Friday, November 30, 2012
Compulsive gambler bans himself from Ohio casinos -- for life
It's a major addition to downtown Cleveland that's drawing people from all over the Buckeye State. But one local man "never" wants to step inside the Horseshoe Casino. Fox 8`s Annette Lawless explains why and how he hopes to inspire others with his decision.
Twin River Mugging Suspects Arrested
Breaking News
Attempted robbery of gambler leads to 2 arrests in Lincoln
November 27, 2012 12:56 pm
LINCOLN, R.I. -- Two young men sleeping in a parked car at the Twin River Casino were arrested Sunday morning after one of them tried to rob a 74-year-old woman walking inside to gamble.
Johnny Nunez, 20, of Providence, grabbed the Burrillville woman's purse, but tossed it when he realized there were witnesses, said Lincoln Police Chief Brian Sullivan.
Nunez's friend Franklin Castillo, 18, drove him away, not knowing about the robbery -- until police from Cranston and Providence tracked his car to his home in Cranston, Sullivan said.
Castillo was arrested on a bench warrant for a drug charge. Nunez was arrested at his home at 191 Vermont Ave., Providence, where he was charged with drug possession and first-degree robbery.
Nunez is being held on surety bail.
http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/11/lincoln-ri----two-young.html
Johnny Nunez, 20, of Providence, grabbed the Burrillville woman's purse, but tossed it when he realized there were witnesses, said Lincoln Police Chief Brian Sullivan.
Nunez's friend Franklin Castillo, 18, drove him away, not knowing about the robbery -- until police from Cranston and Providence tracked his car to his home in Cranston, Sullivan said.
Castillo was arrested on a bench warrant for a drug charge. Nunez was arrested at his home at 191 Vermont Ave., Providence, where he was charged with drug possession and first-degree robbery.
Nunez is being held on surety bail.
http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/11/lincoln-ri----two-young.html
Gambling Addict gets prison for embezzling $1M
Gambling Addiction increases with proximity.
A onetime payroll supervisor for Land O'Lakes Inc. has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for embezzling more than $1 million to feed her addiction as a "pathological gambler" and cover other personal expenses.
Cynthia C. Jacobsen, 58, of Brooklyn Park, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in St. Paul to two years and two months in prison and ordered to pay $1,035,955.58 in restitution. Jacobsen pleaded guilty in July to mail fraud.
In her plea agreement, Jacobsen acknowledged that from 2008 until May 2012, she entered her daughter's name into the Arden Hills dairy company's payment system as a vendor and authorized 489 payments to her. The checks were mailed to Jacobsen's home, where she and her daughter lived.
Jacobsen forged her daughter's signature, then "cashed the checks and used the money on various items including gambling," federal prosecutor Chris Wilton wrote in a presentencing filing with the court. "It is clear that the defendant has personal issues including a very real addiction to gambling."
The defense explained in its presentencing filing that Jacobsen sought an escape in casino gambling after her son-in-law died on Valentine's Day 2008 following a diabetic coma. Jacobsen's income dropped when she missed work because of knee surgery.
"Ms. Jacobsen's gambling quickly spiraled out of control," defense attorney James Becker wrote.
"Although spending time in casinos was a somewhat effective respite from her real-world problems, her gambling habit added to them, and she soon was having difficulty covering even basic expenses."
Desperation, Becker added, forced Jacobsen to steal from her employer.
After her embezzlement was exposed, Jacobsen was assessed and deemed to be "a pathological gambler," Becker continued. He said she has been participating in Gamblers Anonymous and "is committed to recovering from her disease."
Land O'Lakes worker gets prison for embezzling $1M
- Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
- Updated: November 29, 2012
"Pathological gambler" stole from Land O'Lakes.
Cynthia C. Jacobsen, 58, of Brooklyn Park, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in St. Paul to two years and two months in prison and ordered to pay $1,035,955.58 in restitution. Jacobsen pleaded guilty in July to mail fraud.
In her plea agreement, Jacobsen acknowledged that from 2008 until May 2012, she entered her daughter's name into the Arden Hills dairy company's payment system as a vendor and authorized 489 payments to her. The checks were mailed to Jacobsen's home, where she and her daughter lived.
Jacobsen forged her daughter's signature, then "cashed the checks and used the money on various items including gambling," federal prosecutor Chris Wilton wrote in a presentencing filing with the court. "It is clear that the defendant has personal issues including a very real addiction to gambling."
The defense explained in its presentencing filing that Jacobsen sought an escape in casino gambling after her son-in-law died on Valentine's Day 2008 following a diabetic coma. Jacobsen's income dropped when she missed work because of knee surgery.
"Ms. Jacobsen's gambling quickly spiraled out of control," defense attorney James Becker wrote.
"Although spending time in casinos was a somewhat effective respite from her real-world problems, her gambling habit added to them, and she soon was having difficulty covering even basic expenses."
Desperation, Becker added, forced Jacobsen to steal from her employer.
After her embezzlement was exposed, Jacobsen was assessed and deemed to be "a pathological gambler," Becker continued. He said she has been participating in Gamblers Anonymous and "is committed to recovering from her disease."
Ex-Land O’Lakes Worker Gets 2 Yrs. for Embezzling $1M
In addition to her prison sentence, Cynthia Jacobsen was ordered to pay $1.04 million in restitution.
November 29, 2012
A former accounts payable supervisor for Land O’ Lakes has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for embezzling more than $1 million from the Arden Hills-based agricultural cooperative, Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
Cynthia Jacobsen of Brooklyn Park, who was charged in June with one count of mail fraud, pleaded guilty the following month.
In addition to handing down Jacobsen’s prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank ordered her to pay $1.04 million in restitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
While working as an accounts payable supervisor, Jacobsen authorized payments to vendors that provided services to Land O’ Lakes. In her plea agreement, she admitted that from 2008 through May 2012, she entered her daughter’s name into the company’s payment system in the place of a legitimate vendor. She authorized 489 illegal payments, which were mailed to her residence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jacobsen also admitted to forging her daughter’s signature in order to cash the checks for her personal use.
Jacobsen’s attorney wrote in court documents that her crime stemmed from “a perfect storm of guilt and gambling.” Her daughter’s husband died in 2008 after being in a diabetic coma for more than two years. His home health care costs proved “financially disastrous,” and knee surgery rendered Jacobsen unable to work. She “craved an escape,” her gambling “quickly spiraled out of control,” and she embezzled funds after being unable to cover basic expenses, according to court documents.
http://tcbmag.com/News/Recent-News/2012/November/Ex-Land-O-Lakes-Worker-Gets-2-Yrs-for-Embezzling
Cynthia Jacobsen of Brooklyn Park, who was charged in June with one count of mail fraud, pleaded guilty the following month.
In addition to handing down Jacobsen’s prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank ordered her to pay $1.04 million in restitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
While working as an accounts payable supervisor, Jacobsen authorized payments to vendors that provided services to Land O’ Lakes. In her plea agreement, she admitted that from 2008 through May 2012, she entered her daughter’s name into the company’s payment system in the place of a legitimate vendor. She authorized 489 illegal payments, which were mailed to her residence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jacobsen also admitted to forging her daughter’s signature in order to cash the checks for her personal use.
Jacobsen’s attorney wrote in court documents that her crime stemmed from “a perfect storm of guilt and gambling.” Her daughter’s husband died in 2008 after being in a diabetic coma for more than two years. His home health care costs proved “financially disastrous,” and knee surgery rendered Jacobsen unable to work. She “craved an escape,” her gambling “quickly spiraled out of control,” and she embezzled funds after being unable to cover basic expenses, according to court documents.
http://tcbmag.com/News/Recent-News/2012/November/Ex-Land-O-Lakes-Worker-Gets-2-Yrs-for-Embezzling
Philippines fixer paid $30 million by Okada's Universal
Exclusive: Philippines fixer paid $30 million by Okada's Universal - sources
Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada
attends the opening ceremony of his dining complex in Hong Kong (Bobby Yip
Reuters, REUTERS / May 15, 2012)
TOKYO/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada's Universal Entertainment funneled at least $30 million to an ex-consultant for the Philippines gaming authority who is now at the center of a bribery investigation, according to sources and company records.
The sum is six times the amount initially confirmed by Reuters and could, if found to be bribery, result in Okada being stripped of his firm's casino license in the Philippines and also jeopardize his gaming license in Las Vegas.
A Hong Kong firm established by Okada's Universal sent the money to Manila-based consultant Rodolfo Soriano in a series of payments in the first half of 2010, according to a review of company records and interviews with more than a dozen current and former employees and people familiar with the investigation.
Soriano, who has close ties to key members of the administration of former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, received the payments as Universal was lobbying for tax and other government concessions to boost the profitability of a $2 billion casino it was developing on Manila Bay.
Soriano is now under investigation by the Philippine Department of Justice which has created an inquiry panel on the payments with a target to submit findings within the next month.
Universal, a Tokyo-based maker of gaming machines majority owned by an Okada family trust, had no comment through its lawyer, Yuki Arai. Soriano could not be reached for comment.
In addition to the investigation in the Philippines, the Universal payments are being probed by U.S. gaming regulators, with the Nevada Gaming Control Board likely to call the 70-year-old billionaire to give evidence at a closed-door investigative hearing, people familiar with the matter said.
Soriano's powerful connections included Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel, with whom he had travelled to Las Vegas in 2009.
Soriano was an early partner in Okada's Philippine project, and Universal documents describe him as the "personal secretary" to Efraim Genuino, former head of gambling regulator the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Jose Miguel Arroyo, a lawyer by training, could not be reached for comment. His spokesman, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, said he was unaware of any business dealings between Jose Miguel Arroyo and Soriano. "We are denying reports linking Attorney Arroyo to that bribery case," Topacio said.
Genuino's lawyers did not respond to calls seeking comment. PAGCOR has said it has no knowledge of the Soriano payments but is cooperating with the Philippine bribery investigation.
The Universal payments to Soriano in 2010 were described at a company meeting as a "completion bonus" for his help in clearing remaining hurdles for the casino, including an exemption from corporate tax and foreign ownership restrictions, people involved in the project said.
Philippine authorities have already threatened to strip Okada's operating company of its casino license if investigators find evidence of bribery. Nevada regulators could also impose sanctions, including a suspension of Okada's Las Vegas license.
Either outcome would represent a major setback for Okada, who has vowed to bounce back from a costly legal fight with American casino magnate Steve Wynn to turn Universal into Asia's leading operator of high-end casino resorts.
In the United States, the FBI has also taken statements from those involved in the Soriano payments, according to people familiar with that inquiry. The bureau declined to comment on the state of its inquiry.
LUCRATIVE CONCESSIONS
The Nevada Gaming Control Board's investigation has been underway since at least August and is gathering momentum.
"We are continuing our work," board chairman A.G. Burnett said, declining to comment on the agency's next moves or the likely conclusion of its investigation. "We're about in the middle stage of our investigation."
Hearings could help the board's three-member investigative panel decide whether to bring a formal complaint against Okada or his company, the people familiar with the investigation said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-casinos-philippines-universalbre8at0a7-20121129,0,4542468.story
After long jail term, gaming gangster faces less violent but still murky Macau
After long jail term, gaming gangster faces less violent but still murky Macau
File picture shows Wan, alias
Broken Tooth Koi, in handcuffs after being arrested by Macau's Judicial Police
Director Baptista during an anti-crime raid in Macau (STRINGER, Reuters /
November 30, 2012)
MACAU (Reuters) - Wan "Broken Tooth" Kuok-koi will emerge from jail this weekend into a very different Macau gambling haven than the one he bullied in the late-1990s.
Under new leadership, chosen at a Chinese Communist Party Congress this month where corruption was a dominant theme, Beijing is sending strong signals to Macau authorities to tighten regulation and promote responsible gaming in the world's casino capital.
It's a far cry from more than a decade ago when Wan and other triad gangsters ran amok during the final days of Portuguese rule of this southern Chinese outcrop. The bloody gangland turf wars are a thing of the past, but Macau, transformed into a booming, glitzy strip of casinos, malls and hotels - many owned by U.S. tycoons such as Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn - retains a murky underbelly where dubious money transfers are commonplace and the shadow of triad gangs still hangs.
Triads, or Chinese organized crime societies, remain a vital cog in the gambling industry, as intermediaries and junket operators - recruiting and transporting high-rollers and offering credit and recovering debts around the highly lucrative VIP gaming rooms.
The leading junkets make billions of dollars from Macau's gambling industry, bringing in over 70 percent of total gambling revenue - which has soared to $33.5 billion, five times that of Las Vegas, from just $1.7 billion in Wan's heyday. As the money has rolled in, the junket operators have diversified into movies, property and stockbroking.
The once monopolistic casino empire of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho has opened up to the Las Vegas big-hitters, but Wan's 14K triad, its branches and rival gangs are still active in Macau, say people close to the industry.
"The triads retain some kind of influence in the majority of the VIP rooms," said a security executive at one of Macau's leading casinos, who was not authorized to speak to the media. "We know there's influence because we see them around the casino floor, inside the VIP rooms. It's not an offence. Unless the police can prove money laundering, they can stay there."
TAKING NO CHANCES
It's not known whether Wan - who was jailed for more than 14 years for attempted murder, loan sharking and money laundering - will return to the business.
Wan's family members, lawyers and former associates declined to comment on his plans, though his brother Kuok-hung - himself jailed for five years in 1999 - has carved out a career in the VIP junket business. Wan was visited in jail by his brother and mother earlier this week.
While few predict Wan's release from the high-security Coloane Prison will spark a return to Macau's darker days, the authorities are taking no chances.
Last weekend, a number of Wan's former associates were arrested in a sting operation on suspicion of planning to commit murder. One of those picked up was former police officer Artur Chiang Calderon, who was first arrested in 1998 with Wan over a string of bomb attacks and bloody gang wars.
"We are well equipped to handle all situations," a spokeswoman for Macau's judiciary police said, amid local media reports of tightened security and vigilance at casinos.
"This is Beijing. They want to send a strong message by doing this," said a senior casino executive.
Kenny Leong, chief executive of Nasdaq-listed Asia Entertainment and Resources Ltd and one of Macau's leading VIP gambling room promoters, did not expect much impact from Wan's freedom. "Things are completely different now. Everything is more professionally managed," he said.
"It's a different era from before. Right now, the time is not hitting and killing."
Wan, a stocky man with often garish sartorial taste, is said to be unable to straighten the middle two fingers of one hand after being mangled by meat cleavers in a street fight. Locals say he was a common sight, driving around Macau in a mauve Ferrari.
"He was very, very influential in his time," said a former head of criminal intelligence in the Hong Kong police force, who specialized in anti-triad enforcement. "He was influential because of fear. He was extremely violent and took over a lot of businesses in a violent manner."
Earlier this week, a new, white Toyota Vellfire spacewagon pulled out of a gated compound and wound its way up to the heavily-fortified hilltop prison, where a stylish lady with long hair and dark glasses stepped out with a shy-looking, bespectacled teenage son wearing sneakers.
After an hour-long visit, Wan's wife and son declined comment when asked by Reuters how they felt about being reunited as a family. "I have nothing to say," said Wan's wife.
(Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-gaming-macaubre8at0as-20121129,0,5331418.story
No law 'fix' yet for Wampanoag tribe
No law 'fix' yet for Wampanoag tribe
A bill that would have made the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's road to an Indian casino less bumpy has once again stalled in the U.S. Senate.
This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was poised to introduce a so-called "Carcieri fix" to the lame-duck session, but negotiations apparently broke down. The bill is aimed at leveling the playing field for tribes after a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling questioned the federal government's authority to take land into trust for tribes recognized after 1934, the year of the Indian Reorganization Act.
In that ruling, so named because it involved a dispute between then-Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri and the Narragansett tribe, the high court provided a strict interpretation of the word "now," meaning 1934 or before. The Mashpee tribe, which has a trust application pending for 140 acres in Taunton and 170 acres in Mashpee as its initial reservation, was recognized in 2007.
According to Tuesday's Congressional Record, Reid said he would push the legislation forward by filing for cloture — a procedure that blocks a Senate filibuster and requires a vote of 60 senators. Later that day, Reid reversed course.
"As I indicated this morning, we are trying to work our way through a number of issues," said Reid, according to the Congressional Record. "We thought we were going to be able to move toward the Carcieri matter this evening, but we are still negotiating this matter, so we are going to have to do that at some subsequent time."
When remains unclear.
A spokeswoman for Reid's office requested questions in writing, but did not respond Wednesday.
"It's just a delay," Emily Deimel, a spokeswoman for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said Wednesday afternoon. "We expect it to be considered in this session."
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, has said passing a Carcieri fix is a priority of the lame-duck session, and that remains true, Deimel said. Akaka, who has been in the Senate since 1990, is retiring and wants to leave with the issue resolved, she said.
Opponents to a Carcieri fix, including U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., have said they want a fix tied to changes in Indian gaming regulations, particularly "reservation shopping," a term for tribes picking land based on the best spots for casino gambling rather than their heritage.
The Mashpee tribe, which hopes to build a $500 million casino in Taunton, has long held the position that the Carcieri ruling does not apply to them because they can show the tribe was under federal jurisdiction when the Indian Reorganization Act was enacted.
Still, a Carcieri fix would help the tribe avoid inevitable lawsuits if the Bureau of Indian Affairs approves its land-in-trust application without Congress settling the high court ruling.
"While we don't need a fix in order to have land taken into trust, a resolution to the uncertainty caused by the Carcieri decision would certainly be welcome and would likely spur economic development and job creation throughout Indian country," Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council, said in a prepared statement.
The land issue is significant to the tribe because at any time the Massachusetts Gaming Commission can put the Southeastern Massachusetts casino license out to competitive bid if it determines the tribe has exhausted its federal options.
The tribe already faces another significant federal hurdle. The compact reached between tribe leaders and Gov. Deval Patrick was rejected and the two sides are attempting to negotiate a compromise that will pass muster.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Oklahoma Man Who Struggled With Gambling Addiction Speaks
Oklahoma Man Who Struggled With Gambling Addiction Speaks
Posted: Nov 28, 2012
Lacie Lowry, News On 6
Bob says he never gambled, because he thought it was silly, until he tried it once and was hooked.
He says whether it's sports betting or slot machines, it's all the same rush of excitement to a compulsive gambler.
TULSA, Oklahoma -
For some gamblers, it's not just a hobby—it's an addiction.
As one recovering gambler tells us, it took him losing everything before he realized he had a problem.
Bob says he never gambled, because he thought it was silly, until he tried it once and was hooked.
He says whether it's sports betting or slot machines, it's all the same rush of excitement to a compulsive gambler.
"I gambled like a crazy person. I was a crazy person. I would do anything to gamble," Bob said.
Bob has been in recovery for seven years, after gambling compulsively for just one year.
"It grabbed me like no one's business and within just a few months, I was definitely a gambling addict, although I wouldn't admit it," Bob said.
Bob's fix was slot machines. He was introduced to them on a cruise. He came home to play at a casino and didn't get up from his seat the entire weekend.
"It was always a secret, from the littlest bet on, until I was betting a lot. It was something I did on my own," Bob said.
He went after work several times a week, and then started going every single day, giving in to that little voice.
"I wanna, I gotta, I must," Bob said. "The only way to quiet that urge, until you find recovery and help, is by putting money on some type of bet."
Bob took several loans out to feed his addiction. Gambling became the only thing he could do with money.
"It was the only thing that meant anything, and I lost a lot," he said.
Bob won't say how much money he lost, but says that's the least important thing. He threw away relationships.
"It took a long time to get some people's trust back and some I never got back, and I say, rightfully so," Bob said.
Bob says compulsive gambling doesn't discriminate.
"Ministers to housewives, retired folks to young people just on the way up, any race, ethnicity, income," he said.
He almost lost his job, but got help in time.
Recovery hasn't been easy, but he's in control again.
"I am so blessed to have a second opportunity to grab it again and life is good," Bob said.
Bob said his advice to anyone who gambles is, "Don't let it control your life."
If you or someone you know needs help with a gambling addiction, find a Gamblers Anonymous meeting here.
http://www.newson6.com/story/20212027/oklahoma-man-who-struggled-with-gambling-addiction-speaks
As one recovering gambler tells us, it took him losing everything before he realized he had a problem.
Bob says he never gambled, because he thought it was silly, until he tried it once and was hooked.
He says whether it's sports betting or slot machines, it's all the same rush of excitement to a compulsive gambler.
"I gambled like a crazy person. I was a crazy person. I would do anything to gamble," Bob said.
Bob has been in recovery for seven years, after gambling compulsively for just one year.
"It grabbed me like no one's business and within just a few months, I was definitely a gambling addict, although I wouldn't admit it," Bob said.
Bob's fix was slot machines. He was introduced to them on a cruise. He came home to play at a casino and didn't get up from his seat the entire weekend.
"It was always a secret, from the littlest bet on, until I was betting a lot. It was something I did on my own," Bob said.
He went after work several times a week, and then started going every single day, giving in to that little voice.
"I wanna, I gotta, I must," Bob said. "The only way to quiet that urge, until you find recovery and help, is by putting money on some type of bet."
Bob took several loans out to feed his addiction. Gambling became the only thing he could do with money.
"It was the only thing that meant anything, and I lost a lot," he said.
Bob won't say how much money he lost, but says that's the least important thing. He threw away relationships.
"It took a long time to get some people's trust back and some I never got back, and I say, rightfully so," Bob said.
Bob says compulsive gambling doesn't discriminate.
"Ministers to housewives, retired folks to young people just on the way up, any race, ethnicity, income," he said.
He almost lost his job, but got help in time.
Recovery hasn't been easy, but he's in control again.
"I am so blessed to have a second opportunity to grab it again and life is good," Bob said.
Bob said his advice to anyone who gambles is, "Don't let it control your life."
If you or someone you know needs help with a gambling addiction, find a Gamblers Anonymous meeting here.
http://www.newson6.com/story/20212027/oklahoma-man-who-struggled-with-gambling-addiction-speaks
Lottery as fuel for Gambling Addiction
Interesting comments -
VIDEO: Gambling addiction
Can buying lottery tickets be an addiction similar to
table games or slots? Check out the different viewpoints on it.
Some see playing the lottery as gambling that could fuel addiction
Program director of Wells House Inc. in Hagerstown says it could be problem for those with impulse control disorders
For many people who bought Powerball tickets before Wednesday night’s $550 million drawing, two bucks might seem like a small investment.
For some, that’s what it is, but others see playing the lottery as gambling that, in some cases, could fuel an addiction.
“I buy a ticket once a week, but I know how to handle it,” said Serita Cooper of Hagerstown. “I’m not addicted to it. I don’t have to have it every day.”
For others, the urge to buy lottery tickets could be an addiction, just as playing table games or slots can be, said Richard Benchoff, program director of Wells House Inc. in Hagerstown, which provides treatment to men with addictions.
“They’re impulse control disorders, and some of the same neural pathways in the brain are involved in any addictions,” Benchoff said. “But the machines would offer an extra stimulus because things such as bells and lights would attract somebody, and the casinos have that down to a science.”
Benchoff said he is not opposed to gambling, even if it can become a problem for people.
“Gambling is ubiquitous in our society whether it’s legal or not, and for a person who has a problem, it already exists,” he said. “How many football pools do you see on Super Bowl Sunday? At least there’s some oversight if its legal.”
The estimated Powerball jackpot was at $550 million by Wednesday afternoon, the largest ever, according to the Maryland Lottery website at www.mdlottery.com. Area residents were going into gas stations and convenience stores buying tickets throughout the day, including people who would generally never buy tickets.
Della Thompson, 72, of Boonsboro, bought a Powerball ticket but said she thinks buying lottery tickets is a form of gambling and can be a problem for people.
“Some people will buy tickets every day or every week and they don’t realize at the end of the year how much they put out,” she said. “I play it when it’s high. It’s gambling and I don’t really believe in gambling, but when it’s this high, I guess God will forgive me.”
For some people religion could be a reason not to purchase a ticket regardless of how high the payout.
Christ’s Reformed Church United Church of Christ Senior Pastor Gregg Meserole said he has never bought a ticket.
“It’s not something where I condemn those who do, but it’s something that I personally said is not a good way to spend my money,” he said. “I understand it, but I wonder if we are playing to the illnesses in our society and taking advantage of some of the addictions in our society. I’m not sure the cost is worth the benefit.”
Meserole said he would face an “ethical dilemma” if somebody put a winning Powerball ticket in the church’s offering plate.
“Would I turn that down? One would have to say probably not,” he said. “If the question of whether or not it’s right or wrong in the beginning is already decided, and you already have the winnings in hand, it’s very important what you do with that. I would hope to be as generous as possible in a way that honors and builds and nurtures as many people as possible.”
On its website, the Maryland Lottery has a number that people with gambling problems can call if they need confidential help and information, along with a link to the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling’s website at http://mdgamblinghelp.org.
Carole Everett, director of Communications for the Maryland Lottery, said that she does not think buying lottery tickets is the same as gambling at casinos because of the “instant gratification” of slots and table games. She stressed that the lottery promotes “responsible play” and that a high payout like Wednesday does not make things worse for people who are addicted but instead draws in more people who might not usually buy tickets.
“People who never play will throw in a couple bucks because it’s so much fun to think about what you would do if you won,” she said. “In any form of entertainment there’s always going to be a small portion of people who do it more than they should, but our job is to raise revenue for the State of Maryland and we do it in a responsible fashion.”
Benchoff agreed that the high payout will not make things worse for people who might have an addiction problem.
“I highly doubt that somebody will become a pathological gambler after they bought a ticket because of the high Powerball numbers,” he said.
http://articles.herald-mail.com/2012-11-28/news/35419212_1_powerball-ticket-lottery-tickets-addiction
For some, that’s what it is, but others see playing the lottery as gambling that, in some cases, could fuel an addiction.
“I buy a ticket once a week, but I know how to handle it,” said Serita Cooper of Hagerstown. “I’m not addicted to it. I don’t have to have it every day.”
For others, the urge to buy lottery tickets could be an addiction, just as playing table games or slots can be, said Richard Benchoff, program director of Wells House Inc. in Hagerstown, which provides treatment to men with addictions.
“They’re impulse control disorders, and some of the same neural pathways in the brain are involved in any addictions,” Benchoff said. “But the machines would offer an extra stimulus because things such as bells and lights would attract somebody, and the casinos have that down to a science.”
Benchoff said he is not opposed to gambling, even if it can become a problem for people.
“Gambling is ubiquitous in our society whether it’s legal or not, and for a person who has a problem, it already exists,” he said. “How many football pools do you see on Super Bowl Sunday? At least there’s some oversight if its legal.”
The estimated Powerball jackpot was at $550 million by Wednesday afternoon, the largest ever, according to the Maryland Lottery website at www.mdlottery.com. Area residents were going into gas stations and convenience stores buying tickets throughout the day, including people who would generally never buy tickets.
Della Thompson, 72, of Boonsboro, bought a Powerball ticket but said she thinks buying lottery tickets is a form of gambling and can be a problem for people.
“Some people will buy tickets every day or every week and they don’t realize at the end of the year how much they put out,” she said. “I play it when it’s high. It’s gambling and I don’t really believe in gambling, but when it’s this high, I guess God will forgive me.”
For some people religion could be a reason not to purchase a ticket regardless of how high the payout.
Christ’s Reformed Church United Church of Christ Senior Pastor Gregg Meserole said he has never bought a ticket.
“It’s not something where I condemn those who do, but it’s something that I personally said is not a good way to spend my money,” he said. “I understand it, but I wonder if we are playing to the illnesses in our society and taking advantage of some of the addictions in our society. I’m not sure the cost is worth the benefit.”
Meserole said he would face an “ethical dilemma” if somebody put a winning Powerball ticket in the church’s offering plate.
“Would I turn that down? One would have to say probably not,” he said. “If the question of whether or not it’s right or wrong in the beginning is already decided, and you already have the winnings in hand, it’s very important what you do with that. I would hope to be as generous as possible in a way that honors and builds and nurtures as many people as possible.”
On its website, the Maryland Lottery has a number that people with gambling problems can call if they need confidential help and information, along with a link to the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gambling’s website at http://mdgamblinghelp.org.
Carole Everett, director of Communications for the Maryland Lottery, said that she does not think buying lottery tickets is the same as gambling at casinos because of the “instant gratification” of slots and table games. She stressed that the lottery promotes “responsible play” and that a high payout like Wednesday does not make things worse for people who are addicted but instead draws in more people who might not usually buy tickets.
“People who never play will throw in a couple bucks because it’s so much fun to think about what you would do if you won,” she said. “In any form of entertainment there’s always going to be a small portion of people who do it more than they should, but our job is to raise revenue for the State of Maryland and we do it in a responsible fashion.”
Benchoff agreed that the high payout will not make things worse for people who might have an addiction problem.
“I highly doubt that somebody will become a pathological gambler after they bought a ticket because of the high Powerball numbers,” he said.
http://articles.herald-mail.com/2012-11-28/news/35419212_1_powerball-ticket-lottery-tickets-addiction
No casino, but $1.6m for taxpayer gamble
No casino, but $1.6m for taxpayer gamble
By Joe Battenfeld
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
The state’s plodding effort to launch casino gambling hasn’t stopped a state commission from burning through $1.6 million in taxpayer money on consultants, travel and credit card expenses, records show.
According to budget records, the state Gaming Commission, which is years away from even approving the first casino license, has already paid:
• $500,000 to two consultants developing a strategic plan for the state;
• $110,000 to outside media consultants;
• $47,000 in unknown credit card purchases, and
• $334,000 to one law firm.
The spending on consultants and other expenses doesn’t include what the state is paying to commission staff, and for the six-figure salaries of board members. That is expected to amount to several million dollars extra.
The spending binge to start up casino gambling comes as the state is mulling tax increases to cope with a budget crisis.
The gaming board isn’t even expected to start issuing casino licenses until 2014, and the opening of the state’s first casino won’t come until years later. And it’s unclear what exactly taxpayers are getting right now for their money.
The costs of running the commission are eventually supposed to be funded through casino license fees, but that may not happen for several more years. The question for taxpayers is whether spending millions now to launch a shaky industry that may eventually bring in millions more is even worth it.
Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the budget for the first year of operation is about $7 million, and “we anticipate running under budget.”
As for criticism that the state is moving too slowly and may be trumped by neighbors like New Hampshire, Driscoll said: “We are moving as quickly as we possibly can. It’s very complex and there are a lot of moving parts here.”
The $1.6 million in spending covers the roughly nine-month period since the commission started operations. Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby earns $150,000 a year, and four other board members were expected to get salaries of $115,000 a year.
Driscoll earns a $117,000 salary to handle communications, but in addition to that, the gaming board has also paid $56,000 to public relations consultant Karen Schwartzman for just a few months’ work.
The panel also paid another firm, Last Frontier Consulting, $55,000 for media-related expenses.
Other commission expenses, according to the state’s Open Checkbook website, include $5,800 for office expenses and $75,000 for recruiters.
The Herald has previously reported that three state gaming commissioners spent $10,000 on a junket to Las Vegas.
The deadline for casino operators to apply for three licenses is in mid-January, and the state is charging $400,000 for an application. Some of that will go to community mitigation, and the rest to help defray the costs of investigations, Driscoll said.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?&articleid=1061178144&format=&page=1&listingType=col#articleFull
According to budget records, the state Gaming Commission, which is years away from even approving the first casino license, has already paid:
• $500,000 to two consultants developing a strategic plan for the state;
• $110,000 to outside media consultants;
• $47,000 in unknown credit card purchases, and
• $334,000 to one law firm.
The spending on consultants and other expenses doesn’t include what the state is paying to commission staff, and for the six-figure salaries of board members. That is expected to amount to several million dollars extra.
The spending binge to start up casino gambling comes as the state is mulling tax increases to cope with a budget crisis.
The gaming board isn’t even expected to start issuing casino licenses until 2014, and the opening of the state’s first casino won’t come until years later. And it’s unclear what exactly taxpayers are getting right now for their money.
The costs of running the commission are eventually supposed to be funded through casino license fees, but that may not happen for several more years. The question for taxpayers is whether spending millions now to launch a shaky industry that may eventually bring in millions more is even worth it.
Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the budget for the first year of operation is about $7 million, and “we anticipate running under budget.”
As for criticism that the state is moving too slowly and may be trumped by neighbors like New Hampshire, Driscoll said: “We are moving as quickly as we possibly can. It’s very complex and there are a lot of moving parts here.”
The $1.6 million in spending covers the roughly nine-month period since the commission started operations. Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby earns $150,000 a year, and four other board members were expected to get salaries of $115,000 a year.
Driscoll earns a $117,000 salary to handle communications, but in addition to that, the gaming board has also paid $56,000 to public relations consultant Karen Schwartzman for just a few months’ work.
The panel also paid another firm, Last Frontier Consulting, $55,000 for media-related expenses.
Other commission expenses, according to the state’s Open Checkbook website, include $5,800 for office expenses and $75,000 for recruiters.
The Herald has previously reported that three state gaming commissioners spent $10,000 on a junket to Las Vegas.
The deadline for casino operators to apply for three licenses is in mid-January, and the state is charging $400,000 for an application. Some of that will go to community mitigation, and the rest to help defray the costs of investigations, Driscoll said.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?&articleid=1061178144&format=&page=1&listingType=col#articleFull
2 locals among several indicted in casino crimes
2 locals among several indicted in casino crimes
Nov 29, 2012
LANCASTER — A Pickerington man and a Canal Winchester man were among 10 people indicted for crimes committed at the Hollywood Casino in Columbus.
Thomas M. Collins III, 25, of Pickerington, was charged with six counts of cheating while playing craps. Metin Karasalih, 42, of Canal Winchester, was charged with three counts of cheating at blackjack.
The men were indicted by a Franklin County grand jury and face felony charges.
According to a news release from the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the crimes were committed between Oct. 15 and Nov. 8. The casino opened Oct. 8.
The other men, all from Central Ohio, also face felony charges stemming from cheating at table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and baccarat, the release said. The incidents all were unrelated.
http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20121129/NEWS01/311290017/2-locals-among-several-indicted-casino-crimes
The Sickness of Gambling Addiction
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Suspect in baby, grandma deaths had casino losses
Matt Rourke
Raghunandan Yandamuri is escorted to a Montgomery County district court for a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, in Bridgeport, Pa. Investigators said Yandamuri killed 10-month-old Saanvi Venna and her grandmother Satyavathi Venna in a botched ransom kidnapping. He is being held without bail on murder, kidnapping and other charges. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
BRIDGEPORT, Pa. - A young man mired in gambling debts told police he killed a 10-month-old girl and her grandmother during a botched kidnapping after losing at least $15,000 at a casino near his office.
"They both are working, so I thought maybe they have some money," Yandamuri told police in a videotaped statement played at his preliminary hearing Wednesday, during which a suburban Philadelphia judge ordered him to stand trial on murder, kidnapping and other charges.
"My intention was not to kill anyone or not to harm anyone," he said. "I only tried to kidnap the baby."
Yandamuri told investigators he panicked after the grandmother, who had opened the apartment door to him on Oct. 22, was killed in a struggle over a kitchen knife he had brought.
He accidentally dropped the baby, put a handkerchief over her mouth to quiet her and tied a towel around her head, he told police. He then left the infant , with her dark hair, huge dark eyes and white dress , in a trash-strewn, unused sauna in a basement fitness center, he said.
He said he returned hours later with milk for her, but found her "unconscious."
Yandamuri was arrested days later as police, given the nicknames in the ransom note, zeroed in on people who knew the couple.
Venkata Venna, and his wife, Chenchu Latha Punuruss, did not know of anyone with a grudge against them. They are both software engineers who came to the U.S. in 2007.
They had left for work about 8 a.m. that Monday, leaving their only child with Venna's mother, 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna, who was visiting from India. Venna raced home at 12:30 p.m. when his mother didn't answer the phone. He found her in a pool of blood, and discovered his daughter was missing.
Yandamuri worked in information technology for GSI Commerce Inc., a unit of eBay Inc. that builds e-commerce sites for other businesses. Its office in King of Prussia, Pa., is less than a mile from the Valley Forge Casino Resort.
When asked by police if he had a gambling problem, he replied "a bit."
"Last week I lost $15,000 to $20,000, but last month I won $20,000," he said on the videotape.
He said he had cleared most of his debts through a March bankruptcy filing in California.
Those records show that Yandamuri had amassed $26,000 in credit card debts since 2008, most of it on six accounts he opened in 2011. He was making $6,500 a month at the time, and netting $4,500 after taxes and deductions, he said. He reported sending $600 a month to his parents in India.
Yandamuri moved to the Philadelphia area from San Jose in May, about the same time his wife was expected to come to the U.S., the bankruptcy filings show. She has since returned to India, defense lawyer Stephen Heckman said Wednesday.
Yandamuri told police that he drafted the ransom note on his computer at work and left 10 copies at the apartment. After the slayings, he showered and returned to work, he said. Later that week, he made and distributed fliers to help in the search for the missing baby.
The victims' relatives moaned as they watched him re-enact the crime with a detective during the taped interview. Venkata Venna was among them, but his wife chose to wait in a nearby room.
Heckman tried to have the first-degree murder charges dismissed, arguing that his client lacked the intent to kill required for a conviction. However, a district judge said there was enough evidence to send the first-degree murder, felony murder and the other counts to trial.
Heckman hopes to help his client avoid the death penalty, which is under consideration by prosecutors.
"I'll have to talk to my client and see what he wants to do," Heckman said. "He was very sorry for what happened."
Kevin Steele, first assistant district attorney of Montgomery County, called the murders "vicious."
"This is one of those cases that haunts you," Steele said.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation_world/20121128_ap_suspectinbabygrandmadeathshadcasinolosses.html#ixzz2DcHotL6A
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Thrill of victory
From: Bill Kearney
No Boston Casino
No Boston Casino
Turns out Verardi, who proceeded to thank nearby gamblers for her luck, has many of the qualities of a typical slot-machine player, according to a newly published national study.
The study in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management found that the typical player is likely to be a woman most motivated either by the excitement that comes with winning a prize, or the opportunity to kill time, reduce boredom and get out of the house.
The most common profile for a slot-machine player is a married woman between 55 and 60 years old with some college education and an annual household income of more than $55,000, according to the study.
Verardi, who returned to playing the bonus games she had received, loves the excitement of the slots, her daughter said.
“She loves the hype of it,” Cristina Verardi said.
Basing its conclusions on surveys of about 1,000 subscribers to Strictly Slots magazine, the study is among the first to look specifically at what motivates people to play slot machines, say researchers, including co-author Sandy Chen, an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s College of Business.
Because the casino industry depends on slot machines, making more money on them than table games, knowing the motivation behind why people play them is important, researchers say. In Atlantic City, slot machines made up 71 percent of total wins in October. In Pennsylvania, it’s 81 percent, according to the latest regulatory filings.
More than 40 percent of those who responded to the survey said they play the traditional reel slot machines, while nearly 60 percent said they most often play video slots, which simulate the spinning of the reel. Most of those surveyed said they spend at least an hour and at most six hours playing their favorite game.
While the study was based on surveys conducted six years ago, researchers said the responses are still valid. Although technology has evolved, the types of games — video and reel slots, blackjack and video poker — have remained largely unchanged.
Four groups of slot machine gamblers were identified in the study. The first is a “utilitarian gambler” who is looking for something to do with his or her time. A second is the “excitement gambler” looking for a buzz — typically from machines that pay off frequently even if the payouts are small.
A third is the “multipurpose gambler” who tends to be younger, with less income and motivated to have fun and win money. The fourth is the “relaxation gambler,” who tends to be the most educated and well-to-do player looking to socialize, have fun and relieve stress.
Men and women were motivated to play for different reasons, according to the study. Women tended to be utilitarian and excitement gamblers, while men tended to be multipurpose and relaxation gamblers.
Antoinette Smith, 42, a resident of Clayton, Gloucester County, who works in Atlantic City, was at Tropicana Casino and Resort playing for a few minutes in between her break from work last Tuesday afternoon.
Smith, who seemed to be part utilitarian and part excitement gambler, said she gets a feeling of adrenaline when playing slots, particularly “Big Ben,” which offers a jackpot, or “Mr. Cashman,” which offers a mystery bonus payout.
“I like how the bonus comes up randomly,” she said of the mystery bonus.
Keefe Gallagher and Samantha Holt, both 21, of Margate, seemed to fall into the category of multipurpose gamblers. Once they turned the legal age to gamble, both signed up for player’s cards, choosing casinos that offered them vouchers for free play with the intent of winning.
Last Tuesday, they were at Tropicana, where after losing money on the “Wizard of Oz” game, Holt won $9 on the “Super Jackpot Party” game.
Anthony Pine, 79, of Barnegat Township, fell more into the utilitarian gambler category, using the casinos as a way to get out of the house once a week for entertainment.
“You can earn free meals. You get comps,” he said. “It ends up being a little more than going to the movies.”
The study in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management found that the typical player is likely to be a woman most motivated either by the excitement that comes with winning a prize, or the opportunity to kill time, reduce boredom and get out of the house.
The most common profile for a slot-machine player is a married woman between 55 and 60 years old with some college education and an annual household income of more than $55,000, according to the study.
Verardi, who returned to playing the bonus games she had received, loves the excitement of the slots, her daughter said.
“She loves the hype of it,” Cristina Verardi said.
Basing its conclusions on surveys of about 1,000 subscribers to Strictly Slots magazine, the study is among the first to look specifically at what motivates people to play slot machines, say researchers, including co-author Sandy Chen, an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s College of Business.
Because the casino industry depends on slot machines, making more money on them than table games, knowing the motivation behind why people play them is important, researchers say. In Atlantic City, slot machines made up 71 percent of total wins in October. In Pennsylvania, it’s 81 percent, according to the latest regulatory filings.
More than 40 percent of those who responded to the survey said they play the traditional reel slot machines, while nearly 60 percent said they most often play video slots, which simulate the spinning of the reel. Most of those surveyed said they spend at least an hour and at most six hours playing their favorite game.
While the study was based on surveys conducted six years ago, researchers said the responses are still valid. Although technology has evolved, the types of games — video and reel slots, blackjack and video poker — have remained largely unchanged.
Four groups of slot machine gamblers were identified in the study. The first is a “utilitarian gambler” who is looking for something to do with his or her time. A second is the “excitement gambler” looking for a buzz — typically from machines that pay off frequently even if the payouts are small.
A third is the “multipurpose gambler” who tends to be younger, with less income and motivated to have fun and win money. The fourth is the “relaxation gambler,” who tends to be the most educated and well-to-do player looking to socialize, have fun and relieve stress.
Men and women were motivated to play for different reasons, according to the study. Women tended to be utilitarian and excitement gamblers, while men tended to be multipurpose and relaxation gamblers.
Antoinette Smith, 42, a resident of Clayton, Gloucester County, who works in Atlantic City, was at Tropicana Casino and Resort playing for a few minutes in between her break from work last Tuesday afternoon.
Smith, who seemed to be part utilitarian and part excitement gambler, said she gets a feeling of adrenaline when playing slots, particularly “Big Ben,” which offers a jackpot, or “Mr. Cashman,” which offers a mystery bonus payout.
“I like how the bonus comes up randomly,” she said of the mystery bonus.
Keefe Gallagher and Samantha Holt, both 21, of Margate, seemed to fall into the category of multipurpose gamblers. Once they turned the legal age to gamble, both signed up for player’s cards, choosing casinos that offered them vouchers for free play with the intent of winning.
Last Tuesday, they were at Tropicana, where after losing money on the “Wizard of Oz” game, Holt won $9 on the “Super Jackpot Party” game.
Anthony Pine, 79, of Barnegat Township, fell more into the utilitarian gambler category, using the casinos as a way to get out of the house once a week for entertainment.
“You can earn free meals. You get comps,” he said. “It ends up being a little more than going to the movies.”
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse Defends Betrayal
Holyoke Mayor Defends About-Face On Casinos
November 26, 2012
BOSTON — Alex Morse made national headlines a year ago when he was elected mayor of Holyoke at age 22, and he ran on a pledge to oppose any efforts to bring a casino to his beleaguered city.
But now Morse has done an about-face: He says he’s “considering” a casino proposal from a local businessman who wants to build a gambling resort at Mountain Park on Mount Tom.
As casino opponents jeered and interrupted him at a Monday news conference, Morse had this to say to reporters and local residents: “My intent today is to inform the people of Holyoke of my shift in strategy before any advanced discussions or negotiations take place, so that everyone in the city may voice their ideas, concerns and suggestions.”
WBUR’s All Things Considered host Sacha Pfeiffer spoke with Mayor Morse, who said he believes “casinos do have a negative net impact on regions and communities,” but now that gaming legislation has been passed in Massachusetts — it wasn’t yet state law when he was elected — “I couldn’t use my personal opposition to casino gambling from preventing the people who live in the city of Holyoke” from considering casino proposals for their city.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Stop Taxpayer Subsidies for the Wealthy!
This needs to include LOW WAGE CASINO JOBS Beacon Hill brought to the Commonwealth. Most of the Slot Barn Jobs will qualify employees for food stamps and affordable housing.
Taxpayers need to stop subsidizing the wealthy who bring LOW WAGE JOBS while they suck discretionary income from the local economy.
Taxpayers need to stop subsidizing the wealthy who bring LOW WAGE JOBS while they suck discretionary income from the local economy.
Mayor Morse's Flip-Flop on Casinos
In the wake of Mayor Morse's flip-flop on casinos, it seems imperative to state what may be obvious to some but not to all.
1. Mayor Alex Morse is correct in his assessment that a Springfield
casino will hurt Holyoke. "Morse
said he believes his city could be hurt by a Springfield casino, which could
take customers from Holyoke businesses."
It will also hurt Chicopee, West Springfield,
Wilbraham, Longmeadow and all the communities in the Pioneer Valley and
surrounding region.
2. A Holyoke casino will conversely hurt Springfield, Chicopee,
Northampton, South Hadley, West Springfield and all of the communities in the
surrounding region. The direct negative impact zone has been repeatedly
measured at a 50 mile radius from a casino.
3. As a young first term mayor, it is not surprising to see that the
seduction of casinos and the influence of deep pockets has swayed even an
idealist newcomer to conform with the Massachusetts political machine, gambling
industry and special interests who seek to gain from these proposals and will
provide him substantive, "political cover" for his flip.
4. Mayor Morse has exhibited a brief but strong record of advocacy for his
community, I hope he will join grassroots citizens in Holyoke - including those
who voted for him based upon his pledge to oppose casinos, as well as taxpayers
across the commonwealth, in the quest to rein-in the spending of the Gaming
Commission and establish a body with independent oversight of the GC.
5. Each dollar spent by the GC is a dollar that does not go to property tax
and sales tax relief. Each dollar spent by the GC is a dollar that does not go
to repair our failing infrastructure and archaic transportation systems. Each
dollar spent by the GC that goes to Beacon Hill to be distributed to special
interests is a dollar not spent to mitigate negative regional impacts or improve
education and public safety here at home.
An Independent Oversight Commission needed, now!
Kathleen
Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC95 Mayhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Gambler found dead in bookies toilets after being locked in cubicle for FIVE DAYS
Gambler found dead in bookies toilets after being locked in cubicle for FIVE DAYS
By Paul MilliganA customer may have lain dead in a bookmakers' toilets for up to five days before it was discovered.
The body of Marc Smithers was found sprawled in the cubicle after Coral workers finally decided to kick down the door.
The 39-year-old was last seen alive when customers first noticed that the toilet door was bolted shut.
The branch of Coral bookmakers in Surrey where the body of 39-year-old Marc Smithers was found
Regulars claimed that staff joked for days about why the door would not open without bothering to investigate.
Yesterday a spokesman for Coral said that they were assisting police with their inquiries. Detectives were not treating Mr Smithers' death as suspicious.
The grim discovery of his body was made at the betting shop's branch in Stanwell, Surrey, at 12.45pm on November 20.
It was not clear exactly how long he had lain undiscovered in the toilets but it is believed that the store is covered by CCTV.
Customer Keith Clark, 55, claimed that he first noticed that the toilet door was locked shut on November 15 and then repeatedly tried to use it over the coming days.
'If the door had been kicked in on Thursday night, he might still be alive,' he said. 'If it turns out he died between Friday and Sunday, there's going to be big problems.'
Mr Clark raised his concerns with members of staff, including managers, and it was suggested that the door should be kicked down.
He said that as the days went past staff joked with regulars about the toilet and suggest it was someone mucking around. 'He is someone's son and its distressing,' said Mr Clark.
Surrey Police are not treating the death in Stanwell, Surrey, as suspicious
'The family is going to be completely devastated that he was in there for four or five days.'
A notice was later been placed on the front door of the bookmakers saying it is temporarily closed.
A spokesman for Coral refused to comment on why the door had not been kicked in sooner until the results of a post mortem examination on Mr Smithers were known.
'It's clearly a tragic event. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the deceased and we are assisting police with their inquiries,' he said. 'Until we know more, I cannot comment further at this stage.'
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: ‘The body of a man found in the toilets of Coral Bookmakers in Stanwell on Tuesday, 20 November, has been formally identified as 39-year-old Marc Smithers from Staines.
'We were called to the commercial premise in Clare Road at 12.45pm following a report that the body of a man had been found in the toilet.
The death is not being treated as suspicious.
'Mr Smithers was last seen alive last Thursday 15 November but had never been reported as a missing person to Surrey Police.'
An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned and a post mortem is expected to take place in due course.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237743/Gambler-dead-bookies-toilets-locked-cubicle-FIVE-DAYS.html#ixzz2DFQOACaP
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The Reality of Gambling Addiction: Disgusting!
VIDEO:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237786/Shocking-moment-woman-leaves-little-girl-outside-betting-shop-tied-reins-goes-place-bet.html
The reality of gambling addiction: Woman leaves child on her own outside betting shop tied to reins
Quote:
| A mother leaves her young daughter tethered all alone on the other
side of a door outside a betting shop on a busy street before going in to place
a bet. This was the shocking scene captured by office workers yesterday afternoon in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, who couldn't believe their eyes. They saw the curly-haired girl, aged around four, being left tied by her reins outside a branch of Ladbrokes opposite their place of work for two to three minutes before a woman, believed to be her mother, came out.  Left outside: Pictures show the girl on her own by the door of the betting shop in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, as the mother places a bet The woman had fed the reins underneath the door and gone in, still attached to the child who would not be allowed in because she's under 18. On her way out she untangled the girl and carried on her way as if leaving a young child on her own in a busy street as cars drove by was normal. In a video taken of the incident from the window of a building across the road, one of the insurance company workers exclaims: 'She's like a dog, oh my god she's like a dog!' The woman, who has not been named, wore a light brown coat, black trousers and was carrying a black bag over her shoulders. Her child was dressed in a white raincoat. Describing what happened afterwards, witness Ollie Brough told MailOnline: 'I noticed the mother bending down to the bottom of the door with a cord out of the corner of my eye. 'At first I thought the child was just caught, but then she went in and left her and I couldn't believe it. I wanted to see how long she would leave her and it was about two or three minutes.'  Office workers from across the road witnessed what happened and took pictures of the incident. The woman to the left of the child and the man are passers by The IT technician, 30, added: 'By then everyone in the office was watching and they were just as shocked as I was. 'We took pictures and a video and in the clip you can just about see the harness on the little girl. The other end is attached to the mother's wrist who looped the slack line under the door and closed it! 'Leaving the poor girl harnessed outside, the little girl got bored and started tugging at the loose line but to avail, it's the worst parenting I think I have ever seen! 'The "mum" did eventually come out and carried on with her "busy" day.' |
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237786/Is-UKs-worst-parent-Woman-leaves-child-outside-betting-shop-tied-reins-goes-place-bet.html
__________________
http://vnnforum.com/showthread.php?t=148390
The Delusional Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse to announce casino resort plan for Mountain Park with Eric Suher
Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse 
Eric Suher HOLYOKE — In a stunning reversal, Mayor Alex B. Morse will announce Monday he is mounting a bid to bring a casino gambling resort to Mount Tom in partnership with Holyoke native and entertainment mogul Eric Suher.
A key reason Morse won election as mayor last year was his opposition to a casino. Now, he said Friday, he was persuaded to change by the reality that a casino project of billion-dollar magnitude will be coming to the region and will affect Holyoke, thus making sense for Holyoke to have a say, and that with Suher involved the project offers a Holyoke businessman with a quality plan.
Morse and Suher are scheduled to discuss the plan at a press conference at 10 a.m. at City Hall.
Morse said he was prepared for the backlash against him to be fierce and to be hit with accusations he was flip-flopping, given his opposition to the city getting a casino. That includes Morse participating in a point/counterpoint set of commentaries on the CommonWealth Magazine website to which MassLive.com linked on Oct. 11 in which Morse wrote against a casino and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno wrote in favor.
"My opposition to a box-style, convenience gambling casino is well known," Morse said. "But as the great economist and architect of the post-World War II economic expansion, John Maynard Keynes, once wrote, 'When the facts change, I change my mind.' " Nothing has changed!
"The reality is a casino is coming to the region. I hope to engage in quality discussions with every part of the city. I realize that some people will be disappointed but I urge them to stick with me," Morse said, in an interview in his City Hall office.
"I realized upon taking office in January that it's my duty and obligation to think holistically and use my values and judgment to do what's best for the city and the region," he said.
The selling points for Morse were that Suher's plan would incorporate into a casino gambling resort the outdoor activities the mountain offers like hiking and canoeing, along with a 350-room hotel and convention center, and a host-city agreement that would require improvements to downtown like extension of the Canalwalk, Morse said. Poppycock!
Suher, the Holyoke native who has become king of the local entertainment scene, said in a separate interview he is negotiating with Len and Mark Wolman, who are principals in the Waterford Group, of Waterford, Conn., to operate the casino at the resort he is proposing here. The Wolmans have been in partnerships on casinos such as the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. – which is proposing a casino resort in Palmer.
The casino resort would be on the 70-acre Mountain Park music venue that Suher owns and that used to be home to the Mountain Park Amusement Park, which closed in 1987. Suher owns the Iron Horse Music Hall, Pearl Street nightclub and the Calvin Theatre, all in Northampton.
The plan is for on and off ramps to be built off of Mountain Park Access Road to connect to Interstate 91, which runs beneath the access road, Suher said.
The gaming pursuit comes a year after Morse, then 22, won election as one of the youngest mayors in state history. Opposition to bringing a casino here was a key reason he won Ward 7, which usually boasts the city’s largest voter turnout, where Mountain Park is located and where many voters backed Morse because they don’t want a casino there.
"I truly believe I owe it to the city to let the voters decide on a project that would move the city forward and I couldn't let the fear of backlash get in the way of that," Morse said.
The law the state established a year ago requires that voters in a binding referendum signal their position before a casino license is approved.
So, said Morse, a card in Holyoke’s favor in the eyes of the state Gaming Commission could be that voters here already have said yes to casino gambling twice. Nonbinding casino questions were approved on Nov. 5, 2002 and April 25, 1995.
"The reality is the region is going to get a casino," said Suher, who said of the likelihood the plan will prompt outrage among many people in Ward 7, "I say to those folks, keep an open mind. Put their trust in the mayor and me. I assure them that they will have a seat at the table."
The casino gambling law that took effect a year ago permits three casinos in the state, including one in Western Massachusetts. A Gaming Commission will review proposals and award casino licenses.
The target date to issue the first license is February 2014 and after construction, it could be more than two years after that before a casino opens, according to the commission's strategic plan.
Holyoke’s competition for the one Western Massachusetts casino license comes from giants of the industry. Three are vying in Springfield: with MGM Resorts International planning an $800 million South End casino; Penn National Gaming planning an $807 million casino in the North End of the downtown district, including properties owned by The Republican; and Ameristar Casinos planning a $910 million casino at the former Westinghouse site in East Springfield.
That’s in addition to Mohegan Sun, the Uncasville, Conn. casino that has had a presence in Palmer for nearly four years in proposing a $600 million casino across from the Massachusetts Turnpike exit 8 on Thorndike Street (Route 32).
"We're in it to win it," Suher said. "I feel we have the best plan for the region. The citizens of Holyoke will actually have the opportunity to do something other than shop at the Holyoke Mall."
State Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, wrote in an email that a casino resort presents a once-in-a-lifetime chance at an unprecedented volume of new [LOW WAGE] jobs and economic activity [Where has that happened? It hasn't!].
“A site along Holyoke’s Interstate 91 corridor provides tremendous opportunities for the development of a true destination resort, and I am pleased city leadership is exploring those possibilities,” Knapik wrote.
With fees provided by whichever operator manages the resort's casino, the city will hire as development consultant David B. Panagore, who was deputy director of the Springfield Finance Control Board and most recently chief operating officer in Hartford, Morse said.
Suher last year bought the 9-hole Holyoke Country Club, which is near Mountain Park, and which he said he will keep as a golf course.
The privately owned Wyckoff Country Club, to the south, isn't part of the casino resort plan Morse and Suher are pitching, they said, but Wyckoff has been part of the casino discussion. Hard Rock
International of Florida had joined Paper City Development, a limited liability company, in planning a $500 million casino resort at Wyckoff beside Interstate 91
Former Mayor Elaine A. Pluta, whom Morse defeated in Nov. 8, 2011 election, supported the Paper City Development plan. But Morse rebuffed Hard Rock and Paper City Development officials in a meeting early in his administration with a mood participants described as cold.
Visitors to such a casino resort would have recreational access to the nearby Mount Tom State Reservation and Whiting Street Reservoir, said Morse, though he said Holyoke Water Works controls reservoir property and would have to approve any formal inclusion in such a plan.
On April 25, 1995, voters approved a nonbinding referendum on casino gambling 63 percent to 37 percent, or 5,656-3,351.
Voters approved a similar question Nov. 5, 2002 by a margin of 53 percent to 38 percent, or 5,957-4,203.
Critics have questioned whether such votes were too general to show accurate city sentiment on a casino. Under the new casino law, the binding question a city or town will face will identify the casino developer and the address where such a resort would be built.
A key, said Morse, is the plan with ramps to be built connecting I-91 to the Mountain Park Access Road means the project wouldn't disrupt local traffic.
"Through this plan, Mount Tom – which has been a regional and national destination of recreation and entertainment for over a century – may be reinvigorated," Morse said.
"I think the mayor said it best in that this has been a difficult thought process for us, both for the mayor to change his mind on casino gambling and for me to get to this point," Suher said.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/holyoke_mayor_alex_morse_to_an.html
From: Susan Van Pelt Ha! Only one out of the four listed accomplishments stands up to any scrutiny:
1) He launched a needle exchange? No, Tapestry runs the NEP with the authorization of the Board of Health & state DPH.
2) He "struck down plans for a casino"? He opposed any proposals until deciding to back the one who got to him behind closed doors.
3) Support for the computing center? Those plans were started under Sullivan & Pluta; wasn't much left for him to do but cut a ribbon or something. Of course, that timeline also lets him off the hook for not getting a better deal for Holyoke out of it.
4) Hiring a creative economy director? Yeah, he's done that. I *hope* the position will prove a wise investment, but honestly, it doesn't feel like a particularly amazing achievement, really.
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