Prosecutors told to disclose more evidence in Wynn case

Information affects criminal case against former owners of Everett property

UPDATED 8:54 PM EDT Aug 14, 2015

BOSTON —A federal magistrate has ordered prosecutors to disclose any information about what Wynn Resorts might have known regarding alleged criminals associated with the Everett land it's developing into a $1.7 billion casino.

Magistrate Marianne Bowler ruled Friday in Boston that the information affects a criminal wire fraud case against three former owners of the property.

But she said federal prosecutors don't have to provide further information about allegations Wynn representatives had unauthorized access to a state and federal criminal probe into the land deal. That allegation has figured prominently in the case and in Boston's civil lawsuit challenging Wynn's gambling license.

Charles Lightbody, Dustin DeNunzio and Anthony Gattineri are accused of trying to conceal that Lightbody, a convicted felon, was illegally profiting from the land deal.

http://www.wcvb.com/money/prosecutors-told-to-disclose-more-evidence-in-wynn-case/34729294

Wynn Resorts Releases Rendering of Everett CasinoHarborwalk

Casino News Daily

Gambling operator Wynn Resorts released on Thursday a rendering of its 20-foot wide pedestrian and bicycle harborwalk, which is to be part of the ...

Officials confer on traffic changes near proposed Everett casino - Boston Globe

Full Coverage

By Evening Gazette

Gambling addict Middlesbrough dad of two warns of dangers of roulette machines

20 Jan 2014 10:55
Dad-of-two Michael O'Grady, 29, says roulette machines, with their 'user-friendly' setup, are 'the most addictive gambling activity'

Michael O'Grady

By Abigail Wing

A dad-of-two who gambled away £250,000 as part of his addiction - is now warning others about the dangers of roulette machines.

Middlesbrough man Michael O’Grady, 29, started gambling when he was 19 with the odd football bet and what he calls ‘social gambling.’

“I’d go to the casino and take about £50-100, being sociable with friends.”

But after losing both his parents to cancer, his habit became destructive. Michael said: “I used gambling as a kind of escapism, a fantasy world.”

Roulette machines have been criticised for their ‘user-friendly’ setup - comfy chairs, fast button reactions and HD screens.

“It’s the most addictive gambling activity,” said Michael.

“They’re isolated; it’s just you and the machine.”

When he worked away he would spend all of his wages on gambling and live on stale bread and beans.

However he claims that he always had enough to send home to his partner and children, now aged four and six.

“I would consider myself to be a very serious gambler. If I was a heroin addict, I would be dead.” Michael said.

“I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t take drugs. But roulette, black jack, poker, all the games on those machines are addictive in nature.”

Michael sought help through therapy and Youtube video diaries of other gambling addicts.

Now working as a welding inspector in Tyneside, Michael is making a serious effort in order to pay his debts back - which he says are about £20,000.

He plans to hand over financial control to a family member.

“I’d pop to the shop for a pint of milk and put a bet on as well. I’d spend £16 on a pint of milk.”

For anyone else struggling with a gambling addiction, Michael offered some advice.

“Confide in somebody you’re close to, and get rid of the element of easy access to cash,” he said.

“You need to be treated like a baby for some amount of time.”

Andy Preston, Chairman of Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation said: “These clever, devious computers, strip almost £13m out of the Teesside economy.”

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham said: “There are as many as 132 machines across the Stockton borough.

“The prevalence of these machines has huge consequences for families, for levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, and it could not be clearer that vulnerable communities are being targeted.”

For more information on gambling addiction visit the NHS website, or call Alliance Psychological Services in Stockton on 01642 352747.


http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/gambling-addict-middlesbrough-dad-two-6528027

 

Money-laundering probe at pubs

Money-laundering probe at pubs

• by:Chip Le Grand and Adam Shand
• From:The Australian
• July 19, 201312:00AM

 

AS many as six suburban pokies venues owned by billionaire Bruce Mathieson are under investigation by federal and state authorities for allowing Vietnamese syndicates to launder millions of dollars of suspected drug money through their gaming machines. The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, jointly owned by the Mathieson family and Woolworths, confirmed that federal financial regulator Austrac and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation were examining evidence of large-scale cheque-buying at its venues, a practice that allows criminals to launder money and problem gamblers to plough jackpots back into machines.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/money-laundering-probe-at-pubs/story-e6frg8zx-1226681633933

New Mexico: Ignoring the costs

Embezzlement case shines light on gambling addiction

By Ryan Boetel rboetel@daily-times.comdaily-times.com

Updated: 01/12/2013

FARMINGTON — Northern Edge to the south. Flowing Water to the west. SunRay to the east. Sky Ute to the north. San Juan County residents are surrounded by casinos. A recent embezzlement case that, police said, was linked to the woman's gambling addiction raised questions about what effects the nearby casinos have on the community.  Melissa Mead, 34, was arrested Wednesday for suspicion of embezzling $24,000 from the Bloomfield Motor Vehicle Department. Police said Mead stole cash from the department to feed her gambling addiction. Farmington has never studied how crime and poverty rates changed after casinos opened, said Dan Darnell, a Farmington city councilor and the executive director of San Juan Safe Communities Initiative.  Darnell said he will soon approach Safe Communities and the city about a possible study to see how gambling establishments have affected the area.  "Those are the types of trends we need to know," Darnell said. "We need to look at criminal activity before and after (a casino) opened."  Some business experts say there is a link between casino access and embezzling.  "Some of it may be that there's more opportunity to gamble. A lot of the embezzlement I've seen, they've been linked to gambling problems," said Scott Samuelson, a partner at Chandler & Co. LLP, a Farmington accounting firm.
Casinos have not always been a part of San Juan County culture. SunRay Park and Casino opened in 1999 and was the first casino in the Farmington area. Northern Edge Navajo Casino opened in Upper Fruitland in January 2012 and Flowing Water Navajo Casino east of Shiprock opened in 2010. Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio, Colo. opened in November 2008.
 There are also other casinos in southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico that local patrons could frequent.  "It's one of those things where 10 years ago we didn't have any and now we have four that surround us," San Juan County Executive Officer Kim Carpenter said. "It's a big business."  SunRay Park and Northern Edge declined to comment for this article. They declined to provide information about their revenue.  Carpenter said since Northern Edge opened the county collected about $1 million less in taxes from SunRay in a year, which suggests the money is now being spent at Navajo casino, he said.  "That in itself is another telling story about the amount of gambling that goes on in a casino," he said.  "The more options there are the more people that are going to want to try their hand at gambling." Alisha Hawthorne, a counselor who works with gambling addicts in Farmington, said adding casinos to an area can increase the number of problem gamblers.  There was a spike in people seeking treatment for a gambling addiction in Farmington after Northern Edge opened, she said.  Problem gamblers and regular casino patrons have different mindsets when they enter a casino, she said.  "Problem gamblers spend money that was for bills and groceries," she said. "They go in with the intent of winning. And when they lose, they go back with the intent to win their money back."  If people do use casinos, they should enter with the amount of money they are willing to lose and leave when it's gone, she said.  Hawthorne said a gambling addiction can be just as crippling a drug addiction.  But there are not nearly the amount of local resources available to gambling addicts compared to people with drug addictions.  There is not a gambler's anonymous or any other support group for problem gamblers offered anywhere in the county. And most of the counseling service centers in Farmington said they didn't treat gambling addiction when reached by phone Friday.  "We need to find people who are fighting this and find a place where they can come in an be a support group," Hawthorne said. REFER: Local officials say gambling addiction has led to some local cases of embezzlement. For more on a rash of embezzlements and tips on how businesses can protect themselves from employee theft, see Monday's edition of The Daily Times and online at daily-times.com.

http://www.daily-times.com/ci_22363633/embezzlement-case-shines-light-gambling-addiction

Gambling Addict Steals From Elderly Woman

Gambling addict care home manager stole £100,000 from elderly resident to fund casino 'double life' he hid from family

Addict: Imran Ahmed, 39, has been jailed for three years 

after stealing £100,000 from Audrey Green at a care home

that he managed in Beeston, Nottingham

• Imran Ahmed, 39, stole the huge sum from 80-year-old Audrey Green
• He took £58,000 in cash and £43,000 in cheques over five-year period
• Ahmed's family owned the Lilac House Care Home in Beeston, Nottingham
• Father-of-two described as having 'pathological addiction' that he hid

By Mario Ledwith
PUBLISHED:14:14 EST, 11 January 2013


A prolific gambler stole more than £100,000 from an elderly resident at the care home he managed in order to fund his secret addiction.

Imran Ahmed admitting stealing the money from an account belonging to 80-year-old Audrey Green, a resident at the Lilac House Care Home in Beeston, Nottingham.

The 39-year-old used the money to fund 'a double life' of casinos and horse racing.

The father-of-two, whose family owned the care home, was jailed for three years at Nottingham Crown Court.

Over the course of five years, Ahmed siphoned over £100,000 from the resident's account without her knowledge.

He used the money to pay for his addiction, which his family was unaware of, as he spun a web of lies to hide his financial affairs.
Ahmed was well thought of in the nursing profession, having obtained his diploma in 1997, but he began gambling at university and it had become 'a pathological addiction'.

He made cash withdrawals from ATMs using Mrs Green’s debit card which was kept, along with her personal identification number, in a safe at the care home.

Prosecutor Esther Harrison said Ahmed would use the card to withdraw between £150 and £300 at a time, sometimes taking out money more than once a day.

Ahmed, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey wool jacket and white shirt, also stole the resident’s chequebook.

Mrs Harrison told the court he stole £58,000 in cash and some £43,000 in cheques from Mrs Green’s account.

The theft only came to light when the care home closed in 2011.

Mrs Green was described as a 'vulnerable woman' who 'lacked confidence and was not financially aware'.

Vulnerable: Ahmed stole the money using the woman's debit card and chequebook when she was staying at Lilac House Care Home in Beeston, Nottingham, which his family owned

The court heard how Ahmed was attracted by the thrill of the gambling lifestyle and being 'with the high rollers'.

Judge Michael Stokes said: 'Those who take advantage of the elderly are the worst sort in my view.'

Ahmed looked down in the dock as Mr Stokes sentenced him to three years in prison, of which he will serve half before being eligible for release.

Mr Stokes added: 'Audrey Green, who is now 80, was living at Lilac House. She was under your care and she was vulnerable. She had little financial know how and I have no doubt she must have appeared to you an easy target.
Jailing Ahmed, the judge said his behaviour was as 'gross a breach of trust as it is possible to imagine'.

He said: 'Elderly vulnerable people are regrettably far too often the target of fraudsmen and the court has got to make it plain that anyone who takes part in this deliberate behaviour will be severely punished.

'You had an extensive and long-standing gambling addiction which a report tells me has been the driver of your offending. Doubtless it was but that in reality it amounts to little in mitigation.'
Defending Ahmed, Mr Philip Bown said: 'This was a man being driven to distraction by the pathological addiction to gambling. It was running his life.

Addict: Imran Ahmed, 39, has been jailed for three years after stealing £100,000 from Audrey Green at a care home that he managed in Beeston, Nottingham

He said his client was full of remorse and that gambling now 'sickens' his client. Ahmed apologised to Mrs Green’s family in the dock before he was convicted.

He said: 'I want to publicly apologise to Mrs Green and her friends for the pain and hardship that I have caused them.'

The Nursing and Midwifery Council has been made aware of the proceedings, the court heard.

Mr Stokes said Ahmed would never work in the care profession again.

Th crime came to light when the home announced its closure and friends of Mrs Green were told there was insufficient funds to pay for her care.

Janet and Paul Boothroyd, of Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, looked at Mrs Green’s bank statements and noticed the money had been taken from her account.

The couple, who have known Mrs Green for 15 years contacted Barclays bank and Social Services who launched an investigation and urged them to alert the police.

Speaking after the sentencing today, Mrs Boothroyd said: 'It’s been a two-year struggle to get it here for her and I’m a bit disappointed with three years.'

'Whether he stole the money for gambling or whatever it doesn’t matter. The fact of the matter remains that he stole money from a vulnerable, old woman. She went into the home just before her husband’s death five or six years ago. I think they’d been married for some 25 years.'

Mrs Boothroyd said Barclays had been very understanding and had returned £96,000 to Mrs Green.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260960/Gambling-addict-care-home-manager-Imran-Ahmed-stole-100-000-elderly-resident-fund-casino-double-life-hid-family.html#ixzz2HlkrSwId

Plainridge's Bogus Lawsuits

Casino hopeful’s bogus lawsuit threatens use of social media

October 02, 2012

If snarky jokes on Facebook pages are grounds for defamation suits, the opponents of a Plainville slots parlor aren’t the only people in Massachusetts who need lawyers. But frivolous litigation filed by Ourway Realty LLC, the owner of a racetrack that hopes to obtain a state gambling license, is no laughing matter, and state judges should make short work of it and other suits like it.

As Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham reported recently, Plainville resident Thomas Keen helped organize a group to fight a proposed racino at Plainridge Racecourse and registered a website for it.

Someone in the group set up a Facebook page. After a break-in at Keen’s house, he gave a webcam image of the perpetrator to Plainville police. They put it on their Facebook page. Someone shared it to No Plainville Racino’s Facebook page. A pseudonymous comment appeared: “I wonder if they checked over at the racetrack, lol.” Ourway Realty sued Keen not just to have the comment taken down — it already had been — and to obtain financial damages, but also to “prohibit any further publication” of information that “associates” the racino project with crime and criminals.

Legal actions by deep-pocketed companies against community activists are an old dirty trick; the plaintiffs’ hope is that the cost and hassle of litigation will tamp down opposition. The Ourway suit, if it goes forward, poses a particular threat to grass-roots activism today; many nascent causes get organized on Facebook or Twitter, where an ironic sensibility often prevails.

The lawsuit reflects, at best, a misunderstanding about how social media operate. Keen maintains he didn’t post the picture on the anti-racino Facebook page; someone else shared it. Nor did he post the comment in question. Moreover, the “LOL” — for “laughing out loud” — at the end of the offending, and now deleted, comment makes it clear that whoever wrote it was kidding. Thankfully, Keen is getting legal help from the American Civil Liberties Union. If average citizens can be sued over anonymous jokes on Facebook, it’s not just casino opponents in Plainville who are in trouble.


http://articles.boston.com/2012-10-02/editorials/34201478_1_facebook-page-racino-plainville-police

76-year-old man robbed, kidnapped at Vicksburg casino

76-year-old man robbed, kidnapped at Vicksburg casino: report
Sep 19, 2012

Written by The Clarion-Ledger

A 76-year-old man was robbed and kidnapped at a Vicksburg casino, according to a report. Three people have been arrested for the crimes, the report stated.

Vicksburg police investigators said at 2:39 p.m. Monday the 76-year-old man, whose name was not released, was hit in the head while locking his car in the parking lot of the Rainbow Casino in Vicksburg, according to WAPT.

The man was reportedly robbed of $198 and forced to drive to a Wal-Mart in town. The man was then forced to withdraw another $250, according to the report. The man was forced to drive to Highway 61, where his attacker jumped out of the car and into another that was apparently following him.

The man was reportedly robbed of $198 and forced to drive to a Wal-Mart in town. The man was then forced to withdraw another $250, according to the report. The man was forced to drive to Highway 61, where his attacker jumped out of the car and into another that was apparently following him.

A Vicksburg police investigator is said to have recognized one of the suspects at a football game the next day. The investigator is said to have watched surveillance video from the casino and from Wal-Mart. The off-duty investigator notified the department, WAPT reported, which led to three arrests.

Authorities have arrested Lance Burton, 24, Kodey Goulette, 20, and Misty Lee, 21, all of Vicksburg, and all on charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120919/NEWS/120919009/76-year-old-man-robbed-kidnapped-Vicksburg-casino-report?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome

SugarHouse unable to keep patrons safe

From: Bill Kearney

Massachusetts ‘GAMING’ Future

This video link shows the suspects in the casino casing their targets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr34ojwkpPU

 

Published on Sep 21, 2012 by PhiladelphiaPolice

The Philadelphia Police Department is currently investigating a robbery pattern of patrons of the Sugar House Casino. In each incident, patrons cashed-in their winnings and are followed to their homes. The victims are robbed prior to entering their homes.

Northeast Detectives Division was able to obtain several videos from Sugar House Casino and developed a person of interest along with vehicles believed to have been used in the robberies.


If you see these suspects, do not approach them, contact 911 immediately.
To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.

If you have any information about these crimes or these suspects, please contact:
Northeast Detective Division
215-686-3153/3154

 Philadelphia Daily News - Sun, Sep. 23, 2012 - 8 casino winners wind up losers
...

AT LEAST eight lucky casino winners who have left SugarHouse Casino with big smiles and bulging wallets since June didn't have long to ponder how they'd spend their fortunes: Thugs followed them from the casino, ambushed them at home, and hustled off with their winnings.

On Friday, Philadelphia police asked for the public's help in identifying the serial robbers, who first struck June 19.

The heists occurred during the overnight hours in various neighborhoods throughout the city. The robbers escaped with anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $17,000, police said. Their total haul: At least $44,500. The most recent attack occurred Tuesday.

Twice, the robbers used a Taser on their victims, police said. They struck one victim with a brick, punched and kicked another, and hit a third in the head. In one attack, the victim fought back, biting a robber's finger - prompting police to add "finger injury" to their suspect description.

Police released a video of a suspected spotter who watched customers cash their winnings and then alerted his confederates.

In all but one of the cases, the victims were Asian, police said. Their attackers were black; further descriptions vary.

Police said they will investigate whether other muggings of casino customers can be connected to this team of robbers.

SugarHouse is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers. Police urged tipsters to call 9-1-1 or Northeast Detectives at 215- 686-3153.

See More

 

 

 

Genting: 3 senior staff face charges

This is the financial partner of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts, as well as Foxwoods, Seneca, and operator of Aqueduct. Genting is heavily investing to invade Florida by making generous campaign contributions and hire Gambling Lobbyists, many of whom were previously lawmakers.

3 senior staff face charges

People queuing to enter the casino at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

By Rennie Whang
The New Paper
Saturday, Sep 15, 2012

While investigating Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) for one breach, Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore (CRA) inspectors detected another set of alleged crimes.

It all began when RWS was found giving incentives to locals who bought or renewed the annual entry levies.

CRA then discovered that certain documents submitted by RWS staff could have been forged, and that false or misleading information could have been provided.

The cases were referred to the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), which started investigations on Sept 19 last year.

The senior vice-president of Gaming Services Department, Lee Poh Yee, and the vice-president of VIP Services, Gaming Services Department, Lim Tze Chean, will be charged by CAD on thursday for allegedly providing false information to CRA inspectors.

Lim will also be charged with alleged forgery.

The assistant manager of VIP Services, Gaming Services Department, Sim Bee Ling, will be charged with alleged abetment of forgery.

Lee and Lim remain suspended from their duties, while Sim has been on no-pay and maternity leave.
The former director of a school of tourism and hospitality, Mr Kelvin Yeo, said one of the primary roles of a VIP services staff member is to look after high rollers.

"Some (high rollers) could be determined by how high their stakes are. For others, it could also be their expenditure on hotel rooms, food and beverage."

An RWS spokesman said the company acknowledged the compliance breaches.

Once the company was aware of the breaches, it appointed a Board of Inquiry to conduct a full and independent investigation, as well as recommend changes, she said.

"Measures put forth by the Board of Inquiry have since been implemented, including staff training on compliance policies, and the setting-up of a compliance committee."

Incentives given  In the earlier breaches, staff members at RWS gave incentives such as hotel accommodation and Universal Studios Singapore tickets to locals for over four months, when they bought or renewed annual entry levies. For partially reimbursing the cost of these levies, Resorts World was fined S$600,000 by the CRA. RWS had also failed to submit details of this marketing programme to CRA, contravening CRA requirements. Under the Casino Control Act, local casino patrons - Singapore citizens and permanent residents - are required to either pay an annual entry levy of $2,000 or a daily entry levy of S$100 per 24 hour entry to the casinos. Casino operators are prohibited from refunding or reimbursing the entry levy, whether directly or indirectly. CRA chief executive Lau Peet Meng said it had, after discovering the breach, asked RWS to review its casino marketing programmes and promotions to ensure there are no further entry levy reimbursements. "While we note that RWS has put in place measures to strengthen its compliance processes as a result of this breach, CRA is sending a clear signal to the operator that they should comply fully with the social safeguards put in place to protect locals," he said. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran said CRA will continue to closely monitor and assess the casino operators' compliance with Singapore's legal and regulatory requirements. This is the second time RWS has been fined for reimbursing entry levies.
In 2011, it was fined S$200,000 after CRA found a senior manager had reimbursed entry levies paid by local reporters covering the launch of RWS's Ladies Club.

http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Crime/Story/A1Story20120913-371375.html

Suffolk Downs can't wait to create low wage jobs!

Community outreach next step as casino plans unravel

Written by Jasper Craven

Published Sep 6, 2012

As the Suffolk Downs Resort continues its push for a new $1 billion casino in association with Caesar’s Entertainment, casino opponents are pushing for more community education.

“In order to stop a casino license from being granted to Suffolk Downs, all residents in host communities need to do is vote ‘no’ in the referendum vote,” said Celeste Myers, co-chair of the community group No Eastie Casino.

The two cities must sign a community impact agreement in order for the casino to receive a license from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will release the application for all potential gaming sites in mid-October, said Elaine Driscoll, a media contact for the commission, in an email.

But the proposed casino, which would straddle the town lines of Revere and East Boston, has faced strong opposition from both communities.

“When you increase the population coming into a region by 20,000 to 40,000 visitors per day, you will see a rise in all segments of that population that includes a seedy element,” Myers said. “Real data shows that not only does crime of that variety increase in host and surrounding communities, but also incidences of embezzlement skyrocket.”

The proposed Suffolk Downs casino to be situated on the municipal line between East Boston and Revere has split the community. PHOTO COURTESY OF SUFFOLK DOWNS

Myers said additional social impacts of a Suffolk Downs casino would be severely elevated incidences of depression, addiction, spousal abuse, divorce and suicide.

The casino would generate $200 million in tax revenue each year, and would also add more than 4,000 jobs for locals, according to a Suffolk Downs Press release.

Anyone who knows the Gambling Industry, knows who ridiculous these figures are.

If the Gambling Industry were FORCED to pay this amount and COMMITTED to hire these phony numbers, you'd see how fast they became realistic.


“This is an opportunity to create a fiscal and economic boost for generations to come, recapturing Massachusetts discretionary spending that, for 20 years, has generated billions of dollars in tax revenues and thousands of jobs in Connecticut and Rhode Island,” said

Richard Fields, principal owner of Suffolk Downs, in a press release.

Richard Fields lives in WYOMING! He has no roots or concerns about the community destruction Predatory Gambling will bring to Boston. Richard Fields generously contributed to the 'charities' of Senator Petrucelli and Mayor Menino to buy their support and escape public disclosure.  

Fields said the casino is built upon “collaboration and partnership,” including with residents and community groups.

The Suffolk Downs proposal has “a commitment to create a venue that complements East Boston, Revere and surrounding communities,” he said.

But for casino opponents, the next step is community outreach and education, Myers said in a separate email interview.

Because local officials supported the bill without conducting an independent cost benefit analysis or communicating to residents about the process, the group “set out to schedule a series of information sessions to provide an overview of the bill, application process and very real impacts,” she said.

Other anti-casino groups that No Eastie Casino works with include No Revere Casino, Neighbors of Suffolk Downs and United to Stop Slots of Massachusetts, Myers said.

The casino has also faced some backlash from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who has opposed the plan to build the casino in phases.

Driscoll said the commission has not drafted all the specific criteria for a casino development in the state.

“Generally, the Commission will determine an applicant’s suitability based on finances and integrity,” she said. “The Commission will seek applications that most effectively address issues of job creation, community mitigation, workforce development, diversity and tourism, among others.”

It would appear that Ms. Driscoll merged the two-step process. The first portion of the process determines the financial solvency of the applicant and the integrity. The second step will determine the suitability of the proposal.

Revere Mayor Daniel Rizzo has launched a community outreach campaign to hear the concerns of the community.

“We must ensure that every member of the community has a voice in the process and for that reason we will be out there in the neighborhoods soliciting input,” Rizzo said in a press release.

However, both Menino and Rizzo have shown general support for the economic benefits that the Suffolk Downs casino could bring. [Studies have indicated that for every $1 in taxes, casino COST $3. How is that an economic benefit?]

Folks, Is there any community that is better off 5 years after a casino has opened?

Look at the slums, poverty and crime in Atlantic City.

How long will we allow public officials to ignore the evidence?


“The pro-casino movement, aside from the Suffolk Downs management team and our local and state officials, seems largely an ‘astro-turf’ organization,” Myers said.

The Friends of Suffolk Downs, which is featured on the resort’s website, includes testimonials from community members that support the casino as well as extensive information on potential job opportunities.

“Should we earn a license, The Resort at Suffolk Downs will seek a diverse pool of candidates and offer full job training for 4,000 new jobs,” according to the Friends of Suffolk Downs website. The website promises an average annual salary of $40,000 as well as good benefits and opportunities for career advancement. FACTS BELOW!

“[Supporters are] comprised primarily of track employees and others that have or hope for track and casino jobs or financial opportunities,” Myers said.

Suffolk Downs formally declared its intent to apply for a gaming license in August by filing all required forms and submitting the non-refundable application fee of $400,000 to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/09/06/community-outreach-next-step-as-casino-plans-unravel/


LOW WAGE JOBS

Can we NOT play games and accept that the 'average salary' will be $42K?

These are somewhat outdated because they predate the financial implosion of both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, but look at the breakdown:

Found here:
http://uss-mass.org/documents/Spectrum_Market%20Analysis3_31_10.pdf

SPECTRUM REPORT FOR DOSR: Low wage jobs
From: CT: Spectrum Gaming Report #11 Low Wage Jobs

A study prepared for the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce in 2007 arrived at conclusions similar to ours. The study estimated that the two casinos were
responsible for a total of 29,040 jobs in 2007, about 10 percent less than our figure.

Mohegan Sun employment by sector
Mohegan Sun executives provided us with a breakdown of average annual salaries by employee sector for 2007.

•52 senior management, $298,696
108 directors, $104,502.
535 managers $55,877
741 supervisors, $42,745
3,444 dealers and floor persons, $36,700

593 games support, $26,124
1,245 non-games floor support, $17,951
2,114 non-gambling support, $22,189
1,978 general support, $23,504

(note: this totals 10,810 jobs; 9374 (87%) of which pay at
or below $36,700;
5930 (55%) of which pay at or below $26,124)
– page
123 Spectrum Gaming Group (SGG) “Gambling in Connecticut” 2009

Foxwoods employment by sector
The data provided to us by casino management showed average
annual salaries for the following employee sectors at Foxwoods:

14 senior management, $262,893
66 directors, $114,327
247 managers $70,391
1,510 supervisors, $45,966

 

3,207 dealers and floor persons, $20,536
946 games support, $26,185
830 non-games floor support, $19,816
4,198 non-gambling support, $28,930
283 general support, $36,464

(note: this totals 11,301 jobs; 9181 (81%) of which pay at or below $28,930; 4037 (36%) of which pay at or below $20,536)

– page 124
Spectrum Gaming Group (SGG) “Gambling in Connecticut” 2009

http://middlebororemembers.blogspot.com/2012/06/tax-collection-stations.html

I don't want to overwhelm folks with too many statistics that are widely available, but the 'average' pay in Atlantic City is $10 an hour.

A federal reserve report determined that it was necessary to work 2 or 3 jobs to rise out of poverty.

These are LOW WAGE JOBS! You need more toilet cleaners, housekeepers than managers. I'm not demeaning the low wage jobs that are needed in the hospitality industry, but let's not pretend!

I began Middleboro Remembers with the intent to provide a resource for everyone to look up categories that were seeking.

You'll find a lengthy list on the right side, as well as opposition groups about the nation.

My blog categories are widely used on a daily basis for this reason.

For LOW WAGE JOBS there are ~ 137 articles. At the bottom, click "Older Posts" to see additional articles.

http://middlebororemembers.blogspot.com/search/label/low%20wage%20jobs

This is the truth about casino wages --

The union estimates the casino grosses more than $182 million annually, but pays workers little more than minimum wage, with food servers and janitors making $8 an hour.

The union said it wants to bring their employees up to scale with Cache Creek Casino and Golden Gate Fields, or closer to $12.50 an hour.

http://middlebororemembers.blogspot.com/2012/09/fighting-for-raise.html