A poker dealer lays out charity fundraiser competition chips at a Salem, N.H. makeshift casino; this New Hampshire legislature now would like to approve one genuine land casino 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 are about to alter. With everyone in the region gathering their gambling industries, it seems as if the Granite State may be prepared to join in the brick-and-mortar race and welcome a land casino of their own.
Representing the Future
In accordance with reports, over 100 representatives in the continuing state House of Representatives have signed on up to a bill that could welcome only one casino to hawaii of New Hampshire. That’s significantly more than half the number of representatives that would eventually need to vote for such a bill to pass through your house.
People declaration ended up being 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 even took part 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 members last spring who said we don’t have the best regulatory framework.’
All Systems Go
The bill that is new issues, giving their state lots of oversight over the casino bidding procedure and providing funding for issue gambling services. The bill would allow for just one casino, with all the permit for that casino going through a bidding process that is competitive. It would also create a New Hampshire video gaming commission that would oversee not only the casino, but also the lottery that is existing racing, and charitable gaming operations in the state.
‘There are major improvements that can certainly make sure expanded gambling is a deal that is good the citizens of New Hampshire,’ said Representative Jeremy Dobson.
Late this the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the bill, known as HB 1633 week. Supporters described the financial benefits of a casino, saying it could bring in revenues that are significant requiring a wider tax increase. It would also be a brand new source of jobs in a state that tends to lose young workers to many other parts of the united states.
‘We are running out of time for you to attract individuals to stay in New Hampshire and to give people jobs here,’ said Diana Lacey, president of the State Employees’ Association.
One concern raised at the hearing had been the basic concept that casino gambling may maybe not easily fit in with all the current ‘brand’ New Hampshire has into the minds of tourists and visitors.
‘We do not have such a chronic need for this revenue that our company is willing to put up with the burdens plus the expense and the injury to our brand,’ stated Concord developer Steve Duprey. While some supporters stated that New Hampshire’s motto is ‘Live Free or Die’ which would suggest that citizens is allowed to choose whether they need to relax and play at a casino or not Duprey countered that the continuing state nevertheless had to create decisions in what’s right and acceptable for New Hampshire.
But others disputed the branding claim. Pat Griffin, A new Hampshire resident who had worked in advertising and marketing for their state’s tourism industry, described that 41 other states involve some type of casino gambling, and that has not affected the majority of their brands. For example, Colorado has 41 casinos, but is still known for its mountains and skiing. One casino, he said, defintely won’t be the tipping point that changes what New Hampshire means to visitors.
Toronto Man Wanted After Failure to Pay $12.9M to Las Vegas Casinos
A nomination that is new ‘World’s Dumbest Criminals’ is actually a Canadian man who reportedly owes the Venetian casino in Las Vegas and an added $12m in IOUs and is now AWOL and wanted
There are always a things that are few can get you nominated for ‘World’s Dumbest Criminal’: robbing a bank with surveillance cameras every-where, attempting to take a police vehicle, and most truly towards 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 continually to repay some $12.9 million in losses to two Las vegas, nevada gambling enterprises, dating all the real way back again to 2008. Authorities are now actually seeking him out to file fees 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, composing bad checks, and obtaining cash under false pretenses. This puts Kronenfeld in a special kind of stupid category, as it’s certainly one of the biggest casino that is unpaid cases ever in Nevada, and if convicted, the sole place this Canadian is rolling dice will be in a very state penitentiary, possibly for decades.
The Clark County indictment that has been handed down this week claims that the high-roller failed to settle $7.9 million back in October of 2008 on IOUs made out to the Venetian casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Then, just two weeks later, Kronenfeld presumably 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.
Based on Nevada law, unrepaid casino IOUs are considered fraudulent checks. With a prosecutorial bounty of 10 percent for ‘processing and prosecution’ placed on any pre-trial settlements for these cases, numerous such incidents are put to sleep without any charges being filed; clearly, which includes not been the scenario here, however.
Around this writing, Kronenfeld continues to be 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, had been not returned.
Kronenfeld’s case went public back 2009, at which point the Canadian ended up being listed in casino credit reports as having his own estate that is real business, based in Ontario. Apparently he also holds a passport that is israeli happens to be proven to have numerous spellings of his final name, sometimes spelling it ‘Cronenfeld.’
In Good Business with Other Big Losers
While enormous, Kronenfeld’s case is hardly the actual only real large bad-debt situation to hit Nevada’s gambling enterprises in recent years. One particular high-profile case involved the previous owner of chatchke-manufacturer Oriental Trading Co., Terrance ‘Terry’ Watanabe, who was indicted in 2009 after it had been alleged he failed to pay right back (then) Harrah’s Entertainment, https://aussie-pokies.club/players-paradise-slot/ Inc (now Caesars Entertainment) in the total amount of $14.75 million in IOUs. However, Watanabe counter-sued Harrah’s and money for an undisclosed quantity was reached in July 2010.
And Watanabe isn’t the only real other high-profile gambler to get caught without repaying their debts; notorious porn-purveyor Joe Francis of Girls Gone Wild fame was also the subject of a IOU dispute with Wynn Resorts Int’l to the tune of $2.5 million. And former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker whom pleaded responsible before his case came to trial received a five years’ probation sentence and had to fork over $770,000 in restitution.
Florida Faces Battle of the wallets that are bulging Warring Casino Factions
It’s a battle to the finish, with he who spends most having a good shot at winning, as casino and anti-casino factions face down in Florida (Image: istock)
Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson often lobbies for casinos and sometimes lobbies against them (as in their massive anti-online campaign for days gone by year); but whatever he does, he does it with gusto and a whole load of cash. Therefore it should come as no shock that his company is certainly one of several major casino operators backing 100 lobbyists (well-armed with every politician’s favorite form 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 legislative posse’s funding; which puts Genting during the front associated with the line; they are hoping to get into the Miami beachfront market with a Resorts World Miami task for quite a while now without success. This could be the standoff of most standoffs: because very recently, top state lawmakers made it clear that the whole issue of gambling in Florida is low on the importance totem pole this year.
Nonetheless, money talks and you understand what walks, so last week Florida’s Senate Gaming Committee chair Garrett Richter promised to introduce a fresh bill permitting 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 websites. And more good luck: Florida’s 60-day legislative session kicks off on March 4, so it is all just in the nick of the time. Yessirree, Bob, those homage gifts can part the Red Sea whenever delivered over lunch at a fancy tallahassee eatery, it would appear.
Richter who just per week before was decrying how impossible it was to coordinate every one of Florida’s different and sundry gaming factions is now saying that while the problems at hand remain complex, he intends to obtain this casino plane ‘off the ground.’
He’ll have their work cut out for him, no matter how numerous lobbyists give him early Xmas presents. Florida’s compact with the Native American Seminole tribe gives that group exclusive legal rights to popular and high-end (in other words., really profitable) table games like baccarat and blackjack. The 2010 compact did perhaps not encompass craps or roulette, and requires the Seminoles to fork out $250 million a to florida through 2015 year. After that, tribal leaders aren’t planning on backing down easily; Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen reportedly told scouts from Sands and Genting when they first started their push two years ago that ‘[it shows] a Seminole lady on here, that is maybe not somebody from Las Vegas,’ referring to images regarding the Florida state flag.
And there is yet more technical political waltzes happening into the Sunshine State, because former Governor Charlie Crist has decided he wants his old task back, meaning he would have to unseat governor that is current Scott come November. Adelson, needless to say, has been known to throw his weight via his bankroll around in an election or two, and with Scott once the incumbent that is republicanCrist was also Republican back as he ended up being governor, but has since switched to first being an Independent, now a Democrat), Scott no question could use the Sands CEO’s support.
Towards the final end, Scott had a conference with Adelson in Las Vegas soon after using office in 2011, of which time he claimed to be in favor of resort casinos in his state. Throwing even more fire onto this currently incendiary situation is the truth that the Seminole tribe donated a cool half-million to Scott’s rebid campaign last 12 months: the largest single political donation designed for the entire year. Talk about being taken in two directions.
Lines in the s that are sand(
As well as the battle lines happen drawn elsewhere, too: unsurprisingly, entrenched Florida icon Walt Disney Co. has made their views noisy and clear on the opposition to casino expansion in the state, and backed it up with $1.7 million spread among legislators over the last two years. Experts predict campaign efforts will get even more excessive, in an attempt to match Adelson’s very nearly unlimited governmental spending plan to bring lawmakers around. In fact, the COO of this operating arm behind the Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach says he expects it all to turn into ‘ a major food fight’ before the election 12 months is over.
Of course, there is always a naysayer, and Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Miami) has recently produced a bill to put an end towards the lobbying some would say vote-buying madness. She wants to end the ‘sea of cash [that] happens to be sloshing into the campaign coffers’ and states only law against it’ll do just fine. Deemed the Public Confidence in Gaming Act, we wish her the very best of fortune in getting this through. It probably stands nearly as good a chance of making it as absolutely nothing.