An Alternative to casino gambling

An alternative to casino gambling

By State Reps. John Cebrowski and David Borden

Saturday, May 4, 2013


New Hampshire has been nibbling at casino gambling to fund needed government services for decades. The promise of easy money is hard to pass up. And it is also a way to deftly step around the political hot potato of pursuing an income tax or a sales tax. Just as people look to Powerball and Mega Millions for the “big hit” to ease their financial pain, the state wants to gamble on gambling to satiate its revenue appetite. Yes, there will be initial localized construction jobs and low-paying casino jobs, but as far as the New Hampshire citizenry is concerned, gambling is wealth-draining.

We are in this revenue- constrained situation because we have not been pursuing an obvious, and the better, revenue-generating alternative. That better alternative is manufacturing — advanced high-tech manufacturing — to drive tax revenues. To accomplish that, New Hampshire needs a comprehensive economic development plan, something it hasn’t had since 2001.

Here are a few facts:

1. Manufacturing is the state’s No. 1 industry, while business taxes account for approximately 23 percent of general fund revenues, the largest portion. Over the last five years, that percentage has been stagnant. To increase revenues for New Hampshire, we need to help existing manufacturers grow, and we need to recruit more advanced manufacturing and high tech businesses to move here and stay here.

2. New Hampshire is being out-invested and out-marketed by other states that are aggressively driving economic development. International and domestic firms seeking desirable landing places are responding to those states. As a consequence, New Hampshire’s job growth for the past 12 months ranks 37th, and from 2011 to 2012 New Hampshire personal income grew by 2.8 percent, ranking New Hampshire 39th.

3. The University System and the Community College System have committed to doubling the number of science, technology, engineering and math graduates by 2025. The pipeline of talent will be filling up with few places to go in New Hampshire.

4. World markets love American products. Export sales growth translates to profit growth, which translates to more business tax revenue — but first we need the manufacturers here.

5. We have a wealth of private capital in New Hampshire, at least $13 billion in endowments, trusts and other funds, for example. One fund manager says, “I would like to see these funds invested in New Hampshire economic development, but there is no channel for us, so our investment dollars flow out of state.”

6. Although energy rates are high in the Northeast, New Hampshire has the skills and incentives to help advanced manufacturing organizations approach “zero net energy” in their facilities.

Norm Fisk, director of the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Keene, writes in “How manufacturing will save NH” in the March issue of Business NH magazine, “The only way to create wealth is to grow it, mine it, or manufacture it.” In the same article, Dennis Delay, economist for the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy, speaking of manufacturing’s high wages says, “This has a huge effect on our economic future because, simply put, if we have a growth in higher paying jobs, those people can buy homes, products, and services. It brings about a positive ripple effect on New Hampshire’s entire economy.”

The cover story in the April 22 issue of Time magazine, “Made in the USA,” is also inspiring, stating, “.perhaps the best economic news the U.S. has witnessed since the rise of Silicon Valley: made in the USA is making a comeback.” Being an integral part of that comeback seems safer and smarter than relying on slots, blackjack and roulette.

Consider these questions:

Should we depend on the vagaries of a single casino, which represents an industry in trouble, or should we tie the state’s fiscal future to numerous leading-edge high tech producers?

Would it be better to be burdened with the negative social ripple effects that accompany casino gambling, or would it be better to reap positive social benefits as a result of higher-paying jobs and more assured tax revenue flows?

Do we want to tarnish New Hampshire’s enviable “brand” with gambling, or do we want to embellish that brand by being the prideful source of a growing array of exportable goods and services?

Should we enable casino amenities to cannibalize existing entertainment venues, restaurants and other small businesses, or enable New Hampshire’s entire economy to flourish, as Delay stated?

Casino gambling may be the easy thing to do, but a plan based on advanced high-tech manufacturing is the best thing to do for New Hampshire citizens and state government.



Rep. John Cebrowski is a Republican representative from Bedford and a member of the House Finance Committee. Rep. David Borden is a Democratic representative from New Castle and chairman of the Science, Technology and Energy committee.

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130504/GJOPINION_0102/130509640/-1/FOSOPINION

 

10 Signs of Gambling Addiction

10 Signs of Gambling Addiction

Compulsive gambling, the silent killer, is often overlooked despite the various signs of gambling addiction that may be present in a friend or loved one.

Compulsive gambling is often referred to as a “silent killer” simply because an addiction to gambling does not always readily stand out. The signs of gambling addiction are often overlooked as something else such as a desire to play games, an urge to win money or anything but a compulsive disorder that is out of control. Often times, the desire to gamble is so strong and the addiction is so serious that severe personal and social consequences, even death, can result.
It may be difficult to recognize the signs of gambling addiction for one reason or another. Chronic gamblers often lead seemingly normal lives but in the background, there is a serious problem at hand. Eventually, the addiction will cause destructive outcomes and there will be no mistaking the signs of gambling addiction; at that point, the biggest concern will be where to find help.

1. Obsession with Gambling

One of the most common signs of gambling addiction is the obsession that comes with it. Gambling addicts are obsessed with gambling and may be preoccupied with gambling to a point in which they don’t care about anything else. Compulsive thoughts about gambling or gambling obsessively to a point in which it causes other problems in your life are just a few of the common signs of gambling addiction.

2. Unable to Stop Gambling

Have you tried to quit gambling, made an honest commitment to quit and failed? If you are unable to stop gambling despite your desire to do so, you could be a gambling addict. The inability to quit even when you want to is one of many signs of gambling addiction that most addicts tend to immediately overlook or write off as something else.

3. Gambling Despite Consequences

Has gambling caused problems in your life such as financial difficulties, loss of a job or relationship problems? Many addicts and their loved ones tend to overlook even the most prominent signs of gambling addiction such as those which are present when excessive gambling is causing consequences in life and yet the individual continues to gamble anyway.

4. Psychological Withdrawal when NOT Gambling

Sometimes, the signs of gambling addiction are very similar to the signs of other addictions such as a drug or alcohol addiction. Psychologically, when a gambling addict is not gambling, he or she may be irritable, depressed or restless. These are all signs of emotional withdrawal which results when an addict is obsessed with gambling and has a perceived “need” to gamble in order to be happy.

5. Gambling to Improve Happiness

Do you or does someone you know seemingly gamble in order to be happy or have fun? If gambling is a necessary component of your happiness or elevated mood, there’s a good chance that gambling addiction is to blame. This is one of many commonly overlooked signs of gambling addiction that both addicts and those who are close to them tend to mistake for some other problem. Gambling to mask problems, feel happy or otherwise improve your emotions is a sure sign that there is a bigger problem at hand.

6. Stealing or Otherwise Breaking the Law to Gamble

An addict will often break the law in order to have the money that they need to gamble or to recover their losses. Stealing, committing fraud or otherwise breaking the law to fuel the habit are all signs of gambling addiction that should not be overlooked and which could lead to greater consequences including jail time or probation.

7. Denying that there is a Problem

Denial is a common sign of addiction and to state that there is not a problem when there really is happens to be common ground amongst addicts. If you suspect that a loved one has a gambling problem and you have hard evidence to back it up yet he or she continues to deny the problem, it could be time to seek professional help.

8. Financial Problems

One of the most prevalent signs of gambling addiction is financial problems that result from the compulsive gambling disorder. A friend may all off a sudden have problems with his or her personal finances or they may ask to borrow money often. Compulsive gamblers depend on others to provide them with money either to gamble or to pay expenses because they lost their money gambling.

9. Mood Swings

Compulsive gambling, especially when the gambling takes place as part of a double life in which friends and family are unaware, can lead to excessive mood swings. Mood swings are often overlooked or mistaken for upset that is not the result of the addiction but most often, mood swings are one of the signs of gambling addiction that should be spotted early on.

10. Hiding Gambling Behavior

As compulsive gambling progresses, and the addict comes under scrutiny from his or her friends or family members, it is not uncommon for the addict to begin hiding gambling behaviors. Hiding the behavior is one of the more common signs of gambling addiction and also one that’s really hard for outsiders to spot because they don’t know what’s going on—but for the addict, recognizing that it’s wrong to hide behaviors from loved ones is a step in the right direction when it comes to finding help for a compulsive gambling disorder.

Resources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/compulsivegambling.html

Young Gambling Addicts In New Jersey

Young Gambling Addicts In New Jersey [AUDIO]

By Kevin McArdleMay 2, 2013

 

Gaming industry leaders, law enforcement and state officials huddled at the State House yesterday to talk about the issue of gambling addiction in New Jersey.

Tom Grill, Getty Images

It’s a growing problem among teens and young adults, particularly college students.

 

“The estimate is 350,000 people are affected and it varies among age groups,” says Donald Weinbaum, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. “We do see that the rates are twice as high among young people. We see it among adolescents. We see it among young adults.”

 

How do we fix the problem? That’s not quite clear, but a five-year working group is being created to tackle the issue.

 

There’s also a concern that things could get worse now that online gaming is legal in the Garden State.

 

“Certainly that will make it (gambling) more available, more acceptable,” explains Weinbaum. “In the past the research has said that increased access increases incidents of addiction.”

 

More young people are in need of treatment according to gambling therapist Stephen Garbarini. He expects that trend to continue once online betting gets under way. The state legalized Internet gambling this year and the first online bets are expected by year’s end.

 

The ideas experts will be exploring include:

• Asking colleges to create rules on gaming like they have on drugs and alcohol.
• Promoting preventative measures at grade school and high school levels using social media.

http://nj1015.com/young-gambling-addicts-in-new-jersey-audio/

Floyd Mayweather's Gambling Addiction

Floyd Mayweather's Ex Opens Up About His Gambling Addiction, The Night He Beat Her, & MORE (VIDEOS)

Posted May 2, 2013 by SusannaOsborne for Global Grind Staff

On Floyd's “very risky” gambling -
“His ever-increasing fight purses have also been a means to facilitate his love for a bet, with former business partner Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson telling of $250,000 wagers on the halftime scores of NFL games,” Rodgers writes. “Harris has stories that even outrank that, like when she went to the M Casino to drop off a bag containing $700,000 in cash to settle one of Mayweather's bets.”


Read more: http://globalgrind.com/entertainment/floyd-mayweathers-ex-josie-harris-opens-up-gambling-addiction-night-he-beat-her-video#ixzz2SKFVYgh2

Gambling Addict Steals Lawn Ornaments to Feed Addiction

Darlington gambler stole to help fuel addiction

Thursday 2nd May 2013 in News

 

By Andy Walker, Chief Reporter (Darlington)

 

A GAMBLING addict who drove around Darlington stealing garden ornaments has been sentenced to 112 hours of unpaid work. Robert Harker, 30, of Forest Moor Road, appeared before magistrates in the town on Thursday (May 2) and admitted five counts of theft. The offences took place in various locations around the town in February. Harker’s solicitor Jonathan Harley said the offences arose as a result of the gambling addiction. Magistrates urged him to seek help from addiction charity Neca.

 

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10397104.Gambler_stole_to_help_fuel_addiction/

 

 

Gambling Addict Avoids Prison

Gambling addict stole £150,000 from Crawley dentists he worked for

Crawley News
Friday, May 03, 2013

Chris Ballinger

A GAMBLING addict who stole more than £150,000 from his employer while working as an accountant has been spared jail – but must pay back every penny.

1. ​
   SPARED JAIL: Gambling addict Vimal Patel

 

Vimal Patel, from Horsham Road, West Green, diverted £155,012.20 from the accounts of Southern Dental Limited into his own Natwest bank account to fund his gambling.

The transactions took place between May 2011, soon after he joined the company, and February 2012.

 

The dental group runs Hollybush Dental Care, in Northgate, Northgate Dental Care and Tilgate Dental Care.

The 30-year-old was sentenced to a two-year prison term, suspended for two years, at Lewes Crown Court last Friday.

He had pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by abuse of position at a previous hearing.

The court heard the dental company still has outstanding losses of £97,315.89 due to Patel's crimes.

He has already paid back £57,696.31. This money was put back into the company's accounts when Patel was successful with some of his bets.

Michael Neofytou, defending, told the court his client had been of previous good character.

He said: "He was the first member of his family to go university. From the pride this gave him and his family, my client now feels shame and embarrassment and is full of remorse.

"This case stems from a gambling addiction which led to a breach of trust. My client found himself in debt and his gambling led to a vicious downward spiral.

"There are debits and credits worth £900,000 going in and out of his own bank account to Don GB, an affiliate of Bet 365.

"In a way you could say it was a stupid thing to do because there was no false identification, he used his own bank account.

"All it would take was one dentist to question why they had not been paid and it would then only take a minute to find him."

Mr Neofytou added that Patel viewed his arrest last February as like "having a gun pointed to his head" and a wake-up call to stop gambling.

He said: "He has stopped gambling and is now attending Gambling Anonymous meetings."

Judge Guy Anthony said he came to the conclusion it was "just about" possible to suspend Patel's jail term due to his previous good character, letters of support he had received and a new job he has managed to secure.

Judge Anthony added: "Over a course of several months you stole from your employer who trusted you to deal with their financial matters.

"You took part in high-stakes gambling and, although you paid about a third of the money back, the company is still nearly £100,000 out of pocket."

While suspending the prison term, Judge Anthony said Patel must carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and pay back the remaining £97,315.89.

The court agreed Patel will initially pay back £1,000 a month but Mr Neofytou said his client had a "desire" to pay the full amount as quickly as possible.

Southern Dental Limited is a privately owned group with 55 NHS and private dental practices in London and the south.

The company has its head office at Innovation House, in Faraday Road, Manor Royal.

Read more: http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Gambling-addict-stole-150-000-Crawley-dentists/story-18856937-detail/story.html#ixzz2SK47J7hm
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Pennsylvania's Gambling Addiction

Pa. slots revenue down for 5th straight month

By By Patrick Walters on May 02, 2013

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-05-02/pa-dot-slots-revenue-down-for-5th-straight-month

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gross revenue from slot machines at the state's 11 casinos declined for the fifth straight month in April, down 4 percent from the same period the year before, state gambling regulators reported Thursday.

Casinos brought in $205.2 million in gross revenue from slots last month, or about $9 million less than the previous April, according to figures released by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The totals represent the latest piece of evidence that slots growth is leveling off after years of exponential growth.

The only casino to see significant slots growth during the period was Valley Forge Casino Resort, which opened outside Philadelphia in March 2012. Last month, it reported $5.4 million in gross slots revenue, up nearly 34 percent from the previous April, its first full month in operation.

Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh (up .2 percent) and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (up .64 percent) were the only other casinos to show an increase over April 2012.

Presque Isle Downs Casino in Erie continued to see declines as it faces competition from a new casino across the state line in Cleveland. It brought in $11.8 million in gross revenue from slots last month, down 16.3 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in central Pennsylvania saw the second-largest decline, down 9.7 percent. Harrah's Philadelphia, which is in the struggling city of Chester in the crowded Philadelphia market, was down 8 percent. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in northeastern Pennsylvania was down 7.1 percent.

The state's first casino opened in 2006, and Pennsylvania has grown into the nation's second-largest gambling market behind Las Vegas. The state uses casino revenue to support the state budget, schools, development projects, volunteer firefighting squads, local governments and horse racing.

 

While slots growth has been slowing, table games, which were introduced in 2010, still show strong growth. In March, the state set a record for gross revenue from table games, pulling in $67.5 million in gross revenue, 9 percent more than the previous record that had been set a year earlier.

Taxpayer Subsidies of the Dead Horse Racing Industry --

Portfolio: Horse racing fund continues decline

Continuing a trend of steady declines, revenues from slot machines at Pennsylvania’s six racetrack casinos were down 7.4 percent for the month of April compared to the same month in 2012. The decrease in slots revenue caused funding for the state’s Race Horse Development Fund – which supports live horse racing and breeding in the state – to decrease by $1.77 million for the month of April.

 

“Slots revenues at Pennsylvania’s racetrack casinos have now fallen for nine of the last 10 months, which has resulted in a 6.14 percent or $14.3 million drop this fiscal year in funding to support horse racing and breeding in the state,” said Pete Peterson, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition. “It is becoming increasingly clear that this is not an anomaly, but a trend that will continue due to the increasing competition from casino gaming in other states.”

 

The Pennsylvania Equine Coalition projects that funds to the Race Horse Development Fund will fall $28.5 million short of the governor’s initial budget projections released in February. In March, the administration took the unusual step of downwardly revising its budget projections for the Race Horse Development Fund, but the coalition projects the fund will still fall short of those revised figures by roughly $17 million this fiscal year.

 

The Pennsylvania legislature legalized casino gaming in the state as part of an effort to save and revitalize the horse racing and breeding industry, and it succeeded. According to the Department of Agriculture, as a result of casino gaming, the economic impact of the racing industry in Pennsylvania more than quadrupled and employment tripled from 13,870 to more than 41,100.

 

RELATED ASSETS

 

“Pennsylvania has been a success story, a model for other states,” continued Peterson. “But the diversion of money from the racing fund will hurt an industry that is already experiencing funding declines and undermine the confidence of the industry ...”

 

http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20130503/NEWS01/130509827/portfolio-horse-racing-fund-continues-decline

 

 

East Boston's Future!

Anyone else get this post card from the future?

 

New Mexico horse slaughterhouse likely to get permit soon

Proposed New Mexico horse slaughterhouse likely to get permit soon

Valley Meat Co. owner Rick De Los Santos stands in a corral area outside the former cattle slaughterhouse he has converted to a horse slaughter facility in Roswell, N.M.. The plant has been waiting more than a year for federal approval to begin operations. (Jeri Clausing / Associated Press / April 15, 2013)

By John M. Glionna

May 3, 2013, 12:43 p.m.

The battle over the opening of the nation’s first domestic horse slaughterhouse since a government ban six years ago has ramped up as a company in Roswell, N.M., moves closer to reinstituting the practice.

 

Activists throughout the West say they are preparing for a public-relations battle if the owners of Valley Meat Co. receive a federal permit to begin killing horses.

 

“This is going to happen and we need to stop it for so many reasons -- moral, healthwise, economic, the whole ball of wax,” animal advocate Yvette Dobbie told the Los Angeles Times. “If they move ahead and open this plant, there will be a huge protest presence at that facility.”

 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week warned that the Roswell plant, which has been fighting for more than a year for permission to slaughter horses, will open soon, unless Congress acts.

 

“We are going to do this, and I would imagine that it would be done relatively soon,” he told the Associated Press. “It will open unless Congress restores the ban on horse slaughter that they had in place. If that doesn't happen, then we are duty-bound to do what needs to be done to allow that plant to begin processing.”

 

Rick De Los Santos, the owner of the New Mexico facility, sued the Department of Agriculture last year, claiming the agency was stalling in its review of the application due to public pressure. The lawsuit charged that the delays had cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. The USDA reinspected the plant last week.

 

De Los Santos has has not returned repeated calls from The Times for comment.

 

The horse slaughter issue has also played out in Washington, where President Obama is at odds with Congress over the issue. The administration’s recent budget proposal eliminates funding for inspections of horse slaughterhouses, which would effectively reinstate a ban on the practice.

 

Congress eliminated such funding in 2006, which forced a shutdown of domestic slaughter facilities, but restored the funding in 2011. That move prompted several companies nationwide, including Valley Meat, to seek permission to open plants.

 

This week, the battle to prevent the opening got personal when New Mexico Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, sent a letter to Vilsack, saying “it saddens me that thousands of horses, a majestic fixture of the American West, could be methodically and inhumanely put to death in my home state.”

 

Grisham’s letter, reviewed by The Times, also cited a series of past violations at the plant, which previously slaughtered cattle, including a USDA notice of inspection last year “for violating requirements for the humane handling of animals.” Grisham also said that De Los Santos has failed to disclose in two of three applications with the Department of Agriculture that he has felony convictions, as the law requires.

 

In granting inspection for the first horse slaughter plant in years, she warned, the USDA must ensure a high standard for quality sand safety.

 

“Unfortunately,” Grisham wrote, “Valley Meat’s past behavior suggests that it does not adhere to such a standard.”

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-horse-slaughterhouse-20130503,0,7195228.story

 

 

 

Stop the Casino 101 Coalition

Stop the Casino 101 Coalition

Graton Rancheria Chairman Greg Sarris is not a Native American: Sarris claims that his ancestor Reinette Stewart was an Indian woman who barely spoke a word of English, while testimony from his cousin Ms. Navarro (who routinely spoke with “Grandma Reinette”) states that English was the only language her great grandmother wrote or spoke. http://www.stopthecasino101.com/id147.html

Expanding Predatory Gambling

NoPlainvilleRacino via Harry Forbes

Great blog post about expanded predatory gambling.

The Demographics of Lottery Players: Whose Idea of Enlightened Social Policy is This?

Inspired by Derrick Jackson’s Boston Globe column on expanded gambling, I did some research yesterday into the demographics of gamblers. The text and figures below document the demographics of state lottery players. These are taken from a 1999 study entitled “State Lotteries at the Turn of the Century: Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission” authored by four professors at Duke University. Every visit I have made to casinos in Atlantic City and Connecticut adds good (but anecdotal) evidence that the demographics of slot machine players are similar.

(Click on the picture to see the gory details).

Except for dogmatic libertarians, I don’t see how one can justify a public policy that exacerbates this situation through expanded legal gambling gaming. It’s safe to say that Deval Patrick has no libertarian leanings. These charts would nauseate any liberal worthy of the label. Even libertarians object to a state monopoly on gambling. So exactly who is in favor of funding our last 5-10% of incremental state government spending ($1-2B per year) through this form of taxation and/or malignant social policy? Who now wants the Commonwealth to do even more of this? Stand up and be counted, folks. I’m listening for good reasons why this practice represents an enlightened social policy.

 

From the report:

For the race/ethnicity category, participation rates are nearly identical across groups. However, average spending by blacks who play is much larger than for other categories, and hence per capita spending by blacks is higher than for other categories. …spending by players drops sharply as we move up through the education categories. The result is that the education category with the highest per capita spending is those who did not complete high school, and the college graduates have the lowest. With respect to household income, we see that participation rates increase up to $100,000. But players with incomes less than $50,000 spend more than others, and the lower income categories have the highest per capita spending….Hence lottery expenditures represent a much larger burden on the household budget for those with low incomes than for those with high incomes.

By the way, this study is from national survey data taken from states with lotteries. The most recent study exclusively concerned with Massachusetts lottery players dates from 1994 -- 12 years ago. You can see the entire 1999 report here.

 

UPDATE: The second of Derrick's 2 columns on casino gambling is here. He spoke with some researchers about delayed effects of casinos. I would not be surprised if these exist, but they are certainly more difficult to measure than the blunt demographics that clearly show that the heavy Lottery players are far more likely to be poor, uneducated, and from minority groups. The column ends with an insightful quote from one researcher:

"It is harder to put numbers on family breakups, depression, and divorce. Many of those negatives take much longer to manifest themselves than the benefits. It takes problem gamblers a while to run through their finances and relationships."
 

http://squaringtheglobe.blogspot.com/2007/02/demographics-of-lottery-players-whose.html

 

Gambling Commission Falls Down on Job

Casino-Free Milford

"We believe that (the Mass. Gaming Commissioners) are not fulfilling their claims that this process would be both fair and transparent for all affected parties," selectmen Chairman Ben Palleiko said in a press release from the town.

Hopkinton offers its two cents on casino proposal
By Laura Krantz/Daily News staff

The MetroWest Daily News

Posted May 03, 2013

 

HOPKINTON —

Officials Wednesday submitted 14 pages of comments to the state agency overseeing the licensing of three casinos, advocating for more local control as a Milford casino proposal looms.

Town attorney Ray Miyares provided a total of 57 comments, many of which related to what he deemed shortcomings in the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s proposed regulations, specifically regarding protections for towns that could be affected.

Hopkinton officials and many residents are working vigorously to stymie developer FCX LLC’s proposal for a casino in Milford. But if the state does allow a casino at the intersection of I-495 and Rte. 16, local officials want the most safeguards possible.

Miyares’ comments respond to the Gam[bl]ing Commission’s request for feedback as it drafts regulations for Phase 2 of the gaming regulations. The second phase covers topics including host community agreements, the definition of surrounding communities and surrounding community agreements.

A gam[bl]ing commission public hearing is scheduled for today in Boston.

Miyares asked for stronger language about actions developers must take, such as visiting surrounding communities and establishing agreements with them.

His comments say communities, not the commission, deserve more say on whether potential positive aspects of a casino could outweigh negative ones.

"We believe that (the Mass. Gaming Commissioners) are not fulfilling their claims that this process would be both fair and transparent for all affected parties," selectmen Chairman Ben Palleiko said in a press release from the town.

He said the commission is allowing "little accountability for the proponents and even less input from the general public who will be affected most by these facilities."

Specifically, Palleiko said the commission should not sacrifice the vibrancy of the local community and economy for "purported good of the Commonwealth."

 

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x715752620/Hopkinton-offers-its-two-cents-on-casino-proposal#ixzz2SGLZqdjV

THE SIX EFFECTS OF LEGALIZED SLOT MACHINES AND CASINOS

Stop the Casino 101 Coalition

THE SIX EFFECTS OF LEGALIZED SLOT MACHINES AND CASINOS, Number 2: They increase six of the seven FBI Index I crimes by 8 to 10 percent (aggravated assault, rape, robbery, larceny, burglary and auto theft).

Gambling addiction lawsuits in the works as casinos go online

The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that gambling addictions account for $7 billion a year.

The writer has posted comments on this article
Reuters | May 3, 2013

LOS ANGELES: States and casinos racing to legalise online gaming may find some unwelcome visitors on their websites: product liability lawyers.

A group of 10 lawyers and academics with experience in prior liability cases met in Indianapolis in mid-April to discuss whether a lawsuit claiming online gaming further promotes gambling addiction has a shot at winning.

The legal strategy under consideration would be modeled on the class action lawsuits that forced cigarette companies to agree to pay $206 billion over 25 years to compensate for medical costs, caring for people with smoking-related illnesses and fund anti-smoking advocacy groups.

Boston-based lawyer Scott Harshbarger told Reuters that more than 20 attorneys from high-profile law firms were among those invited to the meeting in Indianapolis and who have been communicating for the past few months. The meeting was billed as a "gambling litigation study group," according to emails reviewed by Reuters.

Harshbarger, a former Massachusetts attorney general who led states' efforts against Big Tobacco, said he could not attend the Indianapolis meeting but is working with the group in studying the parallels with the gambling industry.

Former Assistant US Attorney Michael Fagan, who prosecuted 30 cases against offshore sports betting operations from 1997 to 2008, helped put together the Indianapolis meeting, according to one email. He declined comment.

The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that gambling addictions account for $7 billion a year in added health care and criminal justice system costs. Gambling industry critics argue that casino companies use deceptive practices to lure consumers, depend on addiction for profits and should be held liable for the billions of dollars in costs to society.

Gambling company representatives reject the charges, saying their industry has a history of acting responsibly and helps to identify customers who may need treatment.

"It's a government-approved, regulated product," said David Stewart, a Washington-based lawyer with Ropes & Gray and general counsel to the American Gaming Association (AGA). "Nobody's made Nordstrom reimburse somebody who is a shopaholic."

Previous lawsuits targeting traditional gambling have been thrown out by the courts, Stewart said.

"The legal arguments are flawed," he said. "It's gambling. And when you gamble, you lose."

Online expansion Nevada became the first state to go live with online poker this week as Ultimate Gaming, a subsidiary of Station Casinos LLC, launched its internet poker site Ultimate Poker in the state and began taking bets.

Ultimate Gaming CEO Tobin Prior said his company offers safeguards against problem gambling. "We offer an extensive array of limits that players can place on themselves as well as the option to opt out of betting entirely," he said.

But critics think betting and time limits should be mandated rather than options, and also have found fault with the enforcement of so-called "opt out" or self-exclusion programmes.

New Jersey is expected to release regulations for online gaming in coming weeks. Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, Illinois and Mississippi are among states also considering online gambling.

MGM Resorts, Caesars and Wynn Resorts have all applied for web operating licenses. All three companies deferred their comments to the American Gaming Association.

Craps and cigarettes? It was not clear how the Indianapolis group might deal with past precedents working against them, including a 2004 federal appellate ruling that millions of gamblers could not be declared a single class because each gambles for different reasons.

That ruling derailed a decade-old legal effort to prove slot machines were inherently deceptive devices.

The recent gathering, though, examined possible similarities between gambling addiction and addiction to cigarettes.

"Big product liability litigators are comparing Big Tobacco cases in depth with gambling cases involving casinos and addiction," said University of Illinois professor and author John Kindt, who attended the meeting in Indianapolis.

Critics claim that in addition to depending on addiction for profits, gaming companies pulled a page from Big Tobacco by running ads that glamorise their offerings and target youth.

Attorney Lori Stoltz of Canadian law firm Adair Morse LLP represents 10,000 problem gamblers in a suit against Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp, who claim they were exploited and suffered losses because government-owned OLGC did not prevent them from gambling despite their signing self-exclusion forms.

Stoltz was not at the meeting, but believes similar lawsuits are likely. "Self-exclusion and where there isn't appropriate follow through is one area that has come under challenge," Stoltz said, adding, "There's bound to be more litigation in this area."

Gambling proponents say it is impossible to measure the social costs of gambling addiction.

"We don't dispute but don't confirm the $7 billion (in estimated costs) because pathological gambling often occurs in individuals with other addiction issues and to specifically attribute the costs to one disorder is a leap," said American Gaming Association spokeswoman Holly Wetzel.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/internet/Gambling-addiction-lawsuits-in-the-works-as-casinos-go-online/articleshow/19861547.cms

"We'll protect you!" Yeah! Right!

MGM has ties to Stanley Ho and was told by the New Jersey Gambling Commission [not known for their integrity and wisdom] to sever their ties.

Instead, MGM severed their ties to New Jersey.

The Massachusetts Gambling Commission genuflected......

Please, do your research since it seems the Gambling Commission refuses to do so.

The MGC keeps telling us, "Trust us, we'll protect you." Meanwhile, they sneak off like thieves in the night to commit this unspeakable, despicable act.

 

While all eyes, minds and hearts ares still focused on Boston - the MA Gaming Commission snuck off to the country to unanimously vote to put developer background checks on the back burner and not require them to be complete prior to referendum votes. Essentially - they think it's ok for us to vote to entrench an entity into our communities for at least 15 years without knowing who/what they are! No Eastie Casino, we're #Boston Strong - and fighting to keep you informed. While MA Gaming Commission is focused on business - we're focused on keeping East Boston a safe place to work, live, raise a family and develop a business.

Employer Blames Casino for $4 Million Embezzlement

The Predators have access to your financial records, know your income, know that you are exceeding your personal funds.

Why are they allowed to keep stolen funds? Is this racketeering?

NoPlainvilleRacino

Employer Blames Casino for $4 Million Embezzlement

By CAMERON LANGFORD

 

(CN) - A candy wholesaler sued an Ameristar casino for $4 million, claiming it "enticed and enabled" a worker who embezzled the money and blew it on slot machines.

Colombo Candy & Tobacco Wholesale Co. dba Colombo Distribution sued Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs in Douglas County Court, Tulsa.

It claims its employee, Jane Doe, blew more than $3 million of the $4 million she embezzled at the Ameristar casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Colombo claims Doe worked as its controller from July 2010 to July 2012. Doe, who is not a party to the case, was in charge of all company finances until it discovered her massive theft and fired her, Colombo says in the complaint.

"Doe accomplished her embezzlement by taking advantage of her position
as controller to, among other things, inflate inventory and accounts receivable, and manipulate payroll," the complaint states. "Doe used Automated Clearing House ('ACH') transactions to deposit the embezzled funds into Doe's own accounts, against which she then cashed checks at Ameristar, made cash withdrawals at Ameristar and otherwise transferred the money to Ameristar.

"Doe has entered into a settlement agreement that admits to the embezzlement from plaintiff, and admits to liability to plaintiff. Doe has signed a Stipulation for Judgment and a Judgment by

Confession granting plaintiff a judgment against Doe in the amount of four million ninety-nine thousand four-hundred one and 55/100 dollars ($4,099,401.55). Doe cannot repay the amount embezzled or stolen from plaintiff.

"Doe's annual salary from plaintiff was only approximately $62,000 per year. Yet in 2011 alone, Doe lost in excess of $1,750,000 to Ameristar.

"Ameristar knew the money Doe was using to gamble was embezzled or stolen or had information that would lead a reasonable person to believe the money Doe was using to gamble was embezzled or stolen."

Colombo Candy claims the casino regularly cashed $10,000 checks for Doe.

"For example, within the two-week period between February 22, 2011 and March 7, 2011, Ameristar cashed 16 checks for $10,000 each, for a total of $160,000. Over the Labor Day weekend of 2011, Ameristar cashed checks totaling $100,000 for Doe," the complaint states.

"Ameristar patrons specifically asked Ameristar cashiers what the source of Doe's funding was.
"Ameristar deliberately closed its eyes to the source of Doe's funding that Doe transferred to

 

Ameristar in order to gamble, in order to avoid meaningful exposure to information that would have provided Ameristar with knowledge of Doe's embezzlement of Plaintiff's money."

Impressed by Doe's big spending, Colombo says, the casino treated her like a VIP.

"Ameristar gave special privileges to Doe, including permitting her to go behind the cashier's 'cage' where patrons generally are not permitted in order to obtain cash. Doe would routinely obtain cash in $10,000 increments several times a night.

"Ameristar deliberately acquired video-slot machines to induce protracted high-risk gambling for Doe, modifying particular video-slot machines specifically for Doe on at least three occasions to increase the amount of money Doe could spend on a single 'spin' or game. Ameristar, on at least one occasion, upon getting a new or modified machine, called Doe and held the machine 'off limits' to other patrons until Doe could be the first to play it.

"Ameristar's video-slot machines are designed to create and enhance an illusion of control over the outcome of the 'spin' or 'game played,' and Ameristar actively encouraged that belief by pointing out to Doe which machines had recently paid out a 'jackpot.'

"Ameristar knew which video-slot machines were set to pay out at specific return rates and on multiple occasions Ameristar staff tipped off, or otherwise advised and steered Doe toward specific video-slot machines to play or avoid.

"Ameristar staff would, when Doe was losing money at a particular machine, direct her to another machine where she usually had a prompt 'win.' Ameristar staff would give machines Doe was using a 'rub' for luck.

"Ameristar staff would watch Doe gamble, including the cashiers who would leave the 'cage' to watch. Ameristar used multiple versions of the same 'game' with different 'pay-back' percentages, concealed from Doe and distorting her understanding of how the machines work.

"Ameristar employees would guard machines Doe was using so that she could leave to use the bathroom and come back to the same machines."

Colombo claims that Doe became so notorious at the casino that its "floor staff would monitor Doe's gambling to predict when she would next be coming in, and seek to change their own work schedules so as to be working when Doe was gambling in order to personally profit from her tips."
Ameristar cashed $3 million in checks for Doe in 2011 alone, Colombo claims.

Although the casino "has policies and procedures to detect and aid problem gamblers," and knew Doe was a problem gambler, it "intentionally ignored its own policies, and intentionally refused to talk to Doe about her problem gambling," according to the complaint.

"Ameristar's excessive and extraordinary inducement of Doe to gamble, Ameristar's willful blindness to the source of Doe's funds she used for gambling, and Ameristar's failure to follow its own policies caused or substantially contributed to Doe's embezzlement from plaintiff and plaintiff's transfer of funds to Ameristar," the complaint states.

Colombo Candy seeks restitution, an accounting of all the money Doe blew at the casino, and damages for aiding and abetting, fraudulent transfer and unjust enrichment.

     It is represented by Jill Robb Ackerman with Baird Holm of Omaha, Neb.

 

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/04/12/56639.htm

 

 

 

PA: NO Monthly Statements

Bill Kearney

Massachusetts 'GAMING' Future

After numerous attempts I finally got to talk with the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Bill Ryan. He was taking questions on the PENNSYLVANIA CABLE NETWORK call in program. You can hear my question by opening the video link below. The video is an hour long, but if you go to the timer on the bottom left side and put it on forty two minutes thirty seconds, (42:30) you will hear my question.

http://pcntv.com/blog/2013/05/01/may-1-pa-gaming/

 

 

 

 

Bill Kearney•a day ago

 

When governments make vices legal you’re left with no other
choice but to put regulations into the laws that govern these vices. When it comes
to the gaming industry vice I know that putting regulations into gaming laws
things like No 24/7 Gambling, No Free Booze, No Smoking, No Check Cashing, No
Interest Free Credit, No Free Play, No Comps, and making casino operators send
Casino Monthly Statements along with making them and their employees intervene
when their patrons are gambling excessively will stop the ‘BREEDING’ of
compulsive casino gambling degenerates who will become criminals. These regulations
will also make it an even playing field for business owners that are within a
10 to 20 mile radius of casinos, especially those who have liquor, food, and
entertainment licensees.

To learn more about this ‘VICE’ know today as ‘GAMING’ go on
line and Google-up Bill Kearney on casino gambling.

 

The Escalation of the Predators

Bill Kearney

Massachusetts ‘Gaming’ Future

Gambling and sports has always been a winning combination for the ‘CASINO PREDATORS’

The Associated Press - April 30, 2013 - Casino in the running for AAC conference tourneys
...
HARTFORD, Conn. - A Connecticut casino is bidding to host the men's and women's basketball tournaments for the new American Athletic Conference.

Chris Sienko is vice president with the Mohegan Sun, which includes a 9,500-seat arena that is home to the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. He says they are interested in hosting one or both tournaments.

The casino is owned by the Mohegan tribe. It had made pitches in the past to host the Big East women's tournament, but the idea was rejected by presidents of several Catholic schools.

But those schools have split off from the conference, taking with them the Big East name. Sienko says the casino is hopeful the current AAC, which includes UConn, will be more receptive.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/sports/20130430_ap_casinointherunningforaacconferencetourneys.htmlSee More

 

 

Online gambling is nothing to celebrate

Online gambling is nothing to celebrate

By Jay Evensen
Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, May 1 2013

View 2 photos »

A sample poker game is played on the in Las Vegas. The social gaming company launched the first legal, real-money poker site in the U.S. The Ultimate Gaming site will be available only to in players in Nevada, but likely represents the shape of things to come for gamblers across the country.
Julie Jacobson, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Summary

Now you are free to play poker in your pajamas, if you live in Nevada. There is a lot of evidence to suggest this is not a good move for American society.
 

Dinner Table Conversations

Americans could spend $4.3 billion during the first year alone if online gambling were made legal nationwide.

Q: Do you think internet gambling is something to be concerned about? Why or why not?

If it is true, as people who study such things say, that proximity feeds addiction, then what will happen to the number of gambling addictions when every laptop and mobile device turns into a traveling casino?

And if, as the London research company H2 Gambling Capital has said, Americans could spend $4.3 billion during the first year alone if online gambling were made legal nationwide, and that this figure would grow to $9.6 billion by the fifth year, when will the nation stop to consider whether this monumental waste of resources provides any net benefits to society; or whether, like cocaine, heroine or other illegal substances it ruins lives, destroys productivity, leads to other crimes and ought to be strictly outlawed?

You aren’t likely to hear these questions seriously debated in the American public square. You are more likely to hear talk of personal liberty, as if the Founding Fathers sacrificed all so that we could play poker in our pajamas.

Morality, or conduct that is demonstrably right or virtuous, seems to be the thing that gets pushed to the corner in polite company, along with other things we are free to do if we please, so long as we don’t impose them on others. Meanwhile, the costs of gambling get pushed on all, willing or not. Liberty, indeed.

In case you were wondering, online gambling still is considered a crime in the United States, at least technically. But this is one area of the law the Obama administration has decided to treat in line with ultra-conservative orthodoxy. States more or less get to choose on their own.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill last March making Internet gambling legal in his state.
So did governors in Delaware and Nevada. And this week in Nevada the subsidiary of a Las Vegas casino became the first to begin a fully legal poker website in the United States. News reports say about 20 other companies are ready to begin their own sites, as well.

Scared to death of even the whiff of engaging in interstate commerce, which might give some future U.S. attorney general an excuse to crack down, the company starting the first site has several redundant mechanisms in place to make sure every customer is physically in the state of Nevada.

But if you think Internet gambling isn’t going to try to spread from coast to coast, you don’t know the history of the industry. Nor are you familiar with gambling’s growth curve in the United States.
In 2007, Americans lost more than $92 billion gambling, which was about nine times what they lost in 1982. That’s according to Sam Skolnik, who wrote the book High Stakes: The Rising Cost of America’s Gambling Addiction. In just one five-year period, 2000-2005, the number of Americans patronizing casinos or other legal gambling halls increased by 20 million.

Proponents sometimes claim Americans have always gambled, and that legalizing it has only legitimizes what is gong on, anyway. Really?

Earl Grinols, an economics professor at Baylor University, has done a cost-benefit analysis of gambling. His conclusion? It isn’t even close. At best, he said, costs outweigh benefits by at least 3 to

1.
This isn’t just moralizing. Gambling produces no product that can be sold or exported. It does, however, remove billions of hard-earned dollars from people who otherwise might spend or invest in things of value. It also takes money from other forms of recreation.

But we shouldn’t ignore the moral aspects, either. Not long ago, most state constitutions prohibited gambling. It was understood to be a vice, an activity that squandered money and destroyed lives. States felt it necessary to outlaw something that produced disturbing social costs and contributed nothing.

Now those arguments get drowned out by self-righteous shouts about personal liberty.

As Leslie Bernal, executive director of Stop Predatory Gambling, told me recently, “We’ve lost the sense that how we earn money matters.”

Perhaps more to the point, we seem unconcerned with how we lose it.

 

Jay Evensen is associate editor of the Deseret News editorial page. E-mail him at even@desnews.com. For more content, visit his web site, www.jayevensen.com.

 

 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865579303/Online-gambling-is-nothing-to-celebrate.html