It’s very good news for Massachusetts, as New Hampshire rejects its latest casino bill.
It might be impossible for brand New Hampshire to come closer to casino that is legalizing without really doing it following a two-hour debate, the state’s two-casino bill ended up being killed down inside your home the other day by one vote, just one thirty days after its one-casino bill was rejected by 29 votes, and 12 months after the one before that. Deputy Speaker Naida Kaen, who had been presiding over the session, cast the deciding vote following a tie that is 172-172.
The bill could have paved the way for two video gaming licenses for which operators would compete in a bidding process. With regulations drawn up by the Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority, it hoped to generate $25 million in revenue-sharing for towns and urban centers, and a recent poll by the University of the latest Hampshire suggested that the majority of residents were in support of casino gambling.
Two casinos in full procedure would make $168 million for the continuing state, it’s projected, and the Granite State requires the money inside your, now that its controversial ‘hospital tax’ has been ruled unconstitutional, leaving a $185 million hole within the state spending plan.
A Brand New Hope
It is understood that 17 representatives who voted against final month’s bill changed their minds now, largely since it was tagged onto a bill to decriminalize cannabis, that they supported. Likewise, 42 representatives were marked as absent, presumably simply because they weren’t therefore keen on the marijuana bit. It’s also believed that some representatives motioned to kill the bill so amendments could be debated and a renewed bill drawn up.
This is enough to inspire hope for the prime sponsor of the bill, Manchester Democrat Lou D’Allesandro. A motion has already been filed to reopen debate on the bill, and D’Allesandro thinks it has a good chance of being passed the next time.
‘I remain hopeful that a different outcome might still be possible,’ D’Allesandro said in a statement while I am disappointed in the rejection of this bill today, which would have allowed for private investment that would stimulate economic growth and job creation.
Not everyone was so thrilled by the basic idea of a reconsideration of the bill, however.
‘I feel like this is deja vu once again,’ groaned Hopkinton Democrat Rep Gary Richardson, tautologically. ‘We had this debate a month ago, however the issues have actually not gone away.’
Good News for Massachusetts
One thing’s for sure: the big winner for now is Massachusetts, whose own burgeoning casino industry would be damaged by legalization in neighboring New Hampshire. This past year, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said he was concerned about the end result brand New Hampshire casinos could have on the Boston market, adding that he believed it had been ‘inevitable’ that the casino would start in Salem.
‘It’s a victory, because it appears like this continuing state isn’t quite prepared to help make the plunge,’ said the Rev. Richard McGowan, a Boston College gaming expert. ‘It would help Boston … people in New Hampshire are greatly predisposed to come calmly to the Boston area instead of going most of the real way down to Connecticut.’
Along with the New Hampshire bill plunged into uncertainty, it will now give Wynn Resorts and the Mohegan Sun less to worry about as they fight for the remaining Massachusetts casino license.
‘It undoubtedly makes both of these happy that there’s one less competitor,’ agrees McGowan. ‘It won’t really help the center in Western Massachusetts, but it shall be described as a boost in Boston.’
Ny Art Dealer Helly Nahmad Sentenced for Role in Gambling Ring
High-profile ny art dealer Hillel ‘Helly’ Nahmad will spend over a 12 months in prison for his role in a massive high-stakes ring that is gambling. (Image: Elitedaily.com)
Once upon a time, well-known New York City art dealer Hillel ‘Helly’ Nahmad offered gambling services to celebrities and other ultra-rich clients around the globe. Now, he’ll be spending a little over a 12 months in prison for his leading role in one of the largest unlawful gambling bands throughout the world.
Nahmad was sentenced to at least one year and one day in federal prison on last week for operating a www royal vegas online casino com illegal gambling ring that worked with athletes, Wall Street executives and Hollywood superstars. Nahmad pleaded guilty to the fees as part of a deal in which he admitted to running and financing the operation, along with receiving a large share associated with ring’s profits.
But despite that deal, Nahmad will nevertheless need certainly to face jail time. He had hoped that his proposition to spend $100,000 each year right into a system to instruct art to children that are underprivileged be accepted, but which was soundly rejected by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman.
‘There is only one means for Mr. Nahmad to comprehend his actions have actually consequences,’ Furman stated, ‘and that is to send him to prison.’
Judge Issues Nahmad’s Remorse
Judge Furman noticed that Nahmad’s request might have been taken more really had he shown some intent to reform himself over the year that is past.
‘Doing good works before sentencing is as low-hanging good fresh fruit he didn’t pick it,’ Furman said as it comes, and. ‘It kind of baffles me, become completely honest.’
In addition to his jail time, Nahmad will need to pay a $30,000 fine, complete 300 hours of community service, and live under supervised release for three years. That is besides the $6.4 million he’d already agreed to forfeit as being a part of their plea deal one that also saw him give up all legal rights to ‘Carnaval a pleasant, 1937,’ a Raoul Dufy painting worth hundreds of thousands.
Nahmad’s lawyers had argued he was raised ‘in a culture where gambling was appropriate and gambling with high stakes was perhaps not only done but…was normal.’ They pointed out which he was indeed gambling since an early age, placing bets on Knicks games since he had been 14 and achieving been dumped of the Monaco casino at 15.
Nahmad, now 35, may be the son of billionaire art dealer David Nahmad. The Nahmad family is reportedly worth approximately $3 billion.
‘My family is a family that is private I brought dishonor to it,’ Nahmad told Judge Furman. ‘I shall never ever forgive myself for just what I have done.’
Ring Had Ties to Russian Crime Syndicates
Nahmad had been one of 34 individual arrested last April when authorities finally broke up the band. Others charged included several people who were reportedly connected to Russian arranged crime, including Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, who was said to lead the operation that is entire overseas. Tokhtakhounov is also stated to have attempted to fix figure events that are skating the 2002 Olympics.
A total of 28 users for the ring have pleaded guilty. That group includes Anatoly Golubchik and Vadim Trincher, whom were each sentenced to five years in prison this week.
Pennsylvania Holds Online Gambling Hearing
On line gambling issues were wrestled by way of a Pennsylvania House Committee. (Image: SimonsFund.org/thecapitol.com)
Of the many states which have taken up casino gambling over the decade that is last none have already been more successful than Pennsylvania. The state overtook neighboring New Jersey (home of Atlantic City) as the leading state for gaming revenue in the northeast, a move that ultimately sparked a casino arms race throughout the region in just a few short years. Now, Pennsylvania seems to be considering a move into the last frontier associated with American video gaming industry: online gambling.
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing that is public week to talk about the impact that regulating on the web gambling would have on the state. The technology involved and consumer protection were discussed over the course of the hearing, issues ranging from the potential social impact of Internet gaming to policy issues.
A Start to Discussion, Not a conclusion
The hearing ended up being co-chaired by State Representatives Rosita(D-Philadelphia that is youngblood and Tina Davis (D-Bucks). According to Youngblood, the hearing ended up being made to be considered a first look at the chance of bringing online gambling to Pennsylvania, rather than the time for you to make any decisions.
‘ The main purpose behind this hearing was to jumpstart the debate and provide a venue for our members to obtain valuable information so we are prepared to address this issue into the near future,’ Youngblood said.
The hearing began with opening remarks, after which four panels were held on various problems surrounding the Internet gambling debate.
Kevin O’Toole, executive director of this Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), talked to the agency’s part into the ongoing discussion associated with the problem.
‘The Gaming Control Board, because the regulatory agency, does not advocate for or against Internet gambling,’ O’Toole stated. ‘If Internet gambling is authorized in Pennsylvania by the Legislature and the Governor, we do advocate that the existing certified casino operators be the authorized providers of this activity.’
While O’Toole expressed confidence that the PGCB could oversee on the web gambling in the continuing state if called upon to accomplish so, he did state that age verification could be one area of concern.
‘At enough time that the person registered for an online video gaming account, his/her information can be verified to ensure proper identity and age,’ he stated. ‘However, it gets to be more tough to determine with confidence that no one other than the registered player uses that account. This matter requires to be further researched to identify a better procedure for age verification.’
Regulation Would Protect Customers
Throughout the hearing, many major players in the regional and gaming that is national had the ability to share their perspectives as well.
Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas was the last speaker, and framed the regulation of online poker as being a step to protect consumers.
‘Our discussion today just isn’t about expansion of gaming, it is about corralling the current unregulated marketplace and making it something that is safe for consumers and accountable to regulators and our government,’ Pappas said.
The hearing uses a Pennsylvania Senate committee commissioned a research on video gaming in the state year that is last. That report was expected to be released by May 1, though it has not yet been made public.
Not totally all of Pennsylvania’s efforts to expand gambling have gone smoothly. an effort that is recent allow taverns to host small games of chance attracted almost no interest despite hopes that 1000s of venues might apply for licenses, using the cost of licensing and also the required background checks having dampened passion from bar owners.
‘Hopefully we are going to learn our lesson through the debacle we are seeing with the expansion into tavern gaming, and will supply a debate that is thorough discussion with this issue before allocating down the revenue it will create,’ Youngblood said.