A poker dealer lays out charity fundraiser competition chips at a Salem, N.H. makeshift casino; the brand New Hampshire legislature now desires to approve one land that is legitimate for the state (Image: VNews.com)
New Hampshire may have reputation as a quiet, relaxed state where sleep 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 accumulating their gambling industries, it seems as though the Granite State may be ready to become listed on into 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 signed on up to a bill that could welcome only one casino to the state of New Hampshire. That’s more than half the number of representatives that would need to ultimately vote for such a bill to pass the house.
The general public declaration was meant as a sign of 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. Many of those representatives also took part in a press conference to strongly show just how they felt about bringing casino gambling to New Hampshire.
‘We have actually momentum because we listened,’ said Representative Katherine Rogers. ‘We heard the concerns of House people final spring who stated we didn’t have the best regulatory framework.’
All Systems Go
The bill that is new concerns, giving hawaii plenty of oversight over the casino bidding process and providing money for problem gambling services. The bill allows for starters casino, aided by the license for that casino going through a competitive bidding process. It would also create a fresh Hampshire gaming commission that will 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 is likely to make sure expanded gambling is a deal that is good the citizens of New Hampshire,’ said Representative Jeremy Dobson.
Late this week, the House options Committee held a hearing on the bill, known as HB 1633. Supporters revealed the financial benefits of a casino, saying it could make significant revenues without requiring a broader tax increase. It would additionally be a source that is new of in a suggest that tends to lose young employees to other parts of the united states.
‘We are running away from time for you to attract visitors to stay in New Hampshire and to give individuals jobs here,’ said Diana Lacey, president of the State Employees’ Association.
One concern raised at the hearing was the concept that casino gambling may maybe not fit in using the current ‘brand’ New Hampshire has into the minds of tourists and visitors.
‘We don’t have such a need that is chronic this revenue that our company is willing to endure the burdens plus the expense 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 will suggest that citizens must be permitted to choose whether they want to relax and play at a casino or not Duprey countered that the continuing state nevertheless had in order to make decisions by what’s right and acceptable for New Hampshire.
But other people disputed the branding claim. Pat Griffin, A new Hampshire resident who had worked in advertising and marketing for hawaii’s tourism industry, revealed that 41 other states involve some type of casino gambling, and that hasn’t impacted the majority of their brands. For instance, Colorado has 41 casinos, but is still known for the mountains and skiing. One casino, he said, won’t be the tipping point that changes what New Hampshire means to visitors.
Toronto Man Wanted After Failure to pay for $12.9M to Las Vegas Casinos
A nomination that is new ‘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 always a things that are few can get you nominated for ‘World’s Dumbest Criminal’: robbing a bank with surveillance cameras everywhere, wanting to take a police automobile, and many certainly near 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 woefully to repay some $12.9 million in losses to two Las Vegas casinos, dating all the real way back again to 2008. Authorities are actually seeking him out to file charges in the case.
Not-Yet-Arrested Development
43-year-old Semion Kronenfeld is now called on a Clark County District Court arrest warrant, after a grand jury indicted 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, since it’s one of the biggest casino that is unpaid instances ever in Nevada, and if convicted, the sole place this Canadian are going to be rolling dice are going to be in a very state penitentiary, perhaps for decades.
The Clark County indictment that has been handed down this week says that the high-roller failed to repay $7.9 million back in October of 2008 on IOUs made away to the casino that is venetian the Las vegas, nevada Strip. Then, simply 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.
Based on Nevada law, unrepaid casino IOUs are considered fraudulent checks. With a bounty that is prosecutorial of percent for ‘processing and prosecution’ put on any pre-trial settlements of these cases, numerous such incidents are placed to sleep without any charges being filed; obviously, who has not been the actual situation here, though.
Around this writing, Kronenfeld stays AWOL, according to prosecutor Jake Merback, who heads up Clark County’s bad check unit, and calls to Kronenfeld’s attorney in nevada, 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 his or her own estate that is real business, based in Ontario. Apparently he also holds a passport that is israeli was recognized to have multiple spellings of his last title, sometimes spelling it ‘Cronenfeld.’
In Good Business with Other Big Losers
While enormous, Kronenfeld’s case is scarcely the sole bad-debt that is large to hit Nevada’s casinos in recent years. One such high-profile case included the previous owner of chatchke-manufacturer Oriental Trading Co., Terrance ‘Terry’ Watanabe, who had been indicted in 2009 after it absolutely was alleged he failed to pay back (then) Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc (now Caesars Entertainment) in the quantity of $14.75 million in IOUs. However, Watanabe counter-sued Harrah’s and a settlement for an undisclosed quantity was reached in July 2010.
And Watanabe is not the actual only real other high-profile gambler to get caught without repaying his debts; notorious porn-purveyor aussie-pokies.club Joe Francis of Girls Gone crazy fame was also the subject of a IOU dispute with Wynn Resorts Int’l to the tune of $2.5 million. And NBA that is former All-Star Walker who pleaded bad before his case stumbled on trial received a 5 years’ probation sentence and had to fork over $770,000 in restitution.
Florida Faces Battle regarding the wallets that are bulging Warring Casino Factions
It’s a fight to the finish, with he who spends most having a good shot at winning, as casino and anti-casino factions face off in Florida (Image: istock)
Las vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson sometimes lobbies for gambling enterprises and sometimes lobbies against them (as in his massive anti-online campaign for the last 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 casino that is major backing 100 lobbyists (well-armed with every politician’s favorite form of homage: moolah) whose goal will be to place some pressure on Florida’s legislators regarding the Sunshine State’s stalled land gaming status.
Fighting for County Rights
Clearly, gambling clothes with something to gain are most enthusiastically behind this legislative posse’s funding; which puts Genting at the front side of the line; they are looking to get into the Miami beachfront market with a Resorts World Miami project for quite a while now without success. This could be the standoff of all standoffs: because very recently, top state lawmakers made it clear that the whole issue of gambling in Florida is low on their importance totem pole this year.
Nonetheless, cash talks and you know what walks, so a week ago Florida’s Senate Gaming Committee chair Garrett Richter promised to introduce a fresh bill allowing for two resort casinos that could go up in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Those two spots just happen to be precisely where both Adelson’s Sands and Genting have been hoping to secure casino sites by way of amazing coincidence. And more luck that is good Florida’s 60-day legislative session kicks off on March 4, so it’s all just in the nick of the time. Yessirree, Bob, those homage gifts can function the Red Sea whenever delivered over lunch at A tallahassee that is fancy eatery it would seem.
Richter who just a week before was decrying how impossible it was to coordinate most of Florida’s different and sundry gaming factions is now saying that while the problems at hand remain complex, he intends to get 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 liberties 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 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 started their push two years ago that ‘[it shows] a Seminole lady on here, that is not somebody from Las Vegas,’ referring to images regarding the Florida state flag.
And there’s yet more complicated political waltzes happening within the Sunshine State, because former Governor Charlie Crist has decided he wants his old task back, meaning he’d 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 a election or two, and with Scott since the incumbent that is republicanCrist was also Republican back when he had been governor, but has since switched to first being an Independent, and today a Democrat), Scott no question could use the Sands CEO’s support.
To your end, Scott had a meeting with Adelson in Las Vegas right after using office in 2011, at which time he stated to maintain favor of resort casinos in his state. Throwing even more fire onto this currently incendiary situation is the truth 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 taken in two directions.
Lines in the Sand(s)
While the battle lines are drawn elsewhere, too: not surprisingly, entrenched Florida icon Walt Disney Co. has made their views loud and clear on the opposition to casino expansion in the continuing state, and backed it up with $1.7 million spread among legislators over the last couple of years. Professionals predict campaign contributions can get even more excessive, in order to match Adelson’s almost unlimited political spending plan to bring lawmakers around. In reality, the COO associated with the operating supply behind the Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach says he expects it all to turn into ‘ a food that is major’ before the election 12 months is over.
Of course, there’s always a naysayer, and Senator Gwen Margolis (D-Miami) has already developed a bill to put an end to the lobbying some would say vote-buying madness. She desires to end the ‘sea of cash [that] has been sloshing into the campaign coffers’ and claims only law against it’ll work. Deemed the Public Confidence in Gaming Act, we desire her the most effective of luck in getting this thru. It probably stands nearly as good a potential for which makes it as definitely absolutely nothing.