A poker dealer lays out charity fundraiser competition chips at a Salem, N.H. makeshift casino; the brand New Hampshire legislature now wants to approve one land that is legitimate for their state (Image: VNews.com)
New Hampshire may have reputation as a quiet, relaxed state where bed and breakfasts and a little skiing are about the most exciting happenings around, but that image might be about to change. With everyone in the region building up their gambling industries, this indicates as if the Granite State may be prepared to become listed on in the brick-and-mortar race and welcome a land casino of the own.
Representing the Future
According to reports, over 100 representatives in the continuing state House of Representatives have actually signed on to a bill that would welcome only one casino to hawaii of the latest Hampshire. That’s significantly more than half the number of representatives that would eventually need to vote for such a bill to pass the house.
People declaration had been meant as a sign of very early strength for the bill. A total of 108 representatives publicly supported the bill, making up a bipartisan group of 83 Democrats and 25 Republicans. A lot of those representatives also participated in a press conference to strongly show just how they felt about bringing casino gambling to New Hampshire.
‘We have momentum because we listened,’ said Representative Katherine Rogers. ‘We heard the concerns of House users final spring whom said we don’t have the best regulatory framework.’
All Systems Go
The bill that is new issues, giving hawaii plenty of oversight over the casino bidding process and providing financing for issue gambling services. The bill will allow for just one casino, with all the permit for that casino going right on through a bidding process that is competitive. It would also create a brand new Hampshire video gaming commission that would oversee not just the casino, but also the lottery that is existing racing, and charitable gaming operations into the state.
‘There are major improvements that will make sure expanded gambling would have been a good deal for the citizens of New Hampshire,’ said Representative Jeremy Dobson.
Late this week, the House methods Committee held a hearing on the bill, known as HB 1633. Supporters described the financial benefits of a casino, saying it could generate significant revenues without requiring a broader taxation increase. It would additionally be a source that is new of in a suggest that tends to lose young employees to many other parts of the united states.
‘We are running away from time to attract individuals to stay in New Hampshire and to give individuals jobs right here,’ said Diana Lacey, president of the State Employees’ Association.
One concern raised at the hearing was the basic idea that casino gambling may perhaps not easily fit into using the current ‘brand’ New Hampshire has within the minds of tourists and visitors.
‘We do not have such a chronic need for this revenue that we’re willing to endure the burdens therefore the cost and the injury to our brand,’ said Concord developer Steve Duprey. While some supporters pointed out that New Hampshire’s motto is ‘Live Free or Die’ which may suggest that residents must be permitted to choose whether they want to play at a casino or perhaps not Duprey countered that the continuing state still had to make decisions about what’s right and acceptable for New Hampshire.
But others disputed the branding claim. Pat Griffin, a brand new Hampshire resident whom had worked in advertising and marketing for the state’s tourism industry, described that 41 other states possess some as a type of casino gambling, and that has not affected most of their brands. For example, Colorado has 41 gambling enterprises, but is nevertheless understood for its mountains and skiing. One casino, he said, won’t be the point that is tipping modifications what New Hampshire means to site visitors.
Toronto Man Wanted After Failure to pay for $12.9M to Las Vegas Casinos
A new nomination for ‘World’s Dumbest Criminals’ could be a Canadian man who reportedly owes the Venetian casino in Las Vegas and one other $12m in IOUs and is now AWOL and wanted
There are a few items that can get you nominated for ‘World’s Dumbest Criminal’: robbing a bank with surveillance cameras every-where, wanting to take a police car, and most certainly at the top of that list would be skipping out on major casino gambling debts. Not smart, not smart at all.
That’s what one Toronto high-roller is finding out after failing to repay some $12.9 million in losses to two Las Vegas gambling enterprises, dating all https://aussie-pokies.club/players-paradise-slot/ the real way back in to 2008. Authorities are now seeking him out to file charges in the instance.
Not-Yet-Arrested Development
43-year-old Semion Kronenfeld is now named on a Clark County District Court arrest warrant, following a jury that is grand him on 12 counts of felony theft, writing bad checks, and obtaining money under false pretenses. This puts Kronenfeld in a unique kind of stupid category, because it’s one of the biggest unpaid casino financial obligation cases ever in Nevada, and if convicted, the only place this Canadian is rolling dice are going to be in the state penitentiary, possibly for decades.
The Clark County indictment that was handed straight down this week states that the high-roller failed to settle $7.9 million back in October of 2008 on IOUs made out to the casino that is venetian the nevada Strip. Then, just two weeks later, Kronenfeld allegedly pulled a number that is similar the Stations Casino-owned Green Valley Ranch casino, located in Henderson, just outside of Las Vegas proper; he reportedly stiffed that property for $5 million.
According to Nevada law, unrepaid casino IOUs are considered fraudulent checks. With a prosecutorial bounty of 10 per cent for ‘processing and prosecution’ put on any pre-trial settlements of these cases, many such incidents are placed to sleep without any charges being filed; obviously, which includes not been the situation here, though.
As of this writing, Kronenfeld remains AWOL, according to prosecutor Jake Merback, who heads up Clark County’s bad check unit, and calls to Kronenfeld’s attorney in Las Vegas, Craig Mueller, were not returned.
Kronenfeld’s case went public back in 2009, at which point the Canadian ended up being listed in casino credit reports as having their own estate that is real company, based in Ontario. Apparently he also holds a passport that is israeli is recognized to have multiple spellings of his final title, sometimes spelling it ‘Cronenfeld.’
In Good Company with Other Big Losers
While enormous, Kronenfeld’s case is scarcely the only real bad-debt that is large to hit Nevada’s gambling enterprises in recent years. One such high-profile case involved the former owner of chatchke-manufacturer Oriental Trading Co., Terrance ‘Terry’ Watanabe, who ended up being indicted in 2009 he failed to pay back (then) Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc (now Caesars Entertainment) in the amount of $14.75 million in IOUs after it was alleged. However, Watanabe counter-sued Harrah’s and a settlement for an amount that is undisclosed reached in July 2010.
And Watanabe isn’t the sole other gambler that is high-profile get caught without repaying his debts; notorious porn-purveyor Joe Francis of Girls Gone crazy fame was also the topic of an IOU dispute with Wynn Resorts Int’l to the tune of $2.5 million. And former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker whom pleaded accountable before his case stumbled on trial received a five years’ probation sentence and had to fork over $770,000 in restitution.
Florida Faces Battle associated with Bulging Wallets by Warring Casino Factions
It’s really a fight to the finish, with he who spends most having a shot that is good winning, as casino and anti-casino factions face down in Florida (Image: istock)
Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson often lobbies for casinos and sometimes lobbies against them (as in his massive anti-online campaign for yesteryear year); but whatever he does, he does it with gusto and a significant load of cash. So it should come as no surprise that his company is certainly one of several major casino operators supporting 100 lobbyists (well-armed with every politician’s favorite type of homage: moolah) whose goal will be to put some pressure on Florida’s legislators regarding the Sunshine State’s stalled land gaming status.
Fighting for County Rights
Clearly, gambling outfits with something to gain are most enthusiastically behind this posse that is legislative funding; which puts Genting during the front side of the line; they’ve been trying to get into the Miami beachfront market having a Resorts World Miami task for quite a while now without success. This could be the standoff of all of the standoffs: because very recently, top state lawmakers caused it to be clear that the complete problem of gambling in Florida is low on their importance totem pole this year.
Nonetheless, cash talks and you know what walks, so week that is last’s Senate Gaming Committee chair Garrett Richter promised to introduce a new bill allowing for two resort casinos that could go up in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. By way of amazing coincidence, those two spots just happen to be precisely where both Adelson’s Sands and Genting have been hoping to secure casino sites. And more good luck: Florida’s 60-day legislative session kicks off on March 4, so it is all just in the nick of time. Yessirree, Bob, those homage gift ideas can function the Red Sea when delivered over meal at A tallahassee that is fancy eatery it would appear.
Richter who just per week before was decrying how impossible it absolutely was to coordinate each of Florida’s different and sundry video gaming factions is now saying that while the problems at hand remain complex, he intends getting this casino plane ‘off the ground.’
He’ll have his work cut out him early Xmas presents for him, no matter how many lobbyists give. Florida’s compact with the Native American Seminole tribe gives that group exclusive rights to popular and high-end (in other words., really profitable) table games like baccarat and blackjack. The 2010 compact did not encompass craps or roulette, and requires the Seminoles to spend $250 million a year to florida through 2015. From then on, tribal leaders are not planning on backing down easily; Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen reportedly told scouts from Sands and Genting when they first began their push two years ago that ‘[it shows] a Seminole lady on here, that is not somebody from Las Vegas,’ referring to images on the Florida state flag.
And there is yet more complicated political waltzes happening within the Sunshine State, because former Governor Charlie Crist has decided he wants his old work right back, meaning he’d have to unseat current governor Rick Scott come November. Adelson, needless to say, has been known to throw his weight via his bankroll around within an election or two, and with Scott due to the fact Republican incumbent (Crist was also Republican back as he was governor, but has since switched to first being an Independent, now a Democrat), Scott no question could use the Sands CEO’s support.
To your end, Scott possessed a conference with Adelson in Las Vegas right after using office in 2011, at which time he reported to maintain benefit of resort casinos in their state. Throwing even more fire onto this currently incendiary situation is the reality that the Seminole tribe donated an awesome half-million to Scott’s rebid campaign last year: the largest single political donation designed for the entire year. Talk about being pulled in two directions.
Lines in the s that are sand(
And also the battle lines have now been drawn elsewhere, too: and in addition, entrenched Florida icon Walt Disney Co. has made their views loud and clear on their opposition to casino expansion in the state, and backed it up with $1.7 million spread among legislators over days gone by couple of years. Specialists predict campaign contributions will get even more excessive, in an effort to match Adelson’s almost limitless governmental budget to bring lawmakers around. In reality, the COO of this operating arm behind the Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach says he expects it all to make into ‘ a major food fight’ before the election 12 months is over.
Of course, there’s always a naysayer, and Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Miami) has created a bill to place an end towards the lobbying some would say madness that is vote-buying. She really wants to end the ‘sea of cash [that] has been sloshing into the campaign coffers’ and states only a statutory law against it will work. Deemed the Public Confidence in Gaming Act, she is wished by us the utmost effective of luck in getting this thru. It probably appears nearly as good a possibility of which makes it as absolutely nothing.