IG: Pentagon failed to act on misuse of travel cards at strip clubs, casinos FederalNewsRadio.com In one example, the IG warned commanders in September 2014 that an Army sergeant first class seemed to have used his card at casinos at least 113 ... Watchdog slams Pentagon response to improper casino, stripper spending - CalvinAyre.com Pentagon didn't stop some employees from using government credit cards at strip clubs, casinos - Dayton Daily News Pentagon didn't stop some employees from using government credit cards at strip clubs, casinos - Palm Beach Post Full Coverage

DoD Allowed Government Spending At Casinos And Strip Clubs, According To New Report

Task & Purpose

A new report from the DoD Inspector General found workers spent nearly $100,000 at strip clubs and almost $1 million at casinos from July 2013 ...

Pentagon employees were reportedly reimbursed for spending at strip clubs and casinos The Week Magazine A report by the Department of Defense's inspector general published Tuesday concluded that Pentagon officials largely failed to discipline department ... Infamous Pentagon travel card abuse at strip clubs, casinos was never addressed - Hot Air Pentagon failed to probe spending at strip clubs, casinos - Tribune-Review Gambling with the gov't's dime: Pentagon employees used work credit cards at casinos, strip clubs - RT Full Coverage

STEVEN STRADBROOKE

WATCHDOG SLAMS PENTAGON RESPONSE TO IMPROPER CASINO, STRIPPER SPENDING

AUGUST 31, 2016

A US government watchdog says Department of Defense (DoD) officials failed to take appropriate action against staffers who misused government-issued credit cards at casinos and strip clubs.

On Tuesday, the DoD’s inspector general released a report into the May 2015 revelations that military staff had billed the government for nearly $1m in charges at casinos and a further $100k at strip clubs.

The report, which focused on a sample of 30 government cardholders, criticizes DoD management for failing to take action against card abuse even after the abuse was brought to light. The report notes that there were no formal protocols for what constituted legitimate card use, nor any specific disciplinary actions for misuse.

The report also warns that the DoD failed to take into account the potential national security ramifications of Pentagon officials’ “questionable judgment, unwillingness to follow rules and guidance, financial concerns, or gambling addictions.”

In one case, an Army lieutenant colonel who rang up $2.242 in casino charges told a supervisor that he would notify his superiors about the charges so that “when the report comes out, it’s already old news to him.”

However, the report says that the colonel’s brigade commander was still in the dark about the charges nearly one year later. Moreover, the colonel had rung up an additional $5,519 in casino charges since the original transactions were brought to light.

Another case involved a Navy civilian who rang up nearly $30k in casino charges, $3,453 of which was charged to his card after the inspector general notified the appropriate Navy command of the improper charges.

In general, the report found that DoD officials failed to monitor travel card use by individuals who’d been flagged for card misuse, nor did they impose limits on these individuals’ future use of their cards. In some cases, the DoD failed to deactivate cards even after the individuals had ended their military service.

In response to the report, DoD bigwigs insisted that the improper charges cited in the report amounted to “less than 0.04% of the total travel card spending and less than 0.03% of the total transaction volume.” The watchdog countered that such statements “minimize the importance of our findings.”

http://calvinayre.com/2016/08/31/casino/watchdog-slams-pentagon-response-to-improper-casino-stripper-spending/

All Bets Are Off: 10 Crapped-Out Abandoned Casinos

Fascinating collage of derelict casinos....

All Bets Are Off: 10 Crapped-Out Abandoned Casinos

Article by Steve,

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The Gambling Industry Never Wants to Pay Its Fair Share

Casinos Seek Halt to Collection of Back Taxes

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada casinos are pressing the state Department of Taxation to halt the collection of more than $200 million in back sales taxes due on past complimentary meals given to casino patrons and employees until various legal issues are decided.

The issue surfaced at a public hearing last week in Carson City held by taxation department officials, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

The department said earlier this year it would begin imposing a sales tax on comped meals as of Feb. 15 and assess a 25 percent penalty as well as 9 percent annual interest on all taxes not paid by July 31.

The agency, however, is still trying to adopt regulations on how to collect the sales tax.

Attorney Josh Hicks, who represents casinos and retail interests, noted litigation over the sales tax on complimentary meals has been going on for a long time.

He said Boyd Gaming already has appealed one Nevada Tax Commission decision concerning the issue, and Harrah's is likely to appeal another. The tax commission has denied Boyd Gaming a refund of $21 million and Caesars Entertainment a refund of $31 million.

Hicks urged the department to delay any decision until the Nevada Supreme Court rules on the matter. The case is still pending in district court.

But department officials say they'll move forward with processing the regulations on how to collect the sales tax, and the issue will then be up to the tax commission.

The department said earlier this year it would begin imposing a sales tax on comped meals as of Feb. 15 and assess a 25 percent penalty as well as 9 percent annual interest on all taxes not paid by July 31. But the regulations are needed before that can happen.

The tax commission, at a June 25 meeting, is expected to consider the regulations and whether the statute of limitations applies to some of the back taxes.

The issue has dragged on for years and has huge consequences for state coffers and casino companies in particular, as well as other businesses such as restaurants and taverns that provide meals to employees.

In 2008, the Nevada Supreme Court, in a ruling favoring John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks, struck down imposing a use tax on free meals but left unresolved the question of whether such meals are subject to sales tax.

Since then, casinos around the state have petitioned for refunds of those use taxes totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Casinos_Seek_Halt_to_Collection_of_Back_Taxes_155094915.html

Richmond, California: Community Slot Barn Opposition

Looking forward to the next election prompted revisiting last year's election. Slot Barn opposition had a major impact on the outcome in this election:

A Green Victory in Richmond, California
David Helvarg.President, Blue Frontier Campaign

While the recent elections were seen as a setback for national environmental advocates, for the small city of Richmond in San Francisco's East Bay, it marked a tidal shift in a seven-year battle to protect Point Molate, the last large undeveloped headland on the bay from a mega-casino. Here, at least, the election demonstrated that poor communities can assert their right to control their own shorelines and perhaps their own destinies -- despite outside pressure.

On the winning side were local activists of Citizens for a Sustainable Point Molate and the Richmond Progressive Alliance, which includes the Green Party Mayor of this low-income, predominantly African-American and Hispanic city of just over 100,000.

On the side that didn't win was a Berkeley developer with plans for a billion dollar casino resort at the headlands, a small band of Pomo Indians hoping to break into urban gaming, and an even smaller band of environmentalists willing to cut a multi-million dollar deal with them just before Richmond was to vote on the casino.

Also, never to be left out of local politics was the Chevron corporation that, with a major oil refinery in the city, put a million dollars behind three city council candidates who were not only pro-Chevron but also pro-casino (though one who had voted for the development while on the council opposed the casino in the election).



The 422 acres of spectacular bay-facing green space, wildlife habitat and submerged eel grass meadows known as Point Molate is the site of an historic wine port and village that later became part of a Navy fuel oil depot before the Navy sold it to the city in 2003 for one dollar. From a historic point of view, I guess you could argue that after alcohol and oil, gambling might make sense in terms of human addictions.

Upstream LLC, the consortium put together by Berkeley developer Jim Levine, promised to build the most eco-sustainable "destination resort" casino this side of Vegas. Levine, who originally had financial backing from Harrah's, now claims backing from one of California's major gaming tribes (attributing any lack of financial transparency to issues of tribal sovereignty). Still, his support on the city council had slipped during the economic slowdown from 5-2 to 4-3 with Mayor Gayle McLaughlin leading the opposition.

After years of promises and delays, the city council finally agreed to a non-binding Ballot Measure U this fall that for the first time let the citizens of Richmond vote on whether they support a casino complex on their waterfront.

One concern has been that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar would have to agree to convert Point Molate into reservation land for a small tribal band with no anthropological links to the Bay Area (a legal requirement). Senator Feinstein opposes this conversion. Local Representative George Miller, a long-time environmental champion and former Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, had been eerily quiet on the issue although he did attend a pre-election pro-Casino press conference put on by the Building Trades Council.

From its inception Measure U was heavily fought over with close to a million dollars spent on the initiative both by the "destination resort," casino developer ($500,000) and local card rooms and smaller Indian gaming interests (over $450,000) who didn't want competition from a monster casino with 4,000 slot machines.

Two weeks before the election, a press conference was held on the headlands where Upstream, the Guidiville Band of Pomos and three green groups announced an agreement to drop a longstanding environmental lawsuit in exchange for a promised $48 million pay out from the slots to buy up additional shoreline for conservation (that could mostly be outside of Richmond). "When you have money, you draw money. It's a major shoreline protection agreement," claimed Robert Cheasty, president of Citizens for East Shore Parks that was dropping its suit. The San Francisco Chapter of Sierra Club and local Audubon also endorsed the deal and added their names to a pro-casino flyer that went out to voters a few days later.

The Richmond-based Citizens for a Sustainable Point Molate claimed the agreement "threw Richmond under the gambling bus," and released a letter from twenty other Bay Area environmental groups opposed to the Casino, calling instead for a world-class park at the point similar to San Francisco's Presidio and Marin County's Fort Baker.

When the people finally got their say they rejected the pro-Casino Measure U by a vote of 57.5 percent to 42.5 percent. Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, despite being outspent by her opponent almost two to one, was re-elected along with two anti-casino candidates, her fellow Progressive Alliance running mate Jovanka Beckles, a children's mental health provider and long-time city hall gadfly Corky Booze. None of the Chevron backed candidates won.

The new city council majority taking over in January will likely be voting 5-2 against the Casino at Point Molate. "People want to see something better there," explained Jovanka Beckles. Of course, lots of mischief could still take place during the old council's lame duck session.

Still, Richmond shows what a dynamic, community-tied coalition of environmentalists and political progressives can achieve when working outside the traditional two-party system, unafraid of entrenched corporate interests.

Meanwhile Citizens for a Sustainable Point Molate has begun working with a pro-bono group of young urban planners to envision what a working park on the headlands and offshore might look like. They will soon start engaging others in the community in the long process of turning that vision into a third major jewel of Bay area waterfront parks that can provide jobs, recreation and natural wonder for all.

The casino government should go

Jordanians want 'parliament of shame' dissolved
(AFP)

AMMAN — About 2,000 people demonstrated across Jordan on Friday to demand the dissolution of the "parliament of shame," over a suspected corruption case involving a gambling casino.

More than 1,000 Jordanians took part in a demonstration organised by the Islamist opposition in central Amman after midday prayers, also calling for the resignation of the government and the "downfall" of parliament.

MPs on Monday failed to impeach Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit for his alleged role in a suspected graft case about a multi-million-dollar deal that his government singed with a British-based company to build a casino, between 2005 and 2007 when he first served as premier.

"The casino government should go. No to the casino parliament," read one of the banners carried by the demonstrators.

"Down with Bakhit and his gambling government. A dishonest broker cannot protect the country," they chanted.

At least three MPs have resigned in protest against the lower house's decision not to impeach Bakhit, local news reports have said.

MPs have cleared Bakhit despite a parliamentary committee report which has found the premier partially responsible.

"The people want reform and change. No immunity to the corrupt," nearly 1,000 people chanted in the southern city of Tafileh, branding the assembly a "parliament of shame."

In Karak, near Tafileh, at least 200 people demonstrated, demanding the "sacking of government and dissolution of parliament."

Police on Thursday clashed briefly with demonstrators outside parliament in central Amman before dispersing an anti-corruption protest, which called for the "imprisonment" of Bakhit over the casino issue.

Since January, Jordan has faced a protest movement demanding political and economic reforms and an end to corruption.

Cost associated with increased gambling outweighs benefits

In the Spotlight: Cost associated with increased gambling outweighs benefits
Journal Star

Should Illinois' legalized gambling industry be expanded via the addition of five new casinos, plus slot machines at race tracks and airport terminals?

This hot button issue has generated considerable discussion throughout the state in recent months. A primary argument in favor of the expansion centers on the possible generation of additional revenue for needed capital projects such as roads and schools.

However, there is a pronounced downside to adding more gambling venues in Illinois. A noted authority on the adverse effects of legalized gambling - John W. Kindt, professor of business administration at the University of Illinois - has done extensive research on the economic impact of gambling both in Illinois and elsewhere. His view on the effects of gambling was set forth in an article, "Playing The Numbers: The Economic Impact of Legalized Gambling." He states:

1. The social costs of legalized gambling far outweigh any benefits.

2. Traditional businesses in areas where casinos are located incur increased personnel costs due to rising absenteeism and declining productivity.

3. Economic benefits created diminish rapidly, and in many cases casinos actually stall regional activity.

4. Gambling revenue substitutes for, rather than augments tax support of education, leading to decreased educational funding in "real" dollars.

5. In Illinois no more than 35 percent of casino revenues are returned to state and local governments and at a minimum two-thirds of the money lost by Illinois gamblers goes back to Las Vegas.

Kindt concludes, "Simply put, you don't have to expand gambling in Illinois to raise more tax money. Just raise the taxes on casinos in operation, and you'll get revenues right away."

Gov. Quinn will be taking the high ground if he vetoes Illinois Senate Bill 744.

E. Garrett Stone

Peoria

Patrons Unsafe in Casino Valet Parking Area

The Gambling Industry attempts to silence all reporting of assaults that occur on their premises, yet the article below raises the issue of the negligence of Parks to intervene to protect a patron.



Las Vegas boxer Floyd Mayweather sued for assault

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV)- Another lawsuit has been filed against Las Vegas boxer Floyd Mayweather Junior. This time the accusations are related to an assault that allegedly occurred outside the Palms Hotel-Casino last year.

Anthony Cliff, who lives in Clark County, filed a suit Friday in a state court in Las Vegas against Mayweather, his company Mayweather Promotions LLC and others.

According to Cliff's attorneys, Gazda & Tadayon, the incident happened on March 27, 2010, in the valet parking area of the Palms.

Cliff claims that he tried to take the boxer's photo and made some comments about a potential fight for Mayweather, when Mayweather replied that Cliff was disrespecting him and gave the thumbs-down sign to his bodyguards.

That was a "signal for the bodyguards to attack Cliff, which they then did, striking Cliff in the face, knocking, pulling or pushing Cliff to the ground,"' the suit charges.

The suit then claims that Cliff's head struck the pavement and the bodyguards repeatedly kicked him in the back and side.

Mayweather and his company are being sued for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention of employees.

The Palms is also being sued for negligence, for failing to have adequate security in the valet parking area and failing to keep Mayweather and his entourage in check.

Mayweather is no stranger to run-ins with the law. Back in 2005, he was convicted in the beating of two women at a Luxor club. He was given a suspended one year jail sentence for that crime. Since then he has also been sued for various other crimes including domestic violence, harassment, grand larceny, and most recently, defamation.

We contacted Mayweather's attorneys but they have not yet responded.

Alabama Gambling Corruption Trial

Week three includes sparks, surprises
Written by
Sebastian Kitchen

Three more key witnesses took the stand, including bra­zen and foul-mouthed Coun­try Crossing developer Ron­nie Gilley, in the third week of a federal corruption case alleging gambling interests worked together to bribe state legislators. Prosecutors also, for the first time, played conversations secret­ly taped by the FBI of tar­gets in their investigation, in­cluding Gilley.

VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor and eight other defendants are charged with trying to buy and sell sup­port for legislation that would have helped McGre­gor, Gilley and other casino operators in the state.

Gilley already has pleaded guilty in the case.

The following is a summa­ry of the action and testimo­ny in court during the week.



Monday

Lobbyists for McGregor delivered two $2,500 checks to state Rep. Barry Mask, R-Wetumpka, the same day that the casino owner said he would find significant help for the legislator if he sup­ported pro-gambling legisla­tion. Mask went to authori­ties after he was contacted by McGregor for the first time in about two years about the same time some­one from VictoryLand called trying to buy all of the tick­ets to a fundraiser.

In a conversation he re­corded with FBI agents in his office Feb. 15, 2010, Mask asked how much help he could expect and asked McGregor if he would have anyone attending the fund­raiser that night.

McGregor said in a re­corded conversation the next day that he sent lobbyists Bob Geddie and Ben Patter­son to the fundraiser in Tal­lassee. Geddie is a defendant in the case.

McGregor also told Mask that legislators who did not support people's right to vote on the legislation would have a political "price to pay" in the 2010 primaries and gen­eral election.

Mask said he opened a separate account with ASE Credit Union at the request of the FBI. He said the mon­ey is still there and he has never spent it.
McGregor attorney Joe Espy questioned Mask about receiving money from lobby­ist and former Lt. Gov. Steve Windom, who lobbied for the Poarch Band of Creek Indi­ans, and about Mask receiv­ing $10,000 to $50,000 a year for referring another client to Windom. Espy said that client, Computer Associates, does work for the state and that Mask as a legislator con­tinues to receive money for referring that company even though it continued to do work for the state. Mask said he was not doing any work for the money, but said re­ceiving the fee for referring someone was standard prac­tice in business and that he referred that company be­fore he was a legislator.

(Page 2 of 6)

Espy alleged that along with more than $50,000 in salary as a state representa­tive, Mask receives more than $97,000 running the El­more County Economic De­velopment Authority, which he helped found and which receives almost $300,000 a year in funding from Elmore County. He said Mask was a double dipper. Mask said the authority also receives pri­vate funding and is a 501(c)(3) (a tax-exempt non­profit organization).

Espy also said Mask was pushing a 4 percent lodging tax for Elmore County in the Legislature and that the pro­ceeds would go to the eco­nomic development authori­ty to pay salaries, including his own.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson did not allow de­fense attorneys to question Mask in front of the jury about the two government-funded checks or his support for the lodging tax because they were not relevant to the current case.

Espy asked Mask if during the course of 608 days, the time of the alleged conspira­cy, he had less than 40 min­utes of telephone calls and no face to face meetings with McGregor. Mask said, "I don't recall any face to face meetings."

Espy also questioned Mask about playing poker with his friends even though he has bashed gambling.

The prosecution filed a motion Monday to try to stop questioning from the defense on whether former state Rep. Benjamin Lewis' ap­pointment to a district judge­ship in Houston County was political.

Lewis, a government wit­ness who went to authorities and agreed to record conver­sations for the FBI, was ap­pointed by then-Gov. Bob Ri­ley. Defense attorneys questioned if Riley appointed Lewis to the judgeship be­cause of his willingness to cooperate in the corruption investigation.

Prosecutors have said Lewis was cooperating with the FBI 13 months before that judgeship became open.

Key Democrats pushed for Senate Republicans to ask state Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, to resign and to strip him of his chairman­ship of a powerful commit­tee after racially insensitive comments he made were re­vealed a week earlier in the case.

(Page 3 of 6)

Tuesday

Mask recorded phone con­versations for the FBI, but also said he was given a re­cording device he could put in his pocket and turn on. "I don't think I ever used the body recorder at all," Mask said. " ... I never encountered a conversation where I needed to turn it on."

Lewis Gillis, an attorney for defendant and state Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgom­ery, attempted to show Tues­day morning that Ross had no communication with Mask about gambling during this time, and that Ross sup­porting gambling and receiv­ing money even though he did not have an opponent were not illegal and not un­common in state politics.

Debbie Moore, who orga­nized the fundraiser for Mask, testified that someone from VictoryLand had called and tried to purchase all of the $50 tickets to the Mask fundraiser. She also testified that two men she did not rec­ognize came to the fund­raiser and brought two $2,500 checks. She said she would not be able to identify those men.

Cheryl Farrow, office manager and bookkeeper for Fine Geddie & Associates, testified that the ledger showing which of their cli­ents contributed to which candidates was changed to show that the two $2,500 checks did not come from McGregor, but two corpo­rate clients, Great Southern Wood and Protective Life Corp. She said on the stand that she would have written those checks to Mask at the request of Geddie, one of the owners of the Fine Geddie & Associates lobbying firm. Geddie is a lobbyist for McGregor. Farrow said the original entry was a mistake so she corrected it. Prosecut­ors questioned changing the ledger and who pushed for it to be changed. An attorney for Geddie pointed out that Farrow did not black out the changes in the ledger, but in­stead crossed them out where people could still read them.

Lewis, the former legisla­tor, took the stand for the first time Tuesday.

Wednesday

Lewis said he went to local law enforcement in his com­munity after he felt Gilley tried to bribe him at a dinner at Garrett's restaurant in Montgomery in March 2009. They connected him with the FBI, and he agreed to record conversations.

(Page 4 of 6)

Lewis said Gilley and his supporters let it be known that if Lewis supported their project they could double the support he received in his last campaign, where he spent more than $200,000.

The prosecution played ta­pes Lewis recorded of Gilley and state Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb, a defen­dant.

Beason, according to Lewis, had no reason to re­cord him, but recorded him by mistake. In the conversa­tion between them that Lewis said was recorded mistakenly, Lewis referred to Smith as "stupid," said he felt sorry for her, and said she had a "good argument" for why she changed her mind on gambling legisla­tion. Lewis said he meant that she made some stupid decisions. He said he consid­ered Smith a friend and that she was intelligent. Lewis be­came emotional when he was asked about the conversa­tion.

Lewis said FBI agents asked him to record Smith, Gilley, lobbyist Claire Austin, and then-state Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba.

Beason, who also recorded conversations for the FBI, testified that Smith told him following that dinner that Country Crossing supporters could help him with as much as $500,000 for a campaign for lieutenant governor if he supported the project. Lewis said Beason told him about that conversation. He said Beason told him that he was told House members who supported gambling legisla­tion would receive $200,000 to $250,000 for their cam­paigns with senators receiv­ing $500,000.
Smith has said that con­versation never happened.
Lewis said he recorded about 20 conversations.

Thursday

Gilley, in his first day on the stand, said he initiated a project in 2007 he called Little Nashville that he want­ed to locate close to Enter­prise in Coffee County. With his development projects, he used country music stars to help promote residential liv­ing to retirees. There were lenders and investors in place for the project, Gilley said. Then, he said, the real estate market collapsed.

Gilley said, at the encour­agement of someone in the lieutenant governor's office, they decided to look at ad­ding electronic bingo, which he said he did not know any­thing about, to the project. As they looked at it, Gilley said the electronic gambling and not the residential hous­ing would finance the proj­ect.


(Page 5 of 6)

Gilley said other states and other counties were pur­suing the project, including Lowndes, Houston and Rus­sell counties. They decided to locate the project, which they renamed Country Crossing, near Dothan in Houston County, which he said they did because there was a constitutional amend­ment already there allowing bingo.
Gilley said he did not meet with Smith prior to her back­ing off her legislation that he said would have killed his project. He said he did not ask her to change her posi­tion.

Legislative analyst Ray Crosby did not originally re­port the $3,000 he received each month from McGregor to the Alabama Ethics Com­mission, which has forms that public officials and em­ployees who make more than $50,000 must fill out with in­formation on their income, debt, property and invest­ments. Crosby did not in­clude the income on his 2008 and 2009 reports, but filed an addendum in August 2010 that added that income.

An accountant for McGre­gor, Lynn Byrd, testified that she wrote and McGregor signed 24 checks for $3,000 to Crosby. He received $3,000 each month from May 2008 through April 2010. Prosecutors argued that Crosby did not report that in­come until the investigation became public.

Lewis said he did not re­member Beason, his friend and roommate, using the term "aborigine" in a conver­sation Beason recorded of them and said he considered Beason a "person of integri­ty." In response to Lewis, Beason referred to support­ers of Greenetrack casino in west Alabama as "abori­gines."

Friday

Gilley said, after concerns from McGregor that Country Crossing would hurt his busi­ness by 22 percent, they reached an agreement in which McGregor provided millions in loans for the proj­ect and would receive a por­tion of the profit. Originally, McGregor was supposed to receive 14 percent, but that increased to 20 percent as McGregor contributed more.

Gilley talked about McGregor lending $5 mil­lion, $2.8 million and $500,000. The money was used for building, to push pro-gambling legislation, and to be able to pay employees at times.

(Page 6 of 6)

Gilley said he used some of that money to pay for a fundraiser for Smith's 2010 Senate re-election campaign. He spent $217,000 in in-kind services for the fundraiser in Enterprise, which featured entertainment by singers Lorrie Morgan and John An­derson.

Gilley also talked about giving Spicer, who was then a state legislator from Elba, a box of cash. Spicer had al­legedly asked for $50,000 or he would create a roadblock for the gambling legislation. Gilley said he gave him $20,000.

Smith called Gilley, in a conversation taped by the FBI, and asked for $400,000 for her 2010 Senate cam­paign. Gilley, according to testimony and wiretapped conversations, worked to get the money to her through po­litical action committees $200,000 at a time. Gilley said he and his supporters probably put $600,000 to­ward

Smith's re-election campaign.

Gilley said he, through his lobbyist Jarrod Massey, di­rected $40,000 to Smith for her 2008 race for Congress. He said she came by, thanked him and said, "what­ever you need, I'm yours." She had returned a previous check from Gilley over con­cerns about it coming direct­ly from him.

Gilley said that it was Lewis that tried to solicit that money from him at Gar­rett's and that he told people about it after the dinner.

Gilley said, while at Gar­rett's, that Smith asked if he and McGregor would be will­ing to contribute $500,000 to Beason's campaign. "I said absolutely," Gilley said.
Bill Baxley, an attorney for lobbyist Tom Coker, moved to dismiss a count of wire fraud in the indictment. Thompson said he will not dismiss a count in the middle of the prosecution's case, but said the sides should be ready to debate after the prosecution has presented its case.

Prosecutors indicated they were hesitant to call Massey, who also has pleaded guilty, to the stand, but decided they would.



For another perspective:

Aborigines – New Stars in an Old Show Aborigines – New Stars in an Old Show

The State Legislative circus moved under a new tent last week as Alabama’s gambling corruption trial took center ring in Myron Thompson’s federal court.

The trial relates to some 2010 shenanigans between gambling lobbyists and a few state legislators.

Churches Weigh-in On Casino Gambling Bill
Southwest News-Herald - City
By NADA SHAMAH

A hot topic that lawmakers in the state of Illinois have been arguing recently is whether to add to the number of casinos in the state.

The bill being discussed is one that asks for the addition of casinos in the city of Chicago, as well as Lake County, and placing gaming machines in both Midway and O’Hare airports.

The idea is to offset the huge debt that has hit the state over the past few years and to alleviate a deficit that is now in the billions.

Gov. Pat Quinn has been given a bill that he has called “top heavy” because, according to Quinn, it asks for too many casinos.

Quinn has said that the people of Illinois did not elect him to cater to the gamblers of the state but to arrive at meaningful solutions on major issues for all residents.

But what does having more casinos mean for the people of Illinois, and what problems would they bring for those in the religious sector?

Many religions regard gambling as a sin.

The Quran teaches to abstain on “games of chance” that will not benefit the gambler but bring more harm than good.

Although the Bible does not consider gambling a major sin, many leaders of faith say the idea of casinos will prove detrimental to the health and spirit of the people of the state.

Pastor Luis Ruiz of Rios de Agua Viva, 6132 S. Kedzie Ave., says that the idea of adding more casinos to the state will not alleviate the financial crisis.

He says that adding more casinos will increase addiction to gambling and harm the youth who see casinos as a fun-filled place to be.

“Gambling is addictive no matter how you dress it up,” said Ruiz. “In my opinion, more casinos will lead to a high rate of crime (and) prostitution, and misdemeanors will increase.

“People will turn to the wrong ways to help feed their addiction.”

Ruiz says that if elected officials can come up with all the money needed to open these casinos, they can come up with meaningful solutions to help save the state financially.

“The money they are spending should go towards forming a group that can analyze the financial situation and come up with programs that can benefit everyone,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz says that there needs to be more organizations that educate the people of the state.

He says that if people were taught to be financially responsible, there would not be a financial crisis.

“We need to take a deeper, more profound look at what the problem is,” he said.

He adds that the state of Illinois spends $25,000 to $30,000 a year on a prison inmate, but says if right and wrong was taught early, the number of people in prison would not be so high.
Ruiz says that the solution to every problem is bringing God back in everyone’s life and home.

Pastor Ricky Guyton, of Body of Christ Church, 5246 S. Western Ave., says that he is against the idea of adding more casinos to the state to help with the financial deficit.

Guyton says that the state’s original idea to use the Illinois Lottery to offset the cost of education did not necessarily work as planned, and educational institutions did not get all the funds that they had thought they would from the lottery.

“Gambling and casinos will ultimately harm those in our communities who suffer from addiction,” Guyton said. “There will be people out there who have an addiction and will use whatever funds they have saved towards gambling at the new casinos.”

He says that the casinos would negatively affect those who are low-income.

“It is ridiculous to think that casinos will be the solution to the financial crisis in the state,” he said.

Guyton says that everyone has a responsibility to budget their lifestyle and not spend more than they have.

He says lawmakers are no exception.

“I must budget in my household to see what to spend and when to spend,” he said. “Our elected officials must do the same.”

“God is the answer,” Ruiz said. “Everything else remains an artificial solution to the problem.”

Prison parole officer: the [Gambling] addiction was just overpowering

Prison parole officer pleads guilty to breach of trust while on the job
By SUE YANAGISAWA, THE WHIG-STANDARD

A prison parole officer, suspended without pay from his job at Frontenac Institution since early January, when he was charged with criminal breach of trust and with counselling to commit an indictable offence, has pleaded guilty to one of the charges.

Michael Lawrence, 44, had his sentencing suspended. He was placed on probation for 20 months Friday, after he pleaded guilty in Kingston's Ontario Court of Justice to a single count of breach of trust, committed when he took $17,500 from an inmate -- a transaction that Lawrence characterized as a loan.

Belleville Crown attorney Lee Burgess, who was brought in to prosecute the case, withdrew the companion charge, however, which derived from the same inmate's claim that Lawrence tried to involve him in a conspiracy to kill his ex-wife and plant drugs on her and her boyfriend.

Lawrence told Justice Rommel Masse he was emphatically denying having proposed either crime.

The judge ordered Lawrence, while on probation, to participate in any assessment, counselling or treatment directed by his probation officer, especially counselling or treatment for his admitted gambling addiction. Masse added anger-management counselling on Burgess's suggestion and "in view of the acrimony that's been going on between you and your ex since 2008."

Burgess told Masse that Ontario Provincial Police were contacted by prison administrators late last year about the inmate's accusations. The man had come into contact with Lawrence as the result of his conviction in January 2009 on 15 counts of investment fraud in the Burlington- Oakville area. He'd swindled an estimated $3 million and was serving a 39-month sentence.

Burgess said the inmate told police he was being pressured by Lawrence for money and that Lawrence had told him he needed the cash because of expenses he'd incurred trying to gain custody of his young son.

Masse was told that the inmate arranged an initial transfer of $2,500 through Western Union, but Burgess said it went through in the name of one of Lawrence's co-workers, a man who, according to defence lawyer Peter Kemp, had discussed starting a business with the inmate after he was released from prison.

It had been agreed, the defence lawyer said, that his client was going to repay the inmate's money to that business.

Lawrence received a subsequent sum of $15,000 from the inmate while he was on a pass to Windsor, according to police investigators, but a later demand for $27,000 wasn't honoured.

During his interview with police, Burgess said, the inmate claimed that Lawrence had expressed great animosity toward his ex-wife, talked about having her killed and asked him to plant drugs to give her and her boy - friend the appearance of involvement in the drug subculture.


To assist him in setting them up, he said, Lawrence gave him personal information about both of them, including his ex-wife's address.

Masse was told that following his arrest, Lawrence admitted taking money from the inmate, but said it was to pay a gambling debt. Likewise, Burgess said, he confirmed that he'd given his inmate accuser information about his ex-wife and her boyfriend, but he said it was to have them "checked out" by one of the inmate's contacts.

No explanation was offered in court about what he'd meant by "checked out," but the prosecutor observed that it showed "at the very least, he used this inmate to try to get information" on his former partner.

In the end, however, Burgess conceded that the Crown was not in a position to prove the inmate's accusations with regard to anything but the money.

Kemp told the judge his client spent three nights in "the hole at Quinte" Detention Centre, where his background placed him in a precarious position in relation to the other prisoners.

Immediately after making bail, Masse was told, he sought out a program in Windsor to help with his gambling addiction and continues in counselling locally.

Kemp disclosed that Lawrence also found other full-time employment and now works as a carpenter for a local building company.

Given an opportunity to speak, the former parole officer told the judge, "I apologize for the actions of borrowing money," repeated that he's not guilty of plotting against his ex-wife and added, "I sincerely apologize for letting my addiction get the better of me."

Masse asked the nature of his gambling, whether he was betting at casinos or the track and Lawrence told him casinos.

"What were you thinking?" the judge asked pointedly.

Lawrence replied: "All I can say is, at the time, the addiction was just overpowering, I guess."

Both Kemp and Burgess joined in recommending that Lawrence's sentencing be suspended, but they diverged on probation. Kemp urged the judge to impose no more than a year of supervision on his client, observing that Law rence's bail conditions over the past 5 1/2months have been very strict. Burgess recommended 24 months of probation, arguing that supervision will help ensure that he continues to deal with his gambling problem.

He told Masse that he would have asked for jail except that "this is not a situation where the public purse has been defrauded."

Masse, in handing down sentence, said he appreciated that the Crown would have faced problems in prosecuting Lawrence without his guilty plea, chief among them the credibility of its key witness.

He told Lawrence by pleading guilty, "you've saved the public a considerable expenditure."

Masse also observed that while Correctional Service Canada has not officially fired him yet, "it's almost a certainty you'll be terminated."

Given the nature of the crime and Lawrence's self-professed gambling addiction, the judge said, "I'm of the view that 12 months is too short," but added 24 months might be more than is needed, settling on 20 months of probation.

During that time, Masse ordered that Lawrence not enter the property of any casino or race track. He additionally forbid him visiting online gambling sites. He's forbidden, as well, from communicating with his ex-wife, and must stay 200 metres away from her, her home, her work and place of education or training.

Gettysburg: Even when they're not wanted, they never give up!

There's a Massachusetts/Holyoke connection:


Casino applicant appeals
Appeal filed in Pa. Surpreme Court

BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER
Times Staff Writer Gettysburg Times

Gettysburg casino investors announced Monday that they are appealing a decision to award a gaming license to a competing project.

The appeal is filed with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and disputes the recently-awarded Category Three resort casino license, to the Nemacolin Resort in Fayette County.

Mason Dixon Resort & Casino spokesman David La Torre wrote in a press release that state gambling regulators “misapplied the Gaming Act and state law, deprived Mason Dixon of its due process rights, and disregarded or failed to consider the evidence presented” when they chose the Nemacolin Resort for the license, over the Eisenhower Inn in Cumberland Township.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board selected the Nemacolin Resort in Fayette County for the license in mid-April, over three competitors, including the Mason Dixon Resort Group, led by Gettysburg businessman David LeVan and Florida lawyer Joseph Lashinger. The vote was 6-1, with one board member supporting a competing project in the Poconos.

Investors in Mechanicsburg, Penn Harris Gaming, and the Bushkill Group in the Poconos also applied for the license, which permits up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games at “well-established” hotel resorts.

Based on previous gaming appeals, it could take a year before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules on the litigation. As a result, developers will not be able to break ground on the $75 million Nemacolin Resort until the legal battle is resolved.

Monday was the final day to file an appeal on the April 14 decision, and subsequent written adjudication, explaining the decision. Representatives from Penn Harris Gaming and the Bushkill Group have said that they are not filing an appeal.

Gaming Control Board spokesman Richard McGarvey explained that all of the standalone Category Two casino projects have been appealed in the past, as well as the other resort casino Category Three license, that was awarded to Valley Forge. No horsetrack casinos (Category One licenses) have been appealed.

The Gaming Control Board wrote that it selected the 2,000-acre Nemacolin Resort because it was the “best fit” for the license, and that it had the best potential to generate and maximize new revenues for the state.

LeVan and Lashinger proposed converting the 300-room Eisenhower Inn and adjoining All-Star Sports Complex along Emmitsburg Road south of Gettysburg into a $75 million resort casino. The Category Three resort casino license permits up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games, and patrons must be guests of the resort, or obtain a membership.

Opposition was cited for a reason for denying the Cumberland Township casino. No Casino Gettysburg spokeswoman Susan Star Paddock said Monday that she was saddened to see Gettysburg casino investors “chasing their losses.” She called the appeal a “colossal waste of time and money for the investors, the state, the taxpayers and our entire community.”

Casino supporters in Adams County have touted economic benefits and new jobs, and remain hopeful that a license will be awarded here.

Two weeks ago, Mason Dixon Resort filed a “motion of reconsideration” with the Gaming Control Board, asking gambling regulators to revisit the licensing process. But the request was denied one day later, leading to Monday’s appeal.

Missouri insurer is clouded by trouble, questions

Political appointments, campaign contributions and secret casino investments make this worth watching for its unfolding drama. Excerpts below, worth reading in its entirety:


Missouri insurer is clouded by trouble, questions
BY JIM DOYLE STLtoday.com

A former director of Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Co. was indicted in March for embezzlement. Another director was indicted in April for bank fraud, then indicted again this week for another fraud involving a failed casino deal.

The theft and fraud charges against the directors involve alleged crimes against outside organizations and people - a bank, a university and would-be casino financiers - but the pair nonetheless held sensitive leadership positions at Missouri Employers ...

Asked about the company's troubles and his ties to its board, Nixon declined to comment through a spokesman. The company, three of its directors and their relatives have donated at least $32,000 to Nixon's campaign coffers.

Morgan's troubles were compounded Thursday with another fraud indictment, this one accusing him of conning four of his friends out of business loans totaling $2 million - then diverting the money for personal use. Morgan, federal prosecutors say, solicited loans from at least two friends by claiming he was a secret partner in a casino project at Spanish Lake, which has since failed.

....government records indicate that Missouri Employers Mutual is in fact an active player in state politics. In 2008, the insurance company donated $4,000 to Nixon's campaign for governor. From 2003 through 2010, it donated $9,541.50 to the Missouri Insurance Coalition, a political action committee that supported Nixon and other state lawmakers. According to Missouri Ethics Commission records, the insurance firm retains two registered lobbyists: Scott Swain and Steven Millikan.

Ohio: Lessons to be learned

Ahhhh...the Playbook!

Watching the Ohio process in which the Slot Barn Industry wrote flawed legislation that benefited only them and then spent buckets convincing voters to pass a Constitutional Amendment so neatly parallels the Massachusetts process. Well....except in Massachusetts, we let them off cheap.

In Massachusetts, The Industry merely had to convince a small number of the gullible, behind closed doors, on Beacon Hill with their grossly exaggerated revenue and job claims, make a few campaign contributions and who's to disagree?

The Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick, spent $189,000 hard-earned taxpayer dollars having an Industry BENEFITS report prepared to justify his position. The Legislature, likewise, duplicated the phony process.

No where have costs been revealed.

The significant difference, of course, is that in Ohio, this was determined by a Constitutional Amendment by the voters.

In Massachusetts, in spite of all the pretense and charade by the Governor, House Speaker "Racino" DeLeo and Senate President "Cha Ching" Murray, what is approved today, can and will be changed by the next legislature and the next Governor.

When the phony revenues fail to appear, when the undetermined costs mushroom, the legislature addicted to revenues over sound fiscal policy, will expand slot barns - coming to a neighborhood near you!

From: Casino Opposition

After Ohio voters said NO to casino gambling 4 times, $50 million was spent to persuade them otherwise. Who would think their money was wasted?

See also:
Ohio
Ohio

This revealing comment from the article below:

For more than 30 years, the Ohio Roundtable has opposed casino gambling based on the failed economic promises and the inevitable political corruption that historically attends legalized gambling.


Rob Walgate: Casino deal violates Ohio rule of law

Ohio Roundtable
In November 2009, Ohioans passed a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling. The state constitution, much like the federal constitution, is a sacred compact of the citizens. It is the controlling authority for law and practice in this state. When the people amend their constitution, it is imperative that all branches of the government abide by this highest ruling authority in the state.

The 2009 casino amendment, which the Ohio Roundtable opposed, was written by the casino industry. The gambling interests advocating passage of the amendment wrote every word, paid millions for their campaign and won an election. The voters approved State Issue 3, which is now the final word on casino gambling in Ohio. Those words can be changed only by the legal process of further amendments.

That language of Issue 3 specifically fails to exempt the casinos from paying the Ohio Commercial Activity Tax on gross revenues. The amendment specifically binds the casinos to pay all taxes levied in general against any other Ohio business. The Commercial Activity Tax clearly fits into this most obvious description.

The governor needs no other language to enforce the CAT on the casinos. They enforced it upon themselves in the construction of their own amendment. The failure to collect the tax would be a violation of the Ohio Constitution and state statutes.

The governor has consistently stated that he is trying to "get a better deal" for Ohio.

Issue 3 is a bad deal for Ohio; however, it is the law. It cannot be changed by backroom deals. If the governor is serious about getting a better deal for Ohio, he should ask the legislature to place an amendment on the ballot to reconstruct Issue 3. He could do this in short order, taking less time and money than all the backroom deals have spent to date.

In addition, any "deal" to place slot machines at Ohio racetracks is a clear violation of the Ohio Revised Code and the Constitution. Such a practice cannot become legal by edict of the governor or any "deal" struck with casino operators. If the governor wants to open racetrack casinos with Vegas-style slot machines, he is required by law to take such a proposal to the voters.

Furthermore, the notion that the governor can issue a "moratorium" on expanding gambling sites by edict is equally legally absurd. By what authority does this governor or any governor suggest he has the right to grant casino operations to some people but not to others? Why are only certain cities being chosen? Why a 10-year moratorium? Why not 20 years or 100 years?

For more than 30 years, the Ohio Roundtable has opposed casino gambling based on the failed economic promises and the inevitable political corruption that historically attends legalized gambling. Sadly, the current actions of the governor and the casino industry are indicative of the grossest form of political corruption: the disregard of the rule of law by those in power.

Only 18 months after the passage of State Issue 3, the governor is caught up in closed-door deal-making with the casino industry. There have been no legislative or public hearings on these deals. Outside consultants have been hired who stand to make millions, pending the outcomes of such deals. The people of Ohio, their Constitution and their representative government are left standing on the curb.

Regardless of the governor's intentions, the rule of law cannot be displaced for any crisis, community or convenience. Every governor swears to uphold and defend the Ohio Constitution. If the governor wants to assist the casino industry, facilitate racetrack casinos and promote more gambling in Ohio, he has every right to do so according to the rule of law. Neither this governor nor any future governor has the right, however, to take the law into his own hands and overrule the Ohio Constitution.

These actions by the governor prove again that casino gambling and good government don't mix.

Rob Walgate is vice president of the Ohio Roundtable, a non-profit, independent public-policy organization.

Crown casino took advantage of gambling addict

Crown casino took advantage of millionaire Harry Kakavas, court told
Norrie Ross
From: Herald Sun

CROWN Casino took advantage of millionaire property developer Harry Kakavas by allowing him to play the baccarat tables when it knew he had a pathological gambling addiction, three appeal judges heard today.

Allan Myers QC, for Mr Kakavas, said his client was not truly responsible for his own actions when he lost millions at Crown and the casino should have refused to deal with him.

Mr Myers told the Court of Appeal that a person betting $300,000 every few seconds at the baccarat table was an indication they did not have the ability to look after their own interests.

Mr Kakavas had excluded himself from every casino in Australia, including Crown, and it was not disputed he had a "special disability'' that meant he could not deal on equal terms with Crown.

"He had a 12-year history with Crown and an evident gambling problem,'' Mr Myers said.

Mr Myers said the law stated that parties to any transaction had to have the ability to "conserve their interests'' and casinos were not exempt from the protection offered to people with disabilities.

"A person seeking to conserve their interests would not enter a casino,'' commented Justice Philip Mandie.

The Gold Coast property developer turned over $1.5 billion on Crown's baccarat tables between June 2005 and August 2006, betting up to $300,000 a hand.

Mr Kakavas is appealing against a decision of Supreme Court judge Justice David Harper, who threw out Mr Kakavas's $35 million claim against Crown, saying his gambling addiction did not disadvantage him in his dealings with the casino.

Justice Harper said he accepted Mr Kakavas had a medically diagnosed gambling addiction, but concluded that he had been in full control of his actions and at all times had the power to self-exclude.

In the same judgment, Justice Harper questioned Crown casino's self-proclaimed status as the world's leader in responsible gambling.

Mr Myers said the Gambling Regulation Act said that people who self-excluded themselves or were excluded for other reasons should not be allowed to enter a casino or remain in a casino.

Justice Mandie asked if it was relevant whether a person was wealthy and could afford to lose large sums of money.

Mr Myers said that legally a casino could not accept a $1000 bet from the richest man in the world if he had excluded himself.

"Whether Mr Kakavas could afford to lose is neither here not there,'' he said.

The hearing is continuing.

Massachusetts Isn't Ready for Casino Gambling

Former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger raises many accurate and critical issues about the closed door meetings being conducted on Beacon Hill about Casino Gambling.

This process needs to be conducted in the public arena and concerns need to be addressed, including the regulatory framework and costs.

Listen and watch below:

Keller @ Large: Harshbarger Argues Mass. Isn’t Ready For Casino Gambling

VIDEO

VIDEO

BOSTON (CBS) – State leaders want to bring casino gambling here to Massachusetts.

But, some critics are concerned that could be a losing bet for the Bay State.

WBZ’s Jon Keller is at large with Scott Harshbarger, the former attorney general of Massachusetts.

Harshbarger, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1998, argues that Massachusetts is “unprepared” to administer a new casino industry.

He adds that the Bay State would need a strong regulatory and enforcement scheme in place to ensure that money and power don’t just go to the benefit of would-be casino owners.

“We don’t have the enforcement tools to deal with economic crime,” said Harshbarger.

Embassy says Jamaica casinos were a done deal before 2007 poll

Makes you wonder!


Embassy says Jamaica casinos were a done deal before 2007 poll

With reports now surfacing of an anonymous email sent to the contractor general questioning the process surrounding the awarding of two provisional casino licences, the US Embassy cables acquired by The Gleaner through WikiLeaks give an initial response from the Americans. The cable, dated April 24, 2008, has been edited for length and libel.


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000354

SUBJECT: JAMAICA: PM GOLDING GAMBLES ON CASINOS AS PART OF IMPRESSIVE BUDGET PRESENTATION

SUMMARY

1. Despite strong opposition from the powerful church lobby, Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced his government's decision to issue two casino licences.

The conditional licences will be issued to real estate projects by Celebration Jamaica (Palmyra Resort) and Tavistock Group (Harmony Cove).

As part of the agreement, both groups will be required to invest a minimum of US$1.5 billion and build at least 1,000 rooms.

Taxes generated from the industry will be used to fund the country's enormous social deficit.

End Summary.

Vegas on the north coast?

2. After years of robust opposition from Jamaica's influential church lobby, Golding took the bold step of legalising casinos. The decision to revisit the introduction of casino gaming came out of the review of a report prepared in consultation with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Canada, which concluded that casinos could be a vibrant industry for Jamaica and result in significant new employment opportunities.

But gambling is not new

3. Although bringing full-service casinos to the island has always been a lightning rod issue, in reality, gambling has become commonplace for many Jamaicans.

There are horse-racing events at least twice per week, a national lottery, and numerous slot machine establishments on the island.

Golding highlighted this fact in his speech, arguing that the country has tiptoed around the issue, not wanting to be embroiled in the controversy.

He pointed out that in the 1990s, the previous government had started issuing licences for the operation of slot machines, leading to several gaming lounges and hundreds of slot machines in operation throughout Jamaica.

To make matters worse, in 2006, the previous government had entered into an agreement with the private equity group Tavistock for the development of the Harmony Cove project, which was subject to the issuance of a casino gaming licence.

Jobs, jobs, and more jobs ...

4. The decision to bring major casinos to the island was not surprising, given that then shadow Finance Minister Audley Shaw told (embassy officials) in August 2007 that casino gaming would be introduced irrespective of which party was elected.

Members of the Harmony Cove Board told (embassy officials) casinos were "a done deal".

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has used the last four months promoting gambling as a way to expand the tourism sector.

The most important factor leading to the approval of casinos is that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)-led Government is coming under increasing pressure to deliver on its promise to provide "jobs, jobs, and more jobs". In this regard, the Government has approved proposals from the developers of the Palmyra Resort and Spa, operating as Celebration Jamaica Limited, for a 2,080-room hotel at a cost of US$1.8 billion.

As part of its casino licence, Tavistock also has agreed to increase the size of its project from 4,500 rooms to 8,500, with an additional investment of US$1-US$2 billion. With each hotel room requiring two workers, these two investments are expected to employ over 20,000 people.


Comment

8. (SBU) From all indications, Golding's maiden Budget presentation appears to have been well received among Jamaicans. Most analysts are suggesting that he demonstrated a good command of his areas of responsibility.

This is not surprising, given that he started preparing for this moment almost 36 years ago.

Performance aside, the decision to introduce casino gaming is fraught with political danger, given the influence of the Church, and must have been a delicate balancing act between economics and politics.

The fact that the decision was taken so early in the administration allows the Government some time to point to any economic expansion that follows before facing elections.

End comment

'Former ministers implicated in casino case'

'Former ministers implicated in casino case'
By Raed Omari

AMMAN - A parliamentary committee probing a suspected corruption case dubbed “casino file” has completed its investigation, implicating former ministers and senior officials, a veteran MP said on Wednesday.

Head of the committee, Deputy Khalil Atiyyeh (Amman, 1st District) told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday that the panel has completed its four-week-long investigation and has referred its findings to the Lower House speaker’s office.

Atiyyeh noted that the committee had collected documented evidence and listened to testimonies of every person involved, including former ministers and senior officials, all members of the Jordan Tourism Board and the administrative team that handled the agreement.

Under the 2007 casino agreement, the government then authorised a London-based investor to build a casino on the shores of the Dead Sea, but one week after approving the agreement, the officials in charge decided to put the brakes on the deal until further notice. The government of Nader Dahabi renegotiated the agreement to avoid paying $1.4 billion in fines for annulling the agreement.

Atiyyeh noted that the panel followed strict legal standards in its investigation, explaining that every single incident related to the case, even marginal matters, was taken into consideration.

“We verified the authenticity of every single document and no conclusion was reached depending just on one single testimony.

He added that the panel came up with the conclusion that clear legal and constitutional violations were committed by senior officials when handling the agreement.

“Exploitation and misuse of public office, embezzlement, violation of the constitutional oath, hiding important documents and files, violating tender regulations and tourism laws and hindering justice are among the crimes committed in relation to the casino case,” the MP said.

To give credibility to the panel’s investigation, the lawmaker again cited Article 56 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the House is the only body authorised to look into cases involving ministers.


Moreover, Atiyyeh explained that the Higher Council for the Interpretation of the Constitution decided in 1992 to grant lawmakers the right not only to charge ministers with regard to investigations carried out by the judiciary or any other entity, but also to conduct separate investigations, gather evidence and interrogate officials.

He said that the case is now in the hands of the House speaker who will take action in line with the Constitution.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) started a probe into the case but later referred the file to the House, upon request of lawmakers, who said Parliament was the only entity authorised to impeach ministers.

Back then, the House decided to start a probe into the case from scratch, rejecting all related data collected and sent by the ACC.

Jury selection in bingo trial begins Monday

Jury selection in bingo trial begins Monday
By Lance Griffin Media General News Service

The trial of nine defendants charged with conspiracy and bribery in relation to a failed electronic bingo bill could last more than 60 days, but some believe the course of the trial could be decided in the next three days when the jury is selected.

“Proper jury selection in white-collar crime cases can win or lose the case,” said California attorney Mitch Jackson, a senior litigation partner with the firm Jackson and Wilson. “Depending on whether you’re representing the prosecution or defense, having the right people sitting on your jury is, in my opinion, 80 percent of the work.”

Jury selection begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Frank M. Johnson Federal Building in Montgomery. Potential jurors will be brought into the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson in panels of 25, and will be asked a myriad of questions designed to help the attorneys gain information.

However, most attorneys have already done hours of homework to learn as much as possible about the jury panel through social media and other avenues.

“As soon as they get the (jury list), I assume the lawyers will try to run back and get any information they can. You could find out if someone is a member of a particular church, all sorts and kinds of information is out there now for people that put it on their Facebook pages and other pages,” said Daniel Filler, professor of law at Drexel University and a University of Alabama Law School graduate.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have submitted scores of proposed jury questions that should gauge potential jurors’ knowledge of the case and attitudes about certain aspects of the case, such as gambling.

Filler said a potential juror’s choice of clothing, or even accessories, could be a critical piece of information.

“They will look at things like tattoos — someone who looks distinct — maybe a person who has a tattoo that is very visible. Ragged clothing could be something. Good lawyers look at everything. Did someone bring a book or magazine in? What was it? Did they bring an iPad in?,” Filler said.

Terrence Dwyer, an assistant professor at Western Connecticut State University, who spent 17 ½ years in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for the New York State Police, said white collar, high-profile defendants do not generally want blue-collar jurors.

“The average blue-collar guy is not going to be a sympathetic juror for politicians accused of public corruption,” Dwyer said. “Who might be? Someone who is upper middle-class, educated, possibly runs their own successful business.”

Dwyer also said conspiracy cases involving multiple defendants are difficult to follow, and can present a problem for prosecutors who often have to untangle a multi-faceted effort on the part of several defendants.

“Jurors have to be able to follow the sequence of events and apply the law given to them in the jury charge and instructions at the end of the trial,” he said. “This can be exhaustive and demands careful attention to the evidence. So, prosecutors want jurors who will follow the evidence and remain attentive. Defense attorneys will want the same, but they are looking for the most open-minded of jurors, those who will weigh the evidence but who can be persuaded. Remember, the prosecution has to build the house, the defense merely has to show some fault in the construction.”

Thompson will seat a jury of 12 with four alternates. Opening arguments will begin at the conclusion of jury selection.


Jury selection starting in Alabama's gambling corruption trial

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Jury selection is scheduled to begin in Montgomery for Alabama's gambling corruption trial.

Attorneys say it could take two to three days to pick a jury to hear the trial of VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor, two of McGregor's lobbyists, state Sens. Quinton Ross and Harri Anne Smith, former Sens. Jim Preuitt and Larry Means, and two others.

A federal grand jury indicted them on bribery and fraud charges that accuse them of buying and selling votes on pro-gambling legislation.

Prosecutors say they will present many tape recordings during the trial. Some were from a wiretap on McGregor's phone, while others were made by three cooperating legislators who wore recording devices for the FBI.


Jury selection starting in Alabama's gambling corruption trial

Prosecutors say they will present many tape recordings during the trial. Some were from a wiretap on McGregor's phone, while others were made by three cooperating legislators who wore recording devices for the FBI.

Minnesota casino fined $250,000 for not complying with IRS guidelines on Title 31

Although the ad below promotes software, it highlights the failure of casinos [Slot Barns] to adhere to the laws and regulations intended to stop money laundering, among other things --

NEWave Advises North American Casino Gaming Industry on Title 31 Reporting Requirements


LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - Jun 1, 2011) - A Minnesota casino was recently fined $250,000 for not complying with IRS guidelines on Title 31 reporting requirements. Now auditing and compliance experts NEWave are advising the North American casino gaming industry on Title 31 reporting requirements and the potential cost of non-compliance.

"The U.S. government is absolutely serious about enforcing Title 31 compliance, because it has been found in numerous cases that criminals will try to use casinos to launder money, money which could then be used to fund a variety of heinous crimes," said NEWave COO Tom Bechtel. "The government believes strict compliance with Title 31 guidelines benefits society as a whole, because it stops crimes before they start."

A recently released IRS study found there are critical areas of Title 31 reporting that are frequently missed by casinos, including:

•A Currency Transaction Report (CTR) must be filed within 15 calendar days following the day the reportable transaction occurs.
•A copy of each CTR must be retained by the financial institution for five years.
"We understand Title 31 can be complicated, and complying with all of the Title 31 rules and regulations can be difficult; however, the benefits of Title 31 are worth the trouble. And to help, our myCompliance™ software suite simplifies the reporting and ensures compliance."

Restructure gambling law, board

The Slot Barn Industry spent buckets of cash...was it $60 million? convincing the Pennsylvania legislature to pass slip shod legislation at midnight on the Fourth of July.

That legislation neglected any provision addressing children and pets left in vehicles by the Gambling Addict because everyone, it seems, failed to conduct their due diligence into a known problem created by this predatory industry.

A few were even content to proclaim their ignorance of the Industry for the record:

"One thing that we never expected was for people to leave their kids inside their cars while they went inside to gamble," said Fred Harran, Bensalem's public safety director.

"Of all the problems we thought about that were going to happen, this is one thing that was probably inconceivable," State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R., Bucks) said at a noon news conference Thursday in Bensalem.



From: Smack into the face of addiction

"It's amazing to me that legislators are surprised at this stuff," said Paul Boni, a Philadelphia lawyer who has represented anti-casino groups. "You are looking smack into the face of the addiction.

"They are surprised because they haven't thought about it and haven't looked into the issue."

During the 10 years ending in 2003, KidsAndCars.org collected accounts of more than 30 cases of parents' leaving children in locked cars outside casinos.

That was shown to be a lowball count when the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal studied Indiana Gaming Commission records to reveal 37 incidents in which 72 children were left unattended at casinos in that state in 1999 and 2000.

News stories contain dozens of accounts of gamblers across the nation who left children in vehicles.

A few cases have proved fatal.


In 1997, a 10-day-old girl died in a car while her mother gambled for hours in a South Carolina casino.

The next year, a 3-year-old Louisiana boy died in hot van while his nanny played video poker for five hours.

In 2004, a 9-month-old Florida girl died in her car seat outside a track where her father was betting on horses.

This comment should surprise no one and parallels the process in Massachusetts-

The law was written to serve the casino industry....



Restructure gambling law, board
For all of the 21 major recommendations made by a statewide investigative grand jury in its withering critique of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, it stopped short of the most fundamental one.

After a two-year investigation of the board's award of casino licenses and its related operations, the grand jury did not recommend any criminal charges. That, however, does not validate board Chairman Gregory Fajt's self-serving assertion that the board's work has been an unmitigated success. Like many other public officials, Mr. Fajt mistook the lack of criminal charges for proof of effective public service.

The board might well have operated in accordance with the law but the problem is that law itself is deeply flawed. Mr. Fajt crowed that much of what the grand jury found previously had been reported in the state's newspapers, calling it "old news." Unfortunately, that just indicates that lawmakers will pay no more attention to the grand jury report than they did to previous revelations of the law's many profound shortcomings. The Legislature, after all, has ignored most of the recommendations by a separate grand jury that made a host of sensible suggestions for the Legislature's reform in the wake of the "Bonusgate" corruption investigation.

Some of the needed reforms have been obvious from the beginning. Foremost among those is the need for investigations related to casino regulation to be conducted by an independent body rather than by an in-house bureau that reports to the board.

No gamble for some applicants

But the principal problem is one that afflicts much of what the state Legislature does. The law was written to serve the casino industry, the politicians who advocated for it and specific narrow interests within that industry, rather than the public interest. For example, Pennsylvania's casino law is the only one among the states that allows someone with a felony conviction to obtain a license - a provision that applied to a single applicant and eventual licensee, Dunmore businessman Louis DeNaples.

Because of its structure, the seven-member board is a political extension of the Legislature. The governor appoints three members and the leaders of each of the major party caucuses in the House and Senate appoint four - one each. Although a simple majority is needed to approve license awards and policy decision, all four of the legislative appointees have to agree. Thus, each legislative appointee has veto power. A 6-1 vote is meaningless unless the majority includes all four legislative appointees.

That is a formula for chicanery. As the report pointed out, attorney William Conaboy of Scranton, who was appointed to the board by then-Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow of Lackawanna County, was badgered by the Democratic caucus after he said he would recuse himself from voting on the DeNaples license application. Mr. Conaboy was friendly with Mr. DeNaples and had represented him on several matters. Recusal was the appropriate course.

Mr. Conaboy testified that Mr. Mellow had told him that he wanted a casino in his senatorial district. Mount Airy Casino Resort, Mr. DeNaples' project, was the only application to meet that description.

Establish independent board

Reform is needed even though only one casino license remains to be awarded. The Legislature should begin by making the board answerable to the public rather than to individual politicians and their patrons. An independent commission should recommend appointees to the governor, whose nominees then should be subject to confirmation hearings and votes in the Senate. There should be no individual veto among board members; each vote should count.

Such a board would undertake needed reforms without the embarrassment of having to be cajoled into doing so by a criminal grand jury.

For additional information:
Casino-Free Philadelphia
Stop Predatory Gambling
United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts