Norwood. And I would have thought we would have surpassed them by now."

On the reverse, Nelson said, Foxborough has always maintained higher home values than neighboring towns to the south: Attleboro, Mansfield and Wrentham. "Zoning laws are zoning laws," she said, "and Foxborough "has almost always enforced acre zoning."

The potential increase in traffic due to a casino has Owens - and several other anti-casino voices - concerned. With added traffic comes added noise pollution, and "it's generally an accepted fact that traffic and noise pollution are detrimental to real estate prices," Owens said. "If you live on North, Mechanic, South or Chestnut Streets, or another main road, it is reasonable to assume your property value will decrease with the increased traffic," he continued.

Nelson, like Foxborough resident Roslyn Liftman, believes that not enough information either for- or against - a casino, has been presented. "When you buy a home within close proximity to a highway, you have to expect that businesses are going to expand," said Liftman, 77. "I think we need to listen to Mr. Kraft and Mr. Wynn and digest their proposal," Liftman said. "Otherwise, how are we to make an educated decision without the facts?"

Ledyard tax case could set far-reaching precedent

2012-01-24T18:57:00.003-05:00

Ledyard tax case could set far-reaching precedent
By Julianne Hanckel
Publication: The Day

Ledyard - A federal judge may soon rule on a nearly 6-year-old lawsuit that could set a far-reaching precedent on the right of municipalities to collect taxes on personal property owned by non-Indians on reservation lands.

Property owned by the Mashantucket Pequot tribe within the reservation is not subject to taxation by the town. Ledyard, however, has argued in response to a lawsuit brought by the tribe and a slot-machine leasing company that equipment owned by private companies on tribal land is taxable.

The imminent ruling by U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton in Bridgeport would likely set a precedent not only for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino but also for other Indian-owned casinos across the country.

The legal battle involving the town, the Mashantuckets and Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service began in 2006 when the tribe and AC Coin sued Ledyard for levying taxes on slot machines that AC Coin leased to the tribe.

The suit claims the town disregards well-established principles of federal Indian law and interferes with the tribe's gaming operations, self-determination and sovereign immunity.

So far the suit has cost Ledyard taxpayers almost $900,000.

The town began levying property taxes on the slot machines in 2003. The tribe claims the town does not have the authority to collect personal property taxes on gaming machines leased from the Pleasantville, N.J., company, although it does allow taxes to be collected on non-Indian owned personal property in casino restaurants and commercial shops.

Additionally, the tribe claims that the town does not have the authority to tax the slot machines because they are a primary source of revenue for the tribe's gaming operations.

Benjamin Sharp, an attorney from the Washington D.C.-based law firm Perkins Coie, is representing the town in the suit. He said the town doesn't have a means of identifying either the existence of taxable property or its value because the Mashantuckets may not be reporting all of the property. Because of this, Sharp said, it is difficult to provide an exact number of machines or estimate how much the town could receive in taxes.

"In a given year, it may be that the cost of the litigation was greater than the revenue that might have been attained in that year, but there's no way the cost of this litigation will approximate the total amount of money at stake if the town didn't fight it," Sharp said.

Legal counsel for the Mashantuckets declined to comment.

While the lawsuit proceeds, AC Coin has been paying taxes to the town, but WMS Gaming, another slot machine-leasing company, has not filed a tax declaration in six years, Sharp said. The town filed a lawsuit against WMS Gaming in 2009.

As of Jan. 19, the town has billed WMS Gaming for $200,546.94 in personal property taxes. The company did pay a total of $7,901.51 in taxes for 2004 and 2005.

Mayor John Rodolico, who was elected last November but served on the Town Council from 2007 to 2009, in the early years of the suit, said the town's situation is unfortunate.

"Being a small town, we're a victim of decisions that were made by the federal and state government, and much of the law is being made up as we go along on this case," he said. "The primary issue we have in the case is protecting our taxpayers.

"We're trying to level the playing field in terms of how we treat individuals in terms of taxation. We're also looking to get legal and financial help from the federal and state government by indicating to them that they created this situation and they need to step up to the plate in terms of helping us in solving the problem and reimbursing us when we incur significant legal costs."

Bethany Berger, a professor of Indian law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, said that taxation of non-Indians and their property on tribal lands is complicated. Berger, co-author and member of the editorial board of Felix S. Cohen's Handbook of Federal Indian Law, the pre-eminent treatise in the field, does not think Ledyard's case is a strong one.

"The machines are leased by the tribe as part of this federally regulated business that the tribe has a big interest in," she said, adding that the interests of the state of Connecticut in the matter may not be as strong as Ledyard officials hope.

"With respect to state interest, it can't just be revenue-raising interest," Berger said. "Ledyard wants to make money by taxing the machines, and that's not the kind of interest that's really important. The federal interest is very strong because of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the tribal interest is also strong because this is the business that provides most of the tribe's revenue."

Sharp, the town's lawyer, said he does not expect Eginton to hear oral arguments before issuing a ruling. He admitted that the case, which is nearing its six-year mark in August, has been unusually slow, something he blamed on the plaintiffs.

"The tribe fights about every single issue. They've objected to every single discovery request. They dispute every single thing and it takes time to resolve those disputes," Sharp said Wednesday. "The tribe isn't willing to cooperate in any respect."

Former Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. said the legal cost of fighting the case has been "horrendous," but he still questions the town's intent of continuing to fight for the principle of taxing non-tribal personal property.

"What hasn't been focused on are the benefits," he said in a recent interview. "What is it that we're fighting over? What kind of money are we fighting over? That's a difficult thing to qualify."

Another model

In the neighboring town of Montville, the Mohegan tribe owns and operates Mohegan Sun Casino on its reservation. The town and the tribe share a memorandum of understanding that establishes that Mohegan Sun will pay taxes on non-tribal personal property to the town, Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel Jr. said Thursday.

Personal property in casino restaurants and commercial shops is also taxed.

"The two reservations really developed in completely different ways, and Ledyard and Preston really had no chance to work with the casino," McDaniel said. "Montville came up with the MOU ahead of time and learned from Ledyard and the Mashantuckets. There will always be a question as to what is and isn't taxable personal property, and it's a complicated, uncharted area. Once the judge does make a decision, it does set a precedent, so they need to get it right on the first try."

AC Coin and WMS Gaming also have slot machines at Mohegan Sun. In 2010, AC paid $78,018 and WMS Gaming $868,755 in personal property taxes to Montville.

Rodolico, Ledyard's mayor, said it is hard to determine how much is really at stake in terms of property taxes.

"It could be hundreds of thousands of dollars. If we were to lose this case, there may be other organizations that say, 'We don't have to pay these taxes,' and if they stop doing that, there would be a significant revenue loss. Right now, we're still realizing most of the revenues," Rodolico said.

"We don't doubt that one of the drivers here is that the tribe has the lead on this issue, but this has implications across the nation. It does set a precedent for other tribes. It's not just one tribe, it's one tribe representing many tribes."

Stephen Crosby mulls interests of casino developers, critics

2012-01-24T18:51:00.002-05:00

In sit-down, gaming chair mulls interests of casino developers, critics
By Kyle Cheney / State House News Service

When it convenes this spring, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will face an immediate conundrum with multimillion-dollar implications: how closely should gambling regulators partner with and advance the interests of the industry they’re charged with nurturing and policing?

Stephen Crosby, chairman of the new commission, is grappling with that question as he prepares to build a casino industry from scratch over the next two years. In a wide-ranging interview, Crosby wondered whether it is in the public’s interest to encourage gambling, whether casino regulators should work with licensed developers to ensure they maximize their economic impact, and if the commission should conduct its own review of the negative economic consequences of expanded gambling.

“What is the public good here? We know we want to avoid the bad. We know we don’t want criminals in the system. We know we don’t want undue political influence. We know we don’t want crony hiring. We don’t want skimming at the casinos, and all that kind of stuff. We know we’d like to have as much economic impact as possible,” he said. “But do we want to promote the gaming industry? Is that part of our job? Is that a public good? And if so, how do you do it?”

Crosby’s questions underscore the challenge of building an industry with the promise of generating billions of dollars of economic activity in a state with a deep dichotomy of views on gambling; Massachusetts boasts the most successful per capita lottery in the country, but a vocal, persistent anti-gambling constituency appears to have no intention of laying down for casino moguls. How aggressively the Gaming Commission partners with the gambling industry also carries great implications for the strength of the Lottery, another paradox with which gaming commissioners must contend.

In legislation that sanctioned up to three casinos and a slot parlor in Massachusetts – signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in November – the Gaming Commission is imbued with sweeping powers to build and regulate the gambling industry, including the authority to design the criteria applicants must meet to win a casino license and to enforce gambling laws.

Crosby is the commission’s only member so far, appointed as its chairman by Gov. Deval Patrick in December. Four other commissioners are due to be named by March 21, one appointed by Treasurer Steven Grossman, another by Attorney General Martha Coakley and two consensus picks by Patrick, Coakley and Grossman. Crosby said he’s offered his help to Grossman and Coakley in making commission picks, should they seek it.

“I said both to the attorney general and the treasurer that I was very interested in this but I knew I had no formal role, but if they were interested in my participation, I’d be more than happy to do it because obviously this matters to me as much as anybody else on earth,” he said. “Steve Grossman reached out and said, by all means ... make suggestions if you have any.”

“That’s what it’s all about with these four people, is personal integrity – demonstrated personal integrity,” he said, “the ability to deal with the kinds of pressures, the kinds of temptations and the kinds of challenges we’re going to deal with, and wisdom and the ability – the demonstrated ability – to exercise that wisdom and sound judgment.”

During the interview, Crosby made clear his own reservations about expanded gambling, but stopped short of saying an anti-gambling advocate belongs on the Gaming Commission.

“I don’t know that it would be a good idea to have somebody who’s explicitly opposed. We don’t want to refight the battle about whether to do this or not. I don’t think we should interpret the law as inviting us to oppose casinos,” he said. “Personally, if I felt like I couldn’t permit casinos to come, I would resign. I don’t think that’s the right way to go here. That would probably be too far on the continuum.”

But Crosby said he’d be willing to attend a forum convened by anti-gambling groups, some of whom criticized Crosby for participating in a conference with potential developers and gambling industry stakeholders last week. That conference was organized by NAIOP, an association representing commercial real estate developers.

“Sure, I’d be open to that,” he said. “The NAIOP experience shows that I have to be very, very careful not only on the reality of a conflict but in even the remotest appearance of a conflict.”

In a nod to gambling critics, Crosby said he’s heard their appeals for a more detailed examination of the ills of expanded gambling, and he said he is reviewing existing data to see whether it is conclusive.

“I’ve heard criticism that they aren’t objective or they’re not comprehensive. I’ve started to read some of them, but I just don’t have my own opinion. But we absolutely do need good, baseline data,” he said. “What kind of economic impact is realistic to expect? What kinds of revenues are realistic to expect? What are the negative consequences? What does it tend to do to compulsive gambling? How does it aggravate compulsive gambling? What does it tend to do in terms of associated criminal activities? If the Legislature and the governor have not done really thorough and objective analysis of that, then I would think the commission would want to do that.”

Opponents of expanded gambling have demanded that the state conduct a cost-benefit analysis of three casinos, arguing that introducing gambling facilities in Massachusetts would drive up addiction, organized crime and drunk driving, shutter small businesses, and simply shift consumer spending in other parts of the economy to casinos. Beacon Hill leaders opted against such an analysis last year, saying numerous studies already exist that measure the economic and other impacts of casinos.

Crosby said the commission, when formed, will be immediately tasked with deciding whether to work as a “partner” of the gambling industry, offering guidance and advice to maximize their success, or whether to act strictly as a regulator and take a “hands-off” approach to industry decisions.

“The question is, What role is there for the commission to become a proactive ally of the industry in Massachusetts?” he wondered. “Do we want to try to think proactively, what can we do to advance our industry’s objectives versus a competitor ... Do we want to become their partners, sort of? Do we want to work with them or not?”

In particular, Crosby said, the potential advent of internet gambling or sports betting, as well as the potential reaction to Bay State casinos by border states like New Hampshire or Connecticut, could put pressure on Massachusetts casinos, and working with casinos to address these potential challenges could fall under the commission’s purview.

Other critics of expanded gambling have argued that it would divert money from the Massachusetts Lottery, which generated $4.5 billion of sales per year and sends hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to cities and towns as local aid. Crosby noted that the gambling law’s requirement that casinos minimize harm to the Lottery would require the Gaming Commission to tap into “new markets.”

“But how big are the new markets?” he wondered.

Crosby indicted that however the commission proceeds, Bay State residents are unlikely to see gambling facilities for years.

“We have to build an institution from the scratch. We don’t have office space yet. We don’t have any bylaws. We certainly don’t have any specifications for proposals. We don’t have an executive director. We don’t have anything,” Crosby said. “I would imagine that it’s going to be the better part of this year before we’re even able to really appropriately solicit proposals. So it would be a year or two before even a license 2” – the designation for a slot parlor license – “goes out.”

Crosby said that as soon as the commission reaches three members, enough to constitute a quorum, it may begin signing leases and conducting basic, organizational business.

“You can’t sign a lease, do anything formal until you have a quorum ... we’re looking at places where other public agencies have vacated space. We don’t even know how many employees we’re going to have,” he said. “We’ll probably get some interim space that’ll hold 10, 15, 20, 30 people while we’re getting organized and figure out how much space we really need. Do we need space for 200, 100, 300? None of us really knows yet.”

Crosby acknowledged that the new gambling law counted on awarding the slot facility license more quickly than the casinos licenses.

“Because it’s much less capital intensive, much less construction to be done, much less community impacts probably, it certainly could happen more quickly,” he said. “But as I’ve said many times, we’re not going to rush this. And I think a big slots parlor is going to require as much scrutiny and care on our part as a casino. So it probably will happen more quickly, but I’m not going to feel rushed by that.”

Crosby also agreed that a brewing patronage scandal within the state Probation Department will challenge the Gaming Commission to look “clean.”

“It just creates an environment where nobody trusts anybody and it’s all the more important why I, and we, have to be just as assiduous as we can to make it look like we are really paying attention to transparency and equity and merit-based hiring and everything else,” he said, adding, “Knock on wood – the least we’re going to do is not hire under some corrupt system ... the challenge is to look as clean as you are. And in this skeptical environment, that’s hard to do.”

Crosby said he expects the commission to adopt anti-patronage reforms proposed by a task force that investigated the Probation Department scandal in 2010.

Casinos for Kids

2012-01-24T18:46:00.002-05:00

Casinos for Kids
Lloyd I. Sederer, MD.
Medical director, New York State Office of Mental Health

You can hear the sounds of excitement from afar -- before you see the vast well of games and the legions of children (and adults) swarming around the scores of hyperbolic machines with brilliant flashing lights and swelling sounds that rival modern atonal music. You have arrived at a casino for kids.

Of course, they are not called casinos. I am not sure what they are called -- and it doesn't matter. It's what they deliver -- not what they are named -- that counts. Look around. Is there a window? A clock? A rectangular wall? Nope. You are in a rounded cocoon without boundaries of any sort that might ground the visitor in reality. A number of business franchises have made these settings ubiquitous and highly successful, in this and other countries.

Addiction traditionally was defined as "a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and abuse and by long-lasting changes in the brain" (National Institute of Drug Abuse, http://www.drugabuse.gov/). Scientists have come to understand addiction as not confined to alcohol and drugs. Broader definitions of what produces addiction are necessary to account for the variety of compulsive behaviors in youth and adults that, like drug and alcohol abuse, persist despite harmful consequences. While gambling certainly occurs without compulsiveness or harm, just as drinking does, both carry the risk of addiction.

Some predictable percentage of people who use or gamble will escalate to the uncontrolled behaviors that cause profound distress and disruption in their lives as well as that of their families and communities. The need to manage these addictive behaviors has produced not only AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) but also GA (Gamblers Anonymous -- http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/qna.html).

The Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow, has written that there is good evidence for non-substance induced addictions. Dr. Volkow wrote the brain is:

"... composed of a finite number of circuits for ... rewarding desirable experiences ... So it is almost by necessity that we'll find significant overlaps in the circuits that mediate various forms of compulsive behaviors. We have yet to work out the details and the all important differences, but it stands to reason that there will be many manifestations of what we can call diseases of addiction. Thus, addiction to sex, gambling, alcohol, illicit drugs, shopping, video games, etc. all result from some degree of dysfunction in the ability of the brain to properly process what is salient, accurately predict and value reward, and inhibit emotional reactivity or deleterious behavior."

In casinos for kids, in addition to the games there are drinks and food everywhere you turn: high-sugar and high-fat foods, including huge glasses of sugary beverages, nachos and potato skins in which cheese and bacon swim, sour cream like it was running water, and chicken and buffalo wings as plentiful as kudzu. These foods fuel the brain and body for the high intensity, electronic world of video games (and the few retro toss-the-ball games embedded among the digital delights). These are foods that antecede (and later accompany) the nicotine and alcohol that youth will graduate to further stimulate the reward centers of the brain.

There is also the paper gaming tickets of varying values in casinos for kids. Youth and adult players buy these at a gazebo located at the very center of the well of machines so there is never far to walk to convert paper money for valueless paper that lets you play. The tickets are paper versions of gambling chips, of course. There is a store at the rear where wads of tickets can be exchanged for stuffed toys of every color in the rainbow. The machines are programmed to let some win, some of the time, just like in any casino. But make no mistake: The house always wins.

Brilliant, I thought. The gaming (gambling) industry has developed and propagated youth gaming centers, gambling prep schools if you will, which can serve as gateways to adult casinos and breeding grounds for compulsive gambling. I'll bet that the rates of compulsive gambling and video game addiction will increase in the years to come. In fact, I'll give you odds.

www.askdrlloyd.com

The opinions expressed here are solely mine as a psychiatrist and public health advocate. I receive no support from any pharmaceutical or device company.

Taxpayers' subsidizing horse racing

2012-01-24T18:45:00.001-05:00

New York State Comptroller, NYRA at odds over financial projections
By Matt Hegarty

The New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said Tuesday that the New York Racing Association was projected to lose $19.7 million on its racing operations in 2012, a contention disputed by the racing association, which said it projected a net income of $1.4 million from racing operations in 2012.

The dispute revolved around a statement by DiNapoli's office that accompanied a follow-up audit conducted by the comptroller. The audit itself, which assessed NYRA's efforts to comply with recommendations made by DiNapoli's office in mid-2010, did not reference NYRA's projected net income for 2012. NYRA officials said that the association's 2012 projections were never discussed with state auditors during the preparation of the audit.

Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for DiNapoli, said the $19.7 million figure was "provided by NYRA during a closing conference" with the office's auditors. He said DiNapoli stood behind the accuracy of the figure.

The disagreement - which may reflect a difference of opinion on what costs should be included in the association's racing operations - reflects a rapidly deteriorating relationship between NYRA and state officials over the past several months, ever since the association began to receive subsidies from a casino at its Aqueduct racetrack.

Since the casino opened late October, NYRA has acknowledged that it had been improperly calculating the takeout on super-exotic bets for the past 18 months, a mistake that was caught by the auditor's office in an examination of the state's breeding fund. Then, just two weeks ago, the association categorically denied an allegation made by a state oversight board that NYRA allowed its account-wagering customers to bet on credit.

While DiNapoli's statement is harshly critical of NYRA, the audit itself credits NYRA for "partially" implementing five of the nine recommendations contained in the 2010 audit, but it also said that NYRA had not made any progress in implementing another four of the recommendations. Among the recommendations were that NYRA examine its agreements with contractors and conduct "surprise" cash counts in its departments.

NYRA said in its statement that it "took very seriously the recommendations" made in the 2010 audit, but that it did not have the time or the resources to implement all of the policies yet.

"We fully understand the importance of this process and remain committed to completing it," the statement said.

As for the dispute over the characterization of the association's 2012 operating results, NYRA took exception to explicit references in DiNapoli's statement that NYRA would use subsidies from a recently opened casino at Aqueduct to "mask ongoing financial problems and inefficiencies." DiNapoli's statement also said that that NYRA "stands to squander significant revenue" from the casino and that "only by gaining new [slot-machine] revenues will NYRA be able to show an overall profit this year."

NYRA, a non-profit that has lost tens of millions of dollars over the past several years, said in its statement that its projection for net income from racing operations did not include any of the subsidies it expected to receive from the casino. It also said that use of the subsidies is restricted by state law.

NYRA could 'squander' casino revenues without financial strengthening

2012-01-24T18:30:00.002-05:00

Auditor: NYRA could 'squander' casino revenues without financial strengthening
by Paulick Report Staff

The state's top auditor warned the New York Racing Association to get its financial affairs in order or risk losing expected revenues from the new casino at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Albany Times-Union says comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report Tuesday declaring that NYRA had failed to shore up its financial operations following two previous audits since NYRA emerged from bankruptcy in 2008:

"NYRA still has not conducted a top-to-bottom review of its financial operations and taken necessary steps to curb costs, particularly for staffing and consulting contracts," DiNapoli said. "NYRA stands to squander significant revenue from the recently opened VLT franchise at Aqueduct."

Below is a press release from NYRA responding to DiNapoli's report.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) took very seriously the recommendations that were made in the two 2010 audit reports from the Office of the New York State Comptroller.

NYRA has and will continue to maintain financial discipline. To implement all of the recommendations made in the 2010 audit reports inside of a year would have required more money and resources than NYRA could prudently spend at that time, but we fully understand the importance of this process and remain committed to completing it.

However, as the actual audit report notes, NYRA has made strides in implementing the 2010 recommendations, including plans to enhance revenues, staffing analysis and cuts in overall staffing, the termination of our former integrity counsel and the awarding of a more cost-effective integrity counsel, cost savings on the transportation of horses between NYRA tracks, and several other cost-cutting initiatives.

In the statement, the comptroller’s office references that the audit found that NYRA expects a $19.7 million loss from racing operations in 2012. This figure is misleading. It should be noted that the 2012 budget was not within the scope of nor was it referenced in the audit, and was never discussed with NYRA management. Furthermore, NYRA’s 2012 budget contemplates approximately $19 million of net income, not a net loss. Additionally, operating income solely from current racing operations, and without giving effect to Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) proceeds for operations and capital expenditures, is projected to be $1.4 million.

The comptroller’s statement expresses concern regarding how NYRA will use the money from VLTs. As a reminder, the use of VLT proceeds is regulated by statute and primarily allocated to purse money and capital expenditures. NYRA conducts a rigorous annual budget review and approval process and NYRA’s budget is reviewed by the Franchise Oversight Board. Furthermore, NYRA’s financial results and internal controls are routinely audited. NYRA is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance, integrity and management.

Former county employee-turned-consultant gave Jimmy Dimora cash

2012-01-24T11:37:00.002-05:00

Former county employee-turned-consultant gave Jimmy Dimora cash, funded gambling trip with women

By: Ken Trump, newsnet5.com
AKRON, Ohio - A former county engineer’s office employee-turned-consultant testified late Monday afternoon that he gave former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora $2,000 in cash and funded a November 2003, gambling trip to Casino Windsor attended by Dimora, former auditor Frank Russo and others.

Daniel Gallagher retired as chief of staff for the Cuyahoga County engineer's office in 2002 and formed his own consulting business, The Eagle Group, so he could receive $3,250 per month as a consultant from a developer. He was lured as a consultant by developer K&D Group because they believed he “had some real influences with the commissioners,” Gallagher testified.

Gallagher told jurors the K&D Group paid him so "that I could lobby officials on their behalf" to keep the county engineer's offices located at Stonebridge Center location on the west bank of the Flats. K&D built Stonebridge and did not want the engineer's office at the Ameritrust Building, he said.

Kevin Payne, then-chief of staff for the engineer's office, took half of the $3,250 per month Gallagher received as K&D's consultant, Gallagher said. Payne was charged in the federal corruption probe but has since died.

Gallagher said during his years of county employment he became close to Samir Mohammad, who worked for former Cuyahoga County Recorder Pat O'Malley but had “aspirations of becoming county administrator.”

Gallagher testified Mohammad gave him $20,000 that was then later used to give Dimora $2,000 in cash during the Windsor gambling trip.

During the Windsor trip, Gallagher said he met Dimora in a hotel cafeteria area with Russo and Payne present.

“I handed him $2,000 in cash so he would keep Samir Mohammad in mind for county administrator,” Gallagher testified. Gallagher said Dimora put the money in his pocket, did not refuse the money and did not have a look of shock.

Gallagher was asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon why he only gave money to Dimora and not the other two commissioners who would also have to vote on the administrator's job.

"Because Mr. Dimora would take the cash," Gallagher replied.

He said Payne, who had been holding the money after Gallagher first got it from Mohammad, gave the money to Gallagher so he could give it to Dimora. Gallagher said he gave it to Dimora because Mohammad wanted to make sure Dimora got the money, and Payne wanted Gallagher to give it to Dimora “so it would increase my status with Mr. Dimora and he would like me more,” Gallagher said.

Two women were picked up on the way to Windsor by Payne and Gallagher, who rode with Payne instead of riding in limousines Payne provided for Dimora, Russo, J. Kevin Kelley, Steven Pumper, attorney Anthony Calabrese Jr., and Bob Rybak, according to Gallagher.

Gallagher said Payne picked him up first and then, originally unknown to Gallagher, Payne picked up the first woman who Gallagher described as "35, blonde, short." On the way to Canada, they stopped in a Toledo area parking lot and picked up the second woman who Gallagher described as a, "taller, younger black female" whose nickname was "Egypt."

When they arrived at the Casino Windsor hotel in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Gallagher said Dimora, Russo and the others were already at the gambling tables. He testified that they went to a gaming table, the women were introduced to Dimora.

Dimora then left the table and "went away with Egypt," Gallagher told jurors.

Later on the group went to dinner, Gallagher testified. He said the women did not attend the dinner but came in and informed the group they would be a specific room in the hotel, and would be "available if anyone wanted to avail their services."

Federal prosecutor Bacon at one point asked Gallagher what benefits he gained from participating in this scheme.

"I was on a mission," Gallagher responded. "Mr. Dimora was the most powerful person in Cuyahoga County. I was a consultant. I would get closer to him and this would insure a closer relationship."

At the end of trip, Gallagher said he left in Payne's car with Kelley and Calabrese. He said they dropped off "Egypt" back in Toledo on the way home to Cleveland.

Gallagher said once he was back in Cleveland, "I told Mr. Mohammad that his money was first well spent. I told him about the women. I told him about the dinner. And I told him about myself giving Mr. Dimora the money."

Mohammad eventually began to realize the county administrator job would likely not become his and began to question why he gave away the $20,000, Gallagher said. "Payne said he'll get his money. He never did," Gallagher testified.

Gallagher said his desire to get closer to Dimora appeared to work.

"Mr. Dimora acknowledged me much more readily when he saw me at events. Smile, greet me, more warmth," Gallagher told jurors.

But once the FBI raids for the county corruption probe hit, things went downhill for Gallagher. He said Mohammad came to Gallagher to destroy the hard drive on Gallagher's computer.

"What did you do to destroy it?" asked

federal prosecutor Bacon.

"Hit it with a sledgehammer," Gallagher responded.

FBI Special Agents Michael Massie and Christine Oliver later paid Gallagher a visit at his home. He called an attorney, decided to cooperate with the government and offered to testify in their cases.

Gallagher was charged with eight federal crimes including bribery, conspiracy, destroying evidence and filing false tax reports. He was charged along with Kelley, Payne and Brian Schuman of the Alternatives Agency, and pleaded guilty in July, 2009.

As a part of his plea deal, Gallagher had to wear a wire and is expected to testify in two other cases in the corruption probe.

The "best case scenario" he faces, Gallagher said, is 57 months in prison and payment of $87,000 in restitution. He has already paid in full back taxes owed to the IRS.

"I'm more hurt by what I've done to my children and my family. I wake up every day to a fear of the unknown and what is going to happen," Gallagher said.

During cross-examination by defense attorneys for Dimora and co-defendant Michael Gabor, Gallagher acknowledged having been a "binge drinker" and consuming up to half bottle of vodka at a time by himself. He first claimed he was not drinking on the Windsor trip but then acknowledged that, "I may have had a drink or two but I was not binge drinking," at the time.

Gallagher also admitted he had lied on a county application by saying he had a college degree when he did not have a degree. He said one reason he tried to help Mohammad was because Mohammad had held off an unidentified person who threatened to reveal to the media Gallagher's application misrepresentation.

Also during cross-examination, Gallagher admitted making up to $40,000 in bribes and related illegal money. The money came from projects including a $15,000 construction contract kickback filtered through Gallagher for a Parma City School District project and money received from now-deceased contractor Tony Ma's firm, Broma Information Technologies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bacon at one point asked Gallagher if he could best be described as a "bagman" since much of the illegal money was passed through him rather than staying in his possession. But defense attorney Leif Christman, who got Gallagher to acknowledge that his client Michael Gabor was not part of this scheme, suggested "bagman" was an understatement for someone who profited $40,000 in one year.

Gallagher began his work with the county as an adult probation officer and supervisor for 24 years. In 1998 he did a brief stint as chief of staff in the county recorder’s office, leaving after 22 months to assume the same position for the county engineer.

Mohammad never was selected as county administrator, but did later go on to be chief of staff for Russo.

Dimora and co-defendant Michael Gabor have maintained their innocence of all federal charges. Mohammad and Calabrese Jr. have also maintained their innocence and will have separate upcoming court proceedings.

Continue to follow newsnet5.com and NewsChannel5 for ongoing developments in the trial.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/political/corruption_probe/former-county-employee-turned-consultant-gave-jimmy-dimora-cash-funded-gambling-trip-with-women#ixzz1kOWVOWkl

Jimmy Dimora's gambling trip to Windsor

2012-01-24T11:31:00.003-05:00

Jimmy Dimora's gambling trip to Windsor: limousines, women and meals, testimony shows
By James F. McCarty, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

AKRON, Ohio -- A candidate for the top nonelected job in Cuyahoga County paid $20,000 for a gambling trip for then-county Commissioner Jimmy Dimora that included meals, gambling chips, lodging, limousines and women, Daniel Gallagher, a former county official, testified Monday.

The 2003 trip to Windsor, Ontario was the second criminal scheme involving a gambling junket that federal prosecutors have introduced to jurors during the first two weeks of Dimora's racketeering trial in U.S. District Court. The first trip mentioned in trial was to Las Vegas in 2008, and involved $25,000 that prosecutors said was bankrolled by Berea contractor Ferris Kleem.

Gallagher, who was working in 2003 as a private consultant, testified that he agreed to act as an intermediary between Dimora and Samir Mohammad, a friend who was in charge of the computer system at the county recorder's office.

Mohammad hoped that 20 $100 bills would buy Dimora's support for his efforts to land the soon-to-be vacant county administrator's job, Gallagher said. Although Gallagher confessed to having doubts about Mohammad's chances of landing the job, he agreed to enlist Kevin Payne, the chief of staff at the county engineer's office and a close friend of Dimora's, in the scheme to win over the powerful commissioner.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon asked Gallagher why he felt it was important to lavish Dimora with the payoff and not one of the two other county commissioners whose votes would determine the next county administrator.

"Because Mr. Dimora would take the cash," Gallagher responded.

Gallagher described himself as a "man on a mission," having promised Mohammad that he would verify the bribe money would be delivered to Dimora. He acknowledged under questioning, however, that he pocketed $2,000 to $5,000 of the money -- he told conflicting stories -- and that Payne may have taken a $5,000 cut for himself.

"I don't know what Mr. Payne did with the rest of the money," Gallagher testified.

Gallagher said he personally handed $2,000 in cash to Dimora, and asked that he keep Mohammad in mind when he cast his vote for the new county administrator.

Dimora rode in a limousine to Windsor with then-county Auditor Frank Russo, attorney Anthony O. Calabrese III, contractor Steven Pumper, union official Robert Rybak, and county employee J. Kevin Kelley. Payne drove Gallagher separately, but first they stopped to pick up two women along the way, he testified.

When Gallagher and Payne arrived at the casino, they found Dimora and his friends eating dinner. Payne introduced the women, and Dimora immediately took one of them away.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerDaniel Gallagher, left, a former administrator in the Cuyahoga County Engineer's Office, with his attorney, Jim Jenkins, leaves the federal courthouse in Akron after testifying Monday in the racketeering trial of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora.

Later, the two women announced to the other men that they had a room at the hotel "if anyone wanted to avail themselves of their services," Gallagher said.

Payne paid for the limousine, the rooms and the women, Gallagher said. The men all chipped in with casino-issued credit slips to pay for the meal, and Dimora pocketed the leftover chits, he added.

When they returned to Cleveland, Gallagher reported back to Mohammad that he thought his money had been invested well.

But Mohammad did not get the county administrator's job. He did not even make the list of finalists.

As an alternative, Mohammad was offered a job as head of the county's data center, which he turned down, Gallagher said. Russo later offered Mohammad a $120,000-a-year job as his chief of staff, which he accepted.

In his testimony Monday, Gallagher also described how the bribery and kickback scheme blew up on July 28, 2008, when the FBI raided the county administration building, Dimora's and Russo's homes and offices, and Payne's home and office at the engineer's building.

After the raids, Mohammad helped smash Gallagher's computer hard drive with a sledgehammer to destroy evidence of payoffs he received and kickbacks he paid to Payne and Mohammad, Gallagher said.

Mohammad was later arrested and indicted on charges of bribery, and he is awaiting trial later this year. His lawyer denied the allegations by Gallagher on Monday.

"Gallagher is a known, habitual liar," said attorney Joseph A. Dubyak. "Sam Mohammad never gave $20,000 to Gallagher, and he never destroyed anything."

In October 2008, Gallagher agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty to five corruption charges, including bribery, that could send him to prison for nearly five years, and require him to pay $85,000 in restitution.

Under cross-examination, Gallagher said he could have received up to 12 years in prison had he not agreed to help the FBI.

Defense attorney Andrea Whitaker listed all of the kickback schemes Gallagher was involved in, as well as his role in the Windsor trip, then asked him in disbelief:

"Are you telling this jury the only incident of illegal contact with Mr. Dimora was when you passed him $2,000 for a job you didn't think [Mohammad] would get?"

After multiple objections and a conference with Judge Sara Lioi, Gallagher replied yes.

Gallagher said he also twice wore a hidden recording device, and expects to testify for the prosecution in at least two more trials.

Russo pleaded guilty to 21 corruption-related charges and faced up to 22 years in prison before he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. He also is expected to testify against Dimora in a trial expected to run two more months.

J. Kevin Kelley has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of bribery, and is expected to testify against Dimora.

Payne was charged with bribery, but died of cancer. Pumper has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Calabrese and Mohammad are awaiting trial on multiple corruption charges.

Gallagher said his life has fallen apart since he was caught and pleaded guilty.

"I wake up every day with fear of the unknown, with what's going to happen to me," he said. "It's not the best existence in the world."

With reporting by Peter Krouse, Rachel Dissell, John Canigilia and Stan Donaldson

N.E. Patriots' Parent Denied Paper Mill Power Request

2012-01-23T08:36:00.002-05:00

Doesn't this sound eerily familiar to the PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE TO NOWHERE application? Seeking state funds? Why should Bob Kraft pay for anything when the taxpayers/ratepayers can pay the bill?

N.E. Patriots' Parent Denied Paper Mill Power Request
Tue, 10/16/2007

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A paper shipping box manufacturer owned by the Massachusetts parent company of the New England Patriots is running into opposition over its request for state grant money to generate electricity at its mill.

The Office of Consumer Counsel on Monday filed an objection with state utility regulators over a proposal by Rand Whitney Containerboard for a multimillion-dollar grant to increase power generation at Montville.

Rand Whitney is owned by The Kraft Group, which also owns the Patriots.

The General Assembly revised state law allowing companies to seek grants that would help finance electricity generation. The legislation intended to reduce the load on the regional power grid and improve energy efficiency.

More than 200 applications from schools, hospitals, companies and other organizations have been submitted to the state Department of Public Utility.

''We're talking little guys who operate machine shops, restaurants up to mega corporations,'' said Beryl Lyons, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Utility Control.

But the Office of Consumer Counsel told the DPUC that the company has no right to seek a $6.4 million grant based on 14.2 megawatts at its power plant because its upgrade is by 1.9 megawatts to a 12.3-megawatt plant already online.

The consumer advocate says Rand Whitney is instead entitled to seek funding of, at most, $855,000.

''OCC is outraged by Rand Whitney's effort to obtain a grant from ratepayers reflecting the 12.3 megawatts that they had already decided to install in 2005 in their own economic interest,'' the state agency said.

James Cobery, general counsel for Rand-Whitney, said in a statement that the Office of Consumer Counsel misunderstands ''both the letter of the law as well as the intent of the law.''

The General Assembly intended that financial incentives should be available not just for electricity created now but also for future power generation, he said.

''Prior to this plant coming online, Rand Whitney purchased its power directly from the electric grid,'' Cobery said. ''That it no longer is drawing that amount of power from an over-stressed infrastructure and that Rand Whitney is willing to invest in more generating capacity to further reduce this burden are precisely the reasons behind these incentive programs.''

Montville council OKs deal with Rand-Whitney

2012-01-23T08:32:00.000-05:00

Montville council OKs deal with Rand-Whitney
By Jeffrey A. Johnson
Publication: The Day

Agreement ends legal spat for 2 years

Montville - The Town Council approved a two-part agreement Wednesday night aimed at ending a long legal struggle between the town and Rand-Whitney Containerboard over sewer usage fees.

Despite several councilors voicing skepticism about parts of the agreement, the council voted 5-2 to enter into a two-year plan with the Foxboro, Mass.-based paper manufacturer, whose chairman and chief executive officer is Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots' owner. Councilors Howard "Russ" Beetham and Ellen Hillman were opposed.

Since Rand-Whitney opened a facility on Route 163 in 1995, the town and the paper company have clashed in court on several occasions, with one court-ordered settlement costing taxpayers $11.7 million plus interest in a breach-of-contract lawsuit.

"This war stops now," Councilor Dana McFee said, jokingly quoting a line from the classic mafia movie "The Godfather."

Under the first part of the agreement, the Water Pollution and Control Authority will charge Rand-Whitney the same monthly commercial rate for its sewer usage fees as it charges other commercial users, such as Mohegan Sun casino.

The second part of the agreement calls for the town, the WPCA and Rand-Whitney to explore upgrades and infrastructure improvements to a wastewater treatment facility on the paper manufacturer's grounds.

This part of the agreement prompted the most hesitation from councilors. If the WPCA and Rand-Whitney proceed with new treatment options, the WPCA is expected to use a $5 million grant authorized by the state Bond Commission for upgrades to the treatment facility.

Councilors and Bruce Chudwick, the town attorney, also questioned what would happen if the treatment facility upgrades cost more than $5 million.

Matt Auger, attorney for the WPCA, argued that upgrades to the facility would be beneficial because the WPCA would greatly improve its wastewater treatment process - easing the burden of rate payers - and the town would save approximately $700,000 annually by using the upgraded facility for sludge disposal.

In two hours of discussion, Auger also said several times that the agreement required good faith from both sides.

"Like it or not, the town and Rand-Whitney are a married couple that cannot be separated until the year 2054," Auger said of the 43-year wastewater treatment agreement between the two parties.

Jim Cobery, the attorney for Rand-Whitney, said moving to a commercial rate would cost the paper manufacturer between $200,000 and $300,000 more per year in sewer usage fees, but the company stands to save substantially in legal fees. Rand-Whitney would pay the WPCA about $1.75 million annually under the new agreement.

Rand-Whitney: It's a new day in relationship with town of Montville

2012-01-23T08:24:00.003-05:00

Rand-Whitney: It's a new day in relationship with town of Montville
By Jeffrey A. Johnson
Publication: The Day

Montville company looking forward to better relations with town; Blumenthal visits facility

Montville - The general manager of Rand-Whitney Containerboard said Tuesday that the paper manufacturer has moved past a long-standing period of acrimony that it shared with the town.

Officials from Rand-Whitney spent the better part of Tuesday afternoon showing U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the ins and outs of the facility on Route 163.

Richard Hartman, the plant general manager, said afterward that the company wants to better educate the community on its practices and business. With Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel Jr. present, the tour with Blumenthal also was designed as the latest step toward a better relationship with the town.

"We've settled a lot of those disputes, and we're on a better track," Hartman said of the legal proceedings between Rand-Whitney and the town. "We're not the bad guys that maybe we were made out to be in the past."

Blumenthal is traveling the state and visiting technical schools, community colleges and manufacturing plants to get a better sense of trade-intensive training and jobs.

He is a co-sponsor of a bill that aims to modernize and improve community colleges and introduced another bill that would offer training for low-income, unemployed adults. Hartman led Blumenthal through the plant and also gave the senator a presentation on Rand-Whitney's products and history.

After the town and the company argued in court for years over how much Rand-Whitney should pay in sewage fees, the town was ordered to pay a court-ordered settlement of $11.7 million plus interest.

In June, the two sides came to a two-part agreement that aimed to put an end to all the legal battles. Part of the agreement calls for the town to charge Rand-Whitney the same sewer usage fees as it charges other commercial businesses.

The town is scheduled in the next fiscal year to make its first payment of approximately $1.35 million to the company.

The paper manufacturer employs about 110 people, and 20 percent of its employees are town residents, Jim Wood, the company's chief administrative officer, said.

In a meeting with some of Rand-Whitney's employees, Blumenthal commended the company for hiring veterans - it reports that veterans comprise 18 percent of its work force. Blumenthal also said his tour would help him when he returns to the Senate.

"Economic growth has to be a priority in Washington," he said. "The pictures that I can take back are important to convince my colleagues to invest in skill training."

A paper mill has operated on Rand-Whitney's current property since 1868. Led by the Kraft family, Rand-Whitney Packaging Co. bought the site in 1986. Robert Kraft, the chief executive officer, is also owner of the New England Patriots.

Rand-Whitney annually produces about 250,000 tons of recycled kraft linerboard. The plant's energy comes from a neighboring cogeneration plant, which produces 16 megawatts of electricity and also heats the mill.

Montville, Rand-Whitney (Bob Kraft) on the verge of ending long dispute over sewer fees

2012-01-23T08:17:00.002-05:00

Montville, Rand-Whitney on the verge of ending long dispute over sewer fees
By Jeffrey A. Johnson
Publication: The Day

WPCA approves memo outlining billing method that's 'less contentious'

Montville - The town on Monday night moved a step closer to ending years of contentious legal disputes with Rand-Whitney Containerboard that have cost the town millions of dollars in legal fees and a breach-of-contract lawsuit.

The Water Pollution Control Authority approved a memorandum of understanding that will temporarily bill the paper manufacturer as a commercial user for its sewer usage fees based on existing rates.

That would leave the Foxboro, Mass.-based company to pay the same monthly sewer usage fees as other town commercial businesses, such as Mohegan Sun casino, WPCA Administrator Brian Lynch said.

Since Rand-Whitney opened its $100 million factory on Route 163 in 1995, the town and the paper company have been in court on various occasions. At issue is a complex, percentage-based formula to determine the company's sewer usage fees. In 2008, a New York federal court compelled the town to pay a settlement of $11.7 million to Rand-Whitney in a breach-of-contract lawsuit.

Robert Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots, is also chairman and chief executive officer of Rand-Whitney.

Monday's memorandum of understanding must go before the Town Council for a vote next week. If passed, it would create a system that would be "less contentious," according to WPCA Commissioner Timothy May, and would conceivably keep both sides out of court.

Lynch, who started talks with Rand-Whitney representatives on the commercial rate plan in October, said the agreement would be in effect for at least two years.

"I think there was apprehension on both sides - especially when you're trying to overcome some long history," Lynch said. "What's important is that both sides had to give on some things to try and come to an agreement that we hope will become long-standing."

WPCA commissioners and representatives from Rand-Whitney met in an hourlong executive session at the beginning of Monday's WPCA meeting.

Lynch said prior to the meeting that the dialogue between the two sides has improved of late, which could help the WPCA iron out a future plan with Rand-Whitney that will follow the two-year memorandum of understanding.

Lynch said at that point the town could continue to bill Rand-Whitney at the same rate as other commercial users. Seven months prior to the end of the two-year term, the two parties will have 30 days to decide if they wish to continue the memorandum of understanding.

May said he eventually supported the agreement between the two sides because concessions were made by both parties.

"At first I wasn't really sold on it, to be honest with you," May said. "But the more I looked at it, the better I thought it would be for the town. We've been through so much in the past several years."

Town residents in 2008 approved $12 million in bonding to be paid over 15 years to cover the settlement with Rand-Whitney.

The town will pay $320,000 in the 2011-12 fiscal year and will make payments of about $1 million annually starting in 2012-13 to cover the bonding and interest, according to Finance Director Terry Hart. The bonding will be paid off in 2023-24, Hart said.

On Monday night, WPCA commissioner Robert Thorn called the agreement with Rand-Whitney a "milestone achievement." Ellen Hillman, also a town councilor, was the only WPCA commissioner opposed in a 4-1 vote to send the memorandum of understanding to the Town Council.

Illegal Sports Betting Worrisome

2012-01-23T08:10:00.002-05:00

Betting trend is worrying for the ICC after bust by police in India
by: Peter Lalor
From: The Australian

AN illegal Indian bookmaking ring has been caught taking bets on Saturday night's Big Bash League semi-final in Perth.

A special police squad in Ahmedabad arrested four people, seized almost $100,000 in cash, three laptops, 19 mobile phones and two televisions in the raid.

The police said that a computer engineer had been using the computers to simultaneously track market movements and betting on the WACA match between the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars. It was the biggest cash seizure for many years, but detectives said that illegal bookmakers rarely kept their money on the premises.

There is no suggestion the Big Bash League match was fixed but the raid highlights a trend that is worrying cricket's head body.

Chief executive of the ICC Haroon Lorgat told The Australian last week that anti-corruption measures around international cricket had forced a "displacement" that led illegal bookmakers and their fixers to turn their attention to domestic games that were not monitored by the ICC.

Former Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield, 23, is facing sentencing in an English court after pleading guilty to accepting $9000 to bowl badly in the first over of a Pro40 Match against Durham in 2009.

The young bowler had spent the summers either side of the match in question playing for an Adelaide grade cricket club and attending the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy.

The BBL match which the Indian bookmakers were targeting is a domestic match and does not fall under the gaze of the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit, but Cricket Australia has set up a parallel process headed by Sean Carroll who was previously with the international body.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said when the new body was formed in November its job would be to monitor Shield, domestic one-day and Big Bash matches.

"There has been no evidence of problems in domestic cricket but we want to move proactively on the basis that vigilance and constant education is critical," he said.

CA spokesman Peter Young said last night that he expected Carroll would be investigating the bust in India.

It is claimed that more than $50 million is gambled illegally in India on every one-day match Australia plays -- considerably more is laid out on games involving the local side.

Westfield was arrested when his teammate, Tony Palladino, reported suspicions about his behaviour. The whistleblower said last week he did not think it was a one off incident.

"You'd be a fool to think spot-betting wasn't happening at Essex before, and at other counties. It must have been," Palladino told The Sun.

"They've chosen county cricket because it's not as high profile as international cricket.

"What worries me is there might be other cases that have been swept under the carpet. I've spoken to international players who've been approached several times in Asia. It's rife out there."

The Scorchers won Saturday night's match and in the process guaranteed themselves at least $700,000 by qualifying for the Champions League.

Spot fixing and black-market gambling has been a problem in cricket for two decades.

Three Pakistan players were jailed for spot fixing following a Test match in England last year.

Police said the bookmakers, who were working in the industrial centre of Kalol near Ahmedabad, had been operating for more than a year.

They arrested Kashyap Brahmbhatt, Mitesh Nayak, Kartik Khamar and Rakesh Soni in the raid.

"Brahmbhatt was taking bets on a county cricket match in Australia," a police spokesman told local reporters.

"Of those arrested, Brahmbhatt has a history of betting-related incidents. The three others were running his network.

Jimmy Dimora corruption case wiretaps filled with profanity-laced language and ‘buddy’ talk

2012-01-23T08:06:00.002-05:00

Jimmy Dimora corruption case wiretaps filled with profanity-laced language and ‘buddy’ talk
By: Ken Trump, newsnet5.com

AKRON, Ohio - If you want to get the full flavor of conversations federal agents caught in wiretaps during their investigation of former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, you will have to visit the trial in person.

“You misfit (expletive). You deformed (expletive),” Dimora greeted J. Kevin Kelley in the beginning of a wiretap cell phone conversation played last Friday in Akron federal court. It was one of the many comments consumers of media reports on the trial will never hear in totality.

In her opening statement, Dimora defense attorney Andrea Whitaker warned jurors of the forthcoming foul language and sex talk.

“The background noise is gambling, sexual talk, carousing. The government has confused this kind of behavior with corruption,” Whitaker said.

Federal prosecutors have woven wiretap conversations from their opening statement through the end of the first six days of the trial. Court documents show prosecutors plan on using hundreds, and perhaps over one thousand, hours of wiretaps during the entire three-month trial.

Dimora had a particular knack for peppering many of those conversations with four-letter words and other profanity. Jurors heard it in his cell phone calls describing scantily clad women at the Bare Pool, a private topless pool area at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, and in his post-Vegas calls describing his assessment of the trip.

Wiretap conversations between Dimora and Kelley also typically included profanity.

Using profanity, though, is not a federal crime for which Dimora has been charged. And FBI Special Agent Michael Massie acknowledged during cross-examination by Dimora defense attorney Bill Whitaker that Massie had the ability to edit out even the smallest clips of any wiretap conversations played in court.

But prosecutors have left in the profanity, perhaps on purpose. While the profanity does not contribute to proving the elements of the crimes charged in the prosecution’s case, it does add to their efforts to create a story for jurors that some might say is reminiscent of an underworld mob movie.

At times, however, the conversations sound less like those expected in a Mafioso flick and more like sophomoric exchanges one would expect to hear in a high school cafeteria.

“Hey buddy” and “Bye buddy,” for example, are J. Kevin Kelley favorites.

If Kelley had a thousand dollars for every time he used the word “buddy” in wiretap conversations, his total take might come close to the amount federal officials claim he profited by in the conspiracy case. Kelley’s conversation “buddies” included contractor Ferris Kleem, Alternatives Agency co-director and Kelley client Brian Schuman, and of course, Dimora.

The language of the Dimora trial adds context, shock, dismay and often disgust to otherwise serious and sometimes dramatic courtroom testimony and evidence. But persons interested in getting the full context will have to be in the courtroom since journalistic standards prohibit reporters from sharing the full verbiage in their news stories.

For most trial followers, especially those with children, that could be a good thing.

Dimora and co-defendant Michael Gabor have maintained their innocence on all federal charges.

Continue to follow newsnet5.com and NewsChannel5 for ongoing trial developments.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/political/corruption_probe/jimmy-dimora-corruption-case-wiretaps-filled-with-profanity-laced-language-and-buddy-talk#ixzz1kHonMI8P

Pols to profit from casinos? Not so Massachusetts

2012-01-23T07:49:00.004-05:00

Pols to profit from casinos? No dice, says Gov. Cuomo
Exclusive: Language in budget proposal would forbid lawmakers from having hand in gaming companies
By Glenn Blain / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

ALBANY — There is one group that definitely won’t be cashing in on Gov. Cuomo’s push to legalize casino gambling in New York — politicians.

Tucked inside the 2012-13 budget proposal Cuomo released last week is language forbidding lawmakers from having a hand in the till in an industry the governor wants to better regulate.

Elected officials, government employees and political party types would be barred from owning any stake, including stock, in licensed gaming companies.

Politicos would also be blocked from having more than a 10% stake in any business that sells goods or services to a gambling enterprise.

“Given the many recent scandals involving public officials, it’s great the governor is telling our public officials and party leaders to keep their hands off,” said Dick Dadey, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens Union.

The prohibitions are part of legislation included in Cuomo’s budget proposal. The bill would merge the state Lottery Division with the Racing and Wagering Board to create a new state gaming commission. If the measure is approved, the commission would control licensing of gaming companies — and woe to the politico who gets caught in a deal.

Cuomo said the move is needed to both modernize and streamline the regulation of gaming in the state, telling the Daily News Editorial Board last week that the state’s approach to the industry is “ugly, sloppy and ineffective.”

A Cuomo spokesman said that similar safeguards now apply to the racing industry.

The regulatory move could help the governor as he drives for a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling.

The need for greater oversight was highlighted in 2010 when the Aqueduct Entertainment Group’s bid to run a racino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens fell apart because of behind-the-scenes influence from lawmakers.

gblain@nydailynews.com

ALBANY — There is one group that definitely won’t be cashing in on Gov. Cuomo’s push to legalize casino gambling in New York — politicians.

Tucked inside the 2012-13 budget proposal Cuomo released last week is language forbidding lawmakers from having a hand in the till in an industry the governor wants to better regulate.

Elected officials, government employees and political party types would be barred from owning any stake, including stock, in licensed gaming companies.

[Not so in Massachusetts where Secretary Bialecki and Senator Stanley Rosenberg profited from Gambling Stocks at the same time they were cheerleading for EXPANDED GAMBLING.]

Politicos would also be blocked from having more than a 10% stake in any business that sells goods or services to a gambling enterprise.

“Given the many recent scandals involving public officials, it’s great the governor is telling our public officials and party leaders to keep their hands off,” said Dick Dadey, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens Union.

The prohibitions are part of legislation included in Cuomo’s budget proposal. The bill would merge the state Lottery Division with the Racing and Wagering Board to create a new state gaming commission. If the measure is approved, the commission would control licensing of gaming companies — and woe to the politico who gets caught in a deal.

Cuomo said the move is needed to both modernize and streamline the regulation of gaming in the state, telling the Daily News Editorial Board last week that the state’s approach to the industry is “ugly, sloppy and ineffective.”

A Cuomo spokesman said that similar safeguards now apply to the racing industry.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/pols-profit-casinos-dice-gov-cuomo-article-1.1010142#ixzz1kHmUneLd

Jennie's gambling addiction is fatal to her family's finances

2012-01-23T07:44:00.002-05:00

Jennie's gambling addiction is fatal to her family's finances
Now it's the Giants game she pins her hopes on
Jimmy Breslin

Her problem this time happened the one time when there was no way out, Jennie from 108th St ., Ozone Park, Queens, announced.

The airport here in Queens sends so many to the Middle East only to have them come back killed or maimed. Now planes stand on the edge of a runway as a silent announcement of dead young to mothers and sisters and brothers and fathers and uncles.

The Queens airport is on a street called Liberty Ave. It runs with three- and four-story buildings that are under the roof of an el with spaces in tracks that send oblongs of bright sunlight onto the sidewalks.

In front of Rocco’s restaurant, next to the Chinese restaurant on Liberty Ave., at this particular time stood a group — including John Gotti and Fat Andy. Jennie went past them without looking. At that time, she was putting house money regularly on a rider named Gonzales.

She did that one race too many, Gonzales lost one time too many.

They fix the races, she said. She couldn’t admit that she was plain losing. Then on Sundays, she shelved horses for a few hours and got killed betting football games with Big Fats, the bookmaker who could be found under the el tracks on Liberty Ave.

Jennie had two kids, both married and gone. Her husband made $500 a week, got paid every two. A real standup husband, he handed her the whole check. He went to work. She lost enough money, on horses who ran as fast as Jennie could walk to the store.

After one week with her husband’s paycheck, she only had enough for some of the bills.

Con Edison. Several notices reminded her. And now she decided that she had both luck and opinion on the Aqueduct races.

When that didn’t work, neither did the lights. She had to rush out to Liberty Ave., and at a store run by Pakistanis she bought big candles.

She fired them up in her house and thought up a story for the husband, Nicholas. When he got home from work, he was excited over his dark house.

Con Edison’s going to work on us all night, she said. They had a big failure.

Nicholas looked out at the street, lined with well-lighted houses, and
announced that he was not a sucker, and that they now were in marital trouble.

The next day, she ran up to Liberty Ave., went past Rocco, seeing nobody. She went inside Rocco’s and asked the waitress, Noreen, if these people were going to be around. Before she answered, John Gotti, in a double-breasted suit, came out of a car. Noreen was at the door pointing to Nicholas and testifying to Gotti for him. Gotti nodded at Nicholas and walked off. But his nod remained.

“Why do you want to be a murderer?” waitress Noreen said.

“I don’t want to do that,” Nicholas said. “I’ll tell you what. I need a job for my wife.”

Maybe right here, Noreen said. Give us a week and you got something.

Nicholas told his wife that he probably could forgive her, what with her working it off at Rocco’s.

Almost to the moment, Rocco came into the place and pinched a waitress. As usual, he was getting her into the back room, but here was his fiancée or close to it, Phyllis, walking in sweetly. And then seeing the new young waitress coming out of the back room, her mood changed to anger and beyond. She turned it into a riot that inside of two weeks had Rocco’s closed, and out of fear, Rocco had the place up for sale.

Leaving Jennie at least jobless. The woman who took on what once was the male disaster, losing at gambling, needs all the sense and steadiness of working to pay money owed — including the 3% percent a week, every week, whether you have a job or not. Three percent a week is 150% a year. Best pay fast.

Years later, the splash in newspapers and on television is the NFC Championship Game, and with the Niners a 3-point favorite. And even now, that had Jennie insane in the kitchen on Friday night, looking at her husband’s paycheck and telling herself that she could triple or quadruple this check just by the Giants in a few hours.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/jennie-gambling-addiction-fatal-family-finances-article-1.1009841#ixzz1kHjDKEQw

Longer opening hours for betting shops would be bad for families

2012-01-23T07:33:00.002-05:00

Longer opening hours for betting shops would be bad for families, says addiction campaigner
NIAMH GRIFFIN

INTRODUCING ONLINE gambling to betting shops and increasing opening hours as sought by bookmakers would have negative consequences for families, according to an addiction campaigner.

The director of the Toranfield House addiction centre, Miriam Finnegan, said job creation in the industry must be balanced against the effects of compulsive gambling.

The betting shop industry is appealing to the Government for increased opening hours – until 9.30pm, six nights a week – from September to April. At present bookies can only stay open late on Fridays during the winter. They also want to increase revenues through in-house access to online betting on iPad-style tablets.

“There are a lot of people struggling – people will take risks and try to win a few bob,” Ms Finnegan said. “Since the recession, gambling is more of a problem. People could pick up a job to pay their debts , but now some of them don’t have the means to pay.”

Research on the Irish situation is not available, but Ms Finnegan said British studies have found 75 per cent of problem gamblers bet online, so anything that introduces such gambling to a new market was worrying, she said.

“For a lot of people betting isn’t an addiction – but there are others who go out to the shops to normalise their betting,” Ms Finnegan said.

Some 101 betting shops closed last year, according to the Irish Bookmakers’ Association. However, leading chains say footfall in high street shops is holding up and in some cases growing.

While punters in Paddy Power shops were spending less on each wager – down 9 per cent to €17 in the 218 shops – they were betting more frequently, the company’s head of communications said.

“The Irish betting shop market is five times bigger than the online market,” Paddy Power said. “Most of our online customers are in the UK or America.”

Leon Blanche of Boylesports said 70 per cent of that company’s Irish turnover came from shops in 2011. It has increased its number of outlets from 142 to 174 over the past 12 months. “The amount of slips per shop is on the rise but the stake placed has fallen,” said Mr Blanche, saying the average bet was now €19.

“It’s the sense of a community that draws people in,” he added, “ things like being able to enjoy premium events on paid-for channels like Sky Sports.”

Ladbrokes has five more shops now than in 2010, starting the year with 213 despite some “consolidation” last year, according to spokeswoman Hayley O’Connor. She said the social element of betting helped keep the shops open, adding the amount placed on each bet had increased slightly to €15.

Chairwoman of the Irish Bookmakers’ Association Sharon Byrne said changes to the laws were needed as smaller bookies were losing out to the chains. “The bigger shops can afford to carry on. As the shops close, the money can spread and will help to keep the others viable,” she said, adding the majority of closures were independents, leaving “roughly 1,100” shops open.

Aside from promoting new betting products, various shops in Dublin offer free tea or coffee, biscuits and even soup to entice punters. “There’s a decent atmosphere even in the recession,” Mr Power said. “But one stereotype is true. The breakdown is probably 90-95 per cent men.”

There is anecdotal evidence of bookmakers’ shops being used as a social outlet by some people who have become unemployed and have no workplace to go to.

Spokeswoman for the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed Brid O’Brien said: “I could see the attraction of sitting in a shop for social interaction. If people are coming and going in a busy shop, it might not be noticeable you are there all day,” she said. “If people are using the shops like this, it highlights the need for increased services.”

Roopa Farooki: My father went to Harrods and never came back

2012-01-23T07:28:00.002-05:00

Roopa Farooki: My father went to Harrods and never came back

Novelist Roopa Farooki speaks to Metro about living with her father's gambling addiction. Her new book, The Flying Man, is a fictionalised account of his life.

My father, Nasir Farooki, met my mother when she worked for him at his publishing company in Bangladesh. He was always a colourful character. He graduated from Stanford University in the US at the age of 19, did a second degree in Switzerland and became a journalist, working in the Middle East. By the time he met my mother, he’d published several novels and was known for being an outspoken critic of Pakistan’s politicians, which was dangerous.

By the time they started a family, they’d moved to London. As a child, I thought all fathers disappeared for several weeks or months at a time, coming back hugely flush with thousands of pounds or completely broke. My mother kept things under control admirably – she always paid the rent and kept food on the table.

As I got older and spoke to my friends about it, I realised my father’s behaviour wasn’t normal. My friends thought the amount of travelling he did – and returning sometimes with so much money – meant he was a drug baron. I wasn’t aware at the time he had a gambling addiction. He’d disappear when he could no longer afford to show his face in the Knightsbridge gambling clubs he frequented. He’d go away until he earned enough money to go back to them. I’d ask what he did for work and he’d tell me to stop asking stupid questions. From what I can tell, he put financing together for building projects around the world – whatever type of business he could earn money from using his connections.

As a family, we dealt with him winning or losing the same way, because even if he came home with thousands of pounds one night, we knew he’d gamble it away again during the rest of the week. My father was more a visitor than a parent. We became so used to our life without him it was quite irritating when he was back – cluttering up the sofa.

When I was 13, he said he was going to Harrods to buy something and he never came back. We were so used to him being away, we didn’t realise he wasn’t coming back for several months. Eventually, it became obvious and we’d get bills from hotels around the world, so we knew where he was. We weren’t worried that something terrible had happened to him

He’d been sent to prison at one point for not paying taxes. He went to a nice, open prison where he made great contacts and improved his golf handicap.

The last time I saw him was in Paris. I was in town for a business meeting. He hadn’t been well and looked terribly frail. We had a chat about the books I was intending to write – I’d just become a novelist and he told me he wanted to write his autobiography. He asked me for money, which he said was going to cover a hospital bill. I offered to pay the hospital and he said that wouldn’t work, so he was still trying it on, even at that stage. He died a couple of weeks later.

Because my dad was a gambler, I don’t gamble. In other ways, I’m like my father – I’m a writer, too, and I’ve changed jobs every few years.

I was self-righteous as a teenager and felt we’d let my father get away with his behaviour. Now I have four children of my own, I’m no longer so resentful. I appreciate that if you’re not cut out for parenting, it must be very tough. It’s not that his love wasn’t sincere – it’s just that it wasn’t sufficient.

The Flying Man is out now, published by Headline.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/lifestyle/888077-roopa-farooki-my-father-went-to-harrods-and-never-came-back#ixzz1kHfOt9Yi

Crime up near Aqueduct, No Honeymoon!

2012-01-23T07:17:00.002-05:00

Crme doesn't usually increase immediately when a new Gambling Parlor opens, Not so for Genting and New York.

Crime picks up pace in ‘racino’ precinct
By PHILIP MESSING and JAMIE SCHRAM

Crime has gone up in the Queens precinct that covers the glittering new racino at Aqueduct, The Post has learned.

It’s unclear to what, if any, extent the gambling operation can be tied to the spurt of petit larcenies and misdemeanor assaults in the 106th Precinct, which covers South Ozone Park.

In November, the first month since the casino opened, petit larcenies in the precinct rose 53.3 percent to 92, from 60 in the same month in 2010.

There were 41 misdemeanor assaults, compared with 26 in November 2010, a 57.7 percent increase.

In December, petit larcenies went up 8.2 percent compared with December 2010, and misdemeanor assaults were up 31 percent.

During the months immediately before the casino opened, the two quality-of-life crimes had been trending downward.

It’s not clear how many crimes occurred on casino property — but there were at least three: a car was stolen from a parking lot; a dropped wallet was snatched in the racino by a patron; and one gambler tried to use a counterfeit bill in a slot machine.

A spokesman for the racino, Stefan Friedman, said, “Our commitment to keeping criminal activity out of the project has resulted in extremely few incidents on or around the casino property.’’

Betty Barton, head of the local community board, said “both the Genting Co. [which operates the racino] and the NYPD have been responsive.”

“Both . . . are making every effort to ensure that visitors to the casino continue to experience their visits safely.’’

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/crime_picks_up_pace_in_racino_precinct_L4fjjETSda74ksCmiPu3bI#ixzz1kHcEbQJf

Poll: Miami-Dade voters evenly split on casinos, but opposition growing

2012-01-23T07:13:00.003-05:00

It would seem that, even with the amount of money Genting has spent buying support, voters don't want their community destroyed by overseas investors.

Poll: Miami-Dade voters evenly split on casinos, but opposition growing

Miami-Dade voters are evenly divided on whether to allow casino gambling in South Florida, but opposition appears to be growing even as the Legislature debates competing plans to open the region to Las Vegas-style casino resorts, according to a new poll.

In a survey of 400 registered voters in Miami-Dade, voters split almost equally over the idea of large-scale casinos. The electorate is similarly divided over putting a destination resort and casino in downtown Miami on The Miami Herald’s waterfront property.

Pollster Bendixen & Amandi International conducted the poll Tuesday through Thursday for The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, WFOR-CBS 4 and Univisión 23 to gauge voters’ attitudes about casino gambling and other local issues. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

On gambling “the vote in the electorate is still very much split,” said Fernand Amandi, the firm’s managing partner.

Forty-four percent of respondents said they supported the concept of Las Vegas-style resorts, while 46 percent said they opposed it — a narrow difference within the poll’s margin of error. Ten percent did not answer or offered no opinion.

The poll also asked about specific plans for a $3.8 billion casino resort on Biscayne Bay proposed by Genting, a Malaysian casino company that bought The Herald property last year. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they supported the plan, and 45 percent said they were opposed — again within the margin of error — with 9 percent offering no opinion.

The voters’ attitudes toward Genting’s proposal remained largely unchanged even after hearing arguments for and against the project, the survey found. The poll is the first to publicly gauge voter sentiment about the Genting proposal. More here.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/01/poll-miami-dade-voters-evenly-split-on-casinos-but-opposition-growing.html#storylink=cpy

Online cheating scheme

2012-01-22T13:49:00.002-05:00

Poker players sue to get to the bottom of online cheating scheme
By Mike Brunker, msnbc.com

Eight poker players who say they were victims of a cheating scheme on the popular Ultimate Bet website are suing a Canadian company and unnamed individuals, alleging they violated U.S. laws aimed at combatting organized crime, defrauded players and negligently offered crooked card games.

The lawsuit, filed last Friday in U.S. District Court in California, alleges that the defendants — 6356095 Canada Inc., formerly known as Excapsa Software Inc., and up to 10 Jane or John Does — violated the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, committed fraud and exhibited negligence by enabling the theft of at least $20 million from high-stakes poker players who gambled on the Ultimate Bet website.

It seeks compensation of at least $1.73 million and far more in punitive damages on behalf of the plaintiffs: Daniel Ashman, Brad Booth, Thomas Koral, Greg Lavery, Dave Lizmi, Daniel Smith, Joseph Sanders and Dustin Woolf.

Possibly more important in unraveling the longstanding mystery of the largest known case of online poker cheating, the lawsuit seeks documentation that Ultimate Bet's shadowy parent companies and regulators with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) have never made public.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The KGC, the regulatory agency of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake in southern Ontario, announced in September 2008 that its investigation found that a single individual — former World Series of Poker champ Russ Hamilton — was behind the cheating case. But many players believe that it was the result of a broader conspiracy.

Among them is Haley Hintze, a former writer and editor of PokerNews and now a poker blogger who is working on a book on the cheating scheme due out by summer. In it, she told msnbc.com on Thursday, she will identify at least three others who directly participated in the theft and attempts to cover it up.

Representatives of Excapsa Software could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit. A spokesman for the KGC had no comment on the lawsuit or whether it would respond to any subpoenas.

Ultimate Bet acknowledged that $20 million was stolen from players at the site between 2003 and 2008 through the use of a "backdoor" in the gaming software that allowed the cheater or cheaters to see opponents hole cards in high stakes tournaments. The operators of Ultimate Bet refunded most or all of that money.

But the suit alleges that the company “substantially underestimated” the losses by failing to consider money that wasn’t wagered when the cheaters realized their opponent had them beat.

Read 2008 story about the case: Poker site cheating plot a high-stakes whodunit

“The key to the massive success of the cheating players is not simply that they were able to profit by bluffing when their opponent was weak or betting when they had the best hand, but that they were able to fold and not play … whenever their hand was strong (but) not the best,” it argues. “Thus every time a player had a flush, the cheater would fold a lower flush or straight; every time a player had a full house, the cheaters would fold a flush.”

“There are significant doubts about the methodology of the refunds given to players,” said Alan Engle, a partner in the Meador & Engle law firm in Anaheim Hills, Calif., who filed the suit. “That’s always been a closed process and there are inherent difficulties in calculating the amount of the theft.”

Engle said the early part of the case will probably focus on jurisdictional issues, but he said he is confident that he can prevail on any challenges because Ultimate Bet focused its marketing on U.S. bettors.

“Anyone victimized by someone in a foreign nation over the Internet is in no way required to bring a case in a foreign nation,” he said.

Excapsa Software, now known as 6356095 Canada Inc., is currently in the midst of liquidation proceedings in Canada.

Sheldon Krakower, who is handling the corporate dismemberment for XMT Liquidations of Montreal, said he would soon seek guidance from the Ontario court overseeing the case before responding to the lawsuit.

“We will be filing our seventh report to the Ontario court specifically addressing this matter imminently,” he told msnbc.com on Thursday. “… We need direction from the court on that.”

In a report to Excapsa shareholders in May 2011, Krakower indicated that $7 million U.S. had recently been released to shareholders, and that $4.2 million was being held in escrow until the end of the year. It is not clear whether that money remains in escrow.

Ultimate Bet, which merged with another online gaming site, Absolute Poker, in 2008 to form the Cereus Poker network, was among a handful of online Poker sites that had their U.S. operations shut down in April of last year when the U.S. Justice Department indicted them on charges of violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, money laundering and other charges. The feds also froze bank accounts holding the bankrolls of U.S. players, many of whom have yet to be repaid.

Warrant: Ex-NFL QB Schlichter violated bond rules

2012-01-22T13:43:00.001-05:00

Warrant: Ex-NFL QB Schlichter violated bond rules
By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ex-Ohio State and NFL quarterback Art Schlichter violated his bond conditions in a fraud case by twice testing positive for cocaine and by refusing several times to provide urine samples, according to a federal probation officer.

The former star, whose NFL career was derailed by a gambling addiction, made a brief court appearance Thursday following his arrest at his central Ohio residence a day earlier.

A U.S. magistrate judge outlined the allegations for Schlichter, who said he understood the charges but didn't say anything else.

Just two days ago, in asking for permission for Schlichter to see a doctor, public defender Steve Nolder wrote in a court filing, "Since his release, Schlichter has assiduously complied with the stringent conditions of his pretrial supervision that are in place."

Schlichter, 51, pleaded guilty last year to federal fraud charges stemming from a million-dollar ticket scheme. Plea agreements that call for him to serve about 10 years behind bars still need a judge's approval.

He will serve part of his prison time for violating probation in Indiana on 1997 forgery and theft convictions in that state.

Tests done Dec. 19 and Jan. 3 showed Schlichter tested positive for cocaine, and Schlichter failed to submit to urine tests "on multiple occasions" between Nov. 9 and Jan. 13, according to a petition filed in federal court Wednesday by Julie Schram, U.S. Pretrial Services/Probation Officer.

Authorities say the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback whose NFL career was derailed by a gambling addiction defrauded more than 50 people in the ticket scheme that began in 2008.

They say he stole thousands of dollars from people who gave him money for Ohio State football and basketball games and NFL games.

Authorities say that Schlichter never had the tickets he promised to deliver and that he gambled the money and used it to pay off debts.

Schlichter was placed on house arrest in suburban Columbus after his guilty plea in October. Since that time, he has attended court-ordered gambling addiction counseling and 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, according to court records.

On Nov. 25, Nolder said it appeared that Schlichter "would benefit from another 12-step meeting per week," according to court records, a request granted by a U.S. District Court judge three days later.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/19/warrant-ex-nfl-qb-schlichter-violated-bond-rules/#ixzz1kDLO0h1T