Plainridge Park casino fined $10,000 for alcohol violations

By Dan Glaun  
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on August 08, 2016

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has fined Plainville's Plainridge Park Casino $10,000 for violating alcohol regulations.

The casino, which is run by Penn National Gaming, was the subject of random and unannounced compliance checks by the gaming commission's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau in April and May.

During those checks, investigators recorded violations of alcohol storage requirements and service limits, the gaming commission said in a press release.

"During the period of April 19, 2016 to May 8, 2016, gaming agents observed seven incidents of noncompliance pertaining to alcohol storage requirements involving unsecured doors to refrigerators containing alcohol," the commission said. "During the period of April 24, 2016 to May 7, 2016, IEB gaming agents observed 13 incidents of noncompliance regarding alcohol distribution. In these instances, gaming agents observed the delivery of more than two drinks to an individual patron at a time, which is contrary to regulations adopted by the Gaming Commission."

Plainridge Park waived its right to a hearing and took steps to address the violations, including new training, signage at each casino bar explaining the rules, the termination of an employee, disciplinary talks with other employees and increased managerial oversight.

"Plainridge Park Casino is committed to responsible beverage service," Plainridge Park Casino Vice President and General Manager Lance George said in a statement. "We take full responsibility for the infractions and have taken proactive steps to remedy these types of unfortunate occurrences in the future." 

Plainridge Park, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in June, pays 49 percent of its gambling revenue in taxes and has paid $81.9 million into the state coffers as of July.

It is in competition with the Twin River Casino just 11 miles away across the Rhode Island Border and has faced questions about its financial performance since state officials slashed their expectation for the gaming facility after its launch in June 2015.

The state initially expected to take in $105 million per year in tax revenues. With slots intake not meeting targets, that projection was lowered to $83 million.

But both Plainridge Park and gaming commissioner chairman Steven Crosby are sanguine about the casino's economic performance.

"I don't know anything about their internal arithmetic, but I know that they are generating more revenue per machine than most of the other casino launches in the last one or two decades," Crosby told MassLive last month. "So they're doing very well by industry standards. So I'm sure they're doing well, too."

Revenues have plateaued or dropped in recent months but are up since a low of $11.3 million in gross revenue in December. Gross gaming revenue for the casino fell to $12.3 million in June, after seeing $13.5 million in May.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/plainridge_park_casino_fined_1.html

Money Laundering Closes Normandie Casino

Normandie Casino to close after nearly 70 years

   Sat May 21, 2016

- See more at: http://www.gardenavalleynews.org/article/normandie-casino-close-after-nearly-70-years#sthash.0qgVY9N4.dpuf

The Normandie Casino, which started as the Western Club in 1940 before being purchased by Russ Miller in 1947, ends it legacy as the oldest poker club in the state as it closes its door when earlier this year its four owners where charged with money-laundering. In late April, the California Gambling Control Commission revoked the casino’s license to operate, but granted the business a four-month reprieve for the sale the casino, the Daily Breeze reported. 

The card club at 1045 W. Rosecrans Ave., Gardena was a family business, operated by the Miller Family for nearly 70 years. 

Russ Miller changed the casino name from the Western Club to the Normandie. It is speculated that among those bidding to purchase the Normandie is Larry Flynt, who owns the Hustler Casino, Gardena’s remaining card club that operates at the corner of Vermont and Rosecrans avenues. Flynt, a source said, would be interested in the spacious Normandie property to turn into a Vegas-style resort, complete with a hotel and shops. 

The timing of such a business venture would coincide with the arrival of the Los Angeles Rams football team, and the completion of a stadium construction in nearby Inglewood in 2019. Flynt did not comment on the rumored transactions.

Reports say the Miller family notified the state’s Employment Development Department in late April of the Normandie’s 380 employees, who face pending permanent layoff. 

Reports said the four Miller sons, who ran the casino operation, spurned selling the business in recent years. The casino came under investigation and in January 2016, the four partners pled guilty to federal charges that the Gardena club violated anti-money laundering provisions of the Bank Security Act, it was reported. 

The casino hid the winnings of several high rollers by failing to properly record and report a series of huge cash transactions in 2013, according to the court documents. 

The Normandie club agreed to forfeit $1.3 million in illegal earnings, documents show. It’s managing partners also agreed to pay $1 million in federal fines, as mentioned in the plea agreement. 

Court records showed that the casino failed to record information for one player who had racked up more than $1 million in winnings during a six-week span. 

“The United States has an array of anti-money laundering statutes designed to prevent criminals from using the American financial system to launder the large sums of cash generated by illegal activity such as organized crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking,” U.S. Atty. Eileen M. Decker said in a statement. “Casinos that fail to follow these rules are particularly vulnerable to criminals who seek to disguise illegal cash as gambling winnings.” 

Mark Werksman, the attorney representing the Normandie Casino, said that his client has cooperated in resolving this case. He added that no individual managing partners or owners are facing criminals charges or jail time. - See more at: http://www.gardenavalleynews.org/article/normandie-casino-close-after-nearly-70-years#sthash.0qgVY9N4.dpuf

Sydney’s Star and Las Vegas casinos used to launder millions in criminal network police say

 Kim Morrison

 September 13, 2015

Australia, Casino News, Conspiracy, Fines, Lawsuits & Litigation, Latest Casino and Gambling News, Money Laundering, Nevada, World Casino News

Five men believed to be part of a criminal network involving international drug trafficking and money laundering were arrested in the U.S. and Australia this week following a four-year joint criminal investigation between New South Wales law enforcement and the FBI.

Police allege that Andrew McManus, at one time a leading concert promotor in Australia, known drug kingpin Craig Haeusler, and McManus’ London attorney Michael Croke, along with two other men, were part an illegal scheme that utilized Sydney’s The Star casino as well as Las Vegas casinos to launder millions of dollars generated from international cocaine smuggling.

The investigation was fueled by the May 2011 discovery of a suitcase containing approximately $702,000 in cash at a Sydney Hilton hotel room where former cage-fighter Sean Carolan was in possession of it. Police received an anonymous tip that a hotel guest in Carolan’s room was seen with a gun, but upon arrival only found Carolan and the black suitcase full of cash. Carolan told police that he was holding the money that belonged to his business partner in the company Advanced Peptide Solutions, Owen Hanson Jr, to prevent Hanson from losing more at the casino, directly conflicting with McManus’ claim to police in 2012 that the money was proceeds from Lenny Kravitz tour and not from crime. As obtained on the Sydney Morning Herald, in an April 2012 police interview McManus said, “I gave someone 700 large, and you’ve found someone with 700 large. It’s my 700 large, “and that, “It’s not the proceeds of crime, it’s the proceeds of Andrew McManus.” The Supreme Court ruled against Carolan and the “700 large” remains in the safekeeping of New South Wales officials.

Police allege that the cash found was proceeds from a cocaine deal. The funds were supposed to go to The Star casino where a professional gambler would launder it. According to police there is no indication that The Star casino had any knowledge of the gambler’s illegal activities.

Among the other arrests resulting from the criminal investigation, McManus was placed into custody by police at Melbourne Airport on Thursday and has been charged with making false statements, involvement in a criminal group, and preventing the course of justice, both charges related to the cash. He was released on bail that evening and is scheduled to appear in court on October 14 in Sydney.

http://news.worldcasinodirectory.com/sydneys-star-and-las-vegas-casinos-used-to-launder-millions-in-criminal-network-police-say-13489