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Lawyers for Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker in USA to make deal with DOJ

Posted by Poker Videos on May 8th, 2012

Poker Tilt image from Compatiblepoker.com

Lawyers for both Full Tilt Poker and Pokerstars are in the USA today negotiating with the Department of Justice for a settlement and deal between the two companies. The lawyers are most likely getting an OK from the DOJ for the final terms of the sale of Full Tilt Poker and repayment of the players in the United States.

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NFL collaborating with Las Vegas to partner in Gambling Monopoly

Posted by Poker Videos on May 7th, 2012

DOJ seizures of Poker Domains Part 7 NFL’s involvement in bribery / deceit to secure partnership with Las Vegas Cartel in Gambling Monopoly

Bill Wichterman – The lobbyist that attached the UIGEA

It was minimally reported on poker news sites, poker forums, and poker blogs that the UIGEA was attached to the Port Security Bill by lobbyist working for the National Football League. When I brought this up on Two Plus Two forums, I received ridicule from Dessert Cat. Dessert Cat couldn’t understand how the NFL would monetize gambling when they are against it outright in public. The NFL stated they were against gambling because it could jeopardize the sanctity of the game:

“would irreparably harm professional and amateur sports by fostering suspicion and skepticism that individual plays and final scores of games may have been influenced by factors other than honest athletic competition.”

I argued with DessertCat that the NFL gets most of their viewership from gamblers and people who are in Fantasy Leagues. I also argued that they would implement some sort of site like Fan Duel and or team up with Vegas for licensing sportsbooks. Regardless of whether they own the site or make money off of gambling directly, their revenue grows by increasing viewership. Below, I posted links and sources that the NFL team owners and NFL are going to directly profit from casinos and gambling. I argued that team owners like the Rooneys are major owners of casinos and would benefit down the road from attaching the UIGEA. This is in fact about to happen and has been in the works before the UIGEA. In the last few months it has become evident that major NFL owners are colluding with Steve Wynn and Las Vegas to secure a gambling monopoly. One must understand that the NFL is simply a corporation that is comprised of the owners of the various NFL teams. Very influential members like the Rooneys, Maras, and Robert Kraft are using the NFL to do lobbying for their own personal interests. The NFL manipulated religious groups like Focus on Family to oppose online poker, yet the ultimate goal was to have a gambling monopoly for themselves and their partners. Indeed, their lobbying and bribing of officials has come to fruition:

NFL reverses stance on Gambling:

NFL to profit from gambling
Come fall, Lincoln Financial Field may embrace more than just the Eagles and their legion of fans. For the first time, ads for Parx, SugarHouse, and the region’s other casinos likely will grace the Linc, too, thanks to the NFL’s reversal of a long-standing policy.

Under rules set last week that allow the 32 NFL teams to tap into the $35 billion-a-year U.S. commercial casino industry, advertisements for gambling halls will be permitted on signs in stadiums, in game programs and brochures, and on local radio broadcasts – though not ads for a particular game such as slots or blackjack, or promotions such as a tournament.

NFL FLIP FLOP
“This is another example of the NFL prudently opening up new business opportunities (and we) will explore it thoughtfully,” said Jets owner Woody Johnson.

The NFL will get 5 percent of all the clubs’ casino ad take to finance the league’s “gambling education” program.
There are some catches.
No images of players, coaches or team trademarks can appear in ads, which must also carry a “prominent responsible gambling message,” according to an NFL memo to owners about ad guidelines, which was obtained by The Post.
Ads cannot depict people gambling, or carry any motivational text, such as “come out and win big,” the memo said.

NFL and team owners out to profit with Casino ads

“I think the first message is, they are out to make as much money as they can in advertising,” said ESPN 730 radio announcer Bill Rosinski.
As the former voice of the Panthers, Rosinski is quite familiar with the NFL’s policy on gambling. He says the league works hard to keep its coaches, players and management away from the betting industry.
“But in reality,” said Rosinski, “we look at the National Football League and what do we talk about every week? ‘Oh, the Panthers are seven point dogs this week.’”
Over the next few weeks, Goodell and team owners will decide whether to accept tons of marketing money from casinos.

NFL Owners Leasing land to Casinos:

More NFL owners temaing up with Casinos
At a recent owner’s meeting in Florida, Goodell said, “we have evolved very slowly over this, and in fact have kept a real distance between gambling and the NFL. We intend to keep doing that. But we have frequently modified that over the years.”

Should the Dolphins succeed in making its land eligible for a casino license, its majority owner, Stephen Ross, could sell or lease the land and enjoy the profits as well as spillover traffic and spending from gamblers traveling to a casino owned by someone else.

In a statement, the Dolphins emphasized the team itself would not pursue a casino. But the team also suggested it wanted to preserve its site as a player in the gambling debate.

Opposision in Minneapolis toward tribal caisno funding of stadium
The White Earth tribe of Ojibwe unveiled a plan this morning that seems to contain a lot for everybody:

• A new Vikings stadium, without a nickel of taxpayer money.

• Revenue for the largest and poorest tribe in Minnesota.

• Millions for the state’s two horse tracks, Running Aces and Canterbury Park.

• Jobs for construction workers.

• More jobs for people who would end up working at a new, metro-area casino.

“A great idea,” said Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove. “And it’s got no chance of passing.”

NFL showing reverse stance towards gambling policy in Minneapolis
Meanwhile, a top NFL official told the Star Tribune that the league could agree to a stadium funding plan that includes gambling revenue, as long as customers could not wager on games in the betting facility.

“It’s not something we would have an absolute prohibition against,” said Neil Glat, the NFL’s senior vice president for corporate development.

Dayton, who also met with NFL officials last week, has not said he would support either proposal but has been willing in the past to look at expanding gambling to raise revenue. A top administration official confirmed the private meeting with Hackbarth but would not characterize the governor’s views of it.

Although the Steelers Rooneys do not own the Casino on Paper, it is possible that they proxy own it or will buy it in the future. It is located on the land directly next to Heinz Stadium. The Steelers and Pirates just delayed deal to develop land next to stadiums.

Is this a large enough piece of land for a Casino?

STEELERS, PIRATES GET MORE TIME TO DEVELOP LAND
November 17, 2011
Copyright 2011 MediaVentures

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Steelers, the Pirates and the city’s Stadium Authority have finalized a deal that gives the teams more time to develop the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

All three parties signed the new agreement, nearly one month after stadium authority board members voted unanimously to amend a 9-year-old option agreement and to extend the deadlines the teams had missed for developing property on the North Shore.

In voting to amend the agreement, the board, in essence, rejected a proposal by Pittsburgh parking magnate Merrill Stabile to build a 10-story “signature office tower” on a 3.3-acre tract next to Stage AE.

Under the new deal, the Steelers, the Pirates and their development partner, Continental Real Estate Cos., will have until Dec. 31, 2012, to start development on the front half of the same parcel. They must submit a full site improvement plan for the development by July 2012.

The teams must start development of another property, either one next to the Equitable Building or along Mazeroski Way, by May 31, 2015, followed by another on May 31, 2017.

MET LIFE Stadium

MetLife Stadium is the new football stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. It primarily serves as the home stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets American football teams of the NFL, and is thus the only facility home to two NFL franchises.

Possible Sportsbook near Stadium
Wait, speaking of casinos and New Jersey sites, could one wind up next to THAT stadium, too?

The answer is – it’s complicated.

There has been political talk for years about the idea of installing thousands of slot machines at the Meadowlands Racetrack, turning the track into a racino. In fact, the new grandstand being planned at the track for 2013 is being built to resemble “a Vegas-style sports book,” one track executive said. And just last week, a bill to permit sports betting in the state passed a state Senate committee, in spite of a federal prohibition that would have to be hurdled.

The Giants and Jets couldn’t stop a racino or a sports book from operating, according to New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officials I’ve spoken with.

But construction of a Giant, er, giant, freestanding casino at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, such as at the site of the current racetrack grandstand that will be demolished in 2013 – would likely have to be approved by the teams. The Xanadu project – now known as American Dream Meadowlands and also scheduled to be open in 2013 – had to jump through all kinds of hoops to gain the endorsement of the teams.

In many cases across the country, taxing paying citizens were taxed by the county or city to pay for new or fledgling stadiums. The NFL, NFL team owners, MLB, and MLB team owners reap the benefits and profits, whilst the tax payers pick up the bill. Not to mention paying drink taxes whilst losing business to restaurants that are located directly in the Stadiums that were paid for by a drink tax or some other illegal tax. Here are just some examples:

Our Tax Money Being used to make multi millionaires more millions:

Pittsburgh Steelers

As part-owner of Stage AE and as a partner with its operator, the Steelers could make more money from the North Shore amphitheater. State taxpayers paid $2.5 million to reduce its $13 million construction cost, which, in turn, cut the operator’s monthly rent payments.

Vikings – Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Two Ramsey County commissioners want a 3 percent countywide food and beverage tax to help pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.

Commissioners Tony Bennett and Rafael Ortega floated the proposal Thursday. They say it would raise about $24 million a year and finance $350 million in capital bonds for a $1.1 billion stadium.

Indianapolis – Colts

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on September 20, 2005. It was originally referred to as Indiana Stadium until Lucas Oil purchased the naming rights. The total cost of Lucas Oil Stadium was $720 million. The stadium is being financed with funds raised by the State of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis, with the Indianapolis Colts providing $100 million. Marion County has raised taxes for food and beverage sales, auto rental taxes, innkeeper’s taxes, and admission taxes for its share of the costs. Meanwhile, there has been an increase in food and beverage taxes in the eight surrounding doughnut counties (with the exception of Morgan County) and the sale of Colts license plates.[3]

How the NFL is tied to Las Vegas Casinos and the persons who finance and control them:

NFL Deceit

The NFL’s newest hire, Miller told the Associated Press, “I’m a lifelong NFL fan, grew up in Wisconsin, [and] rooted for the Packers at my father’s knee every Sunday. I had had opportunities in the past to leave the Hill and do other things, such as work at a law firm and lobby firm. But when the NFL calls, you can’t turn that down.” When asked about the upholding the existing internet gambling legislation, which consists of both the UIGEA and Wire Act of 1961, Miller responded, “We want to maintain the integrity of the game, and gambling threatens that.”

Paul Pelosi former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s roommate at Georgetown University pictured here with Michael Milken. Pelosi is money behind pseudo competitor to NFL set up for the NFL to avoid antitrust lawsuits. Pelosi’s Son is regular speaker at Milken institute.

Paul Pelosi with his wife Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi starts Football League
Paul Pelosi, husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is leading a group that paid $30 million to purchase the inaugural four teams that will compete this fall in the United Football League, according to executives launching the startup league.

Paul Tagliabue Former NFL commisioner and Senior Counsel at Covington and Burling – The Lobbyist group that Attached UIGEA

Mr. Tagliabue served with distinction as NFL Commissioner from 1989 until 2006 and presided over an extended period of labor peace and revenue growth in professional football. During his tenure, the League grew from 28 to 32 teams, secured the largest television contracts in entertainment history, supported the construction of more than 20 NFL team stadiums, and expanded the NFL’s global reach.

Paul Pelosi is the link between Michael Milken to the NFL lobbyist who attached the UIGEA. Milken is the one who financed Steve Wynn and employed Leon Black (from Caesars) while at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

In conclusion I would like to say that the recent reversal of policy towards gambling and casinos by the NFL is proof of government bribery. This recent reversal of policy after the destruction of Full Tilt Poker is proof of government corruption. Just as NFL team owners are “leasing” properties and not directly involved in majority ownership of the casinos, Steve Wynn and Leon Black are partnering up with online poker platforms. Leon Black of Caesars and Steve Wynn of WYNN are both directly tied to ex con and financier Michael Milken. Although Wynn and Caesars are different companies, they work together as a “cartel” or a “trust”. The NFL contradictions, DOJ actions, and Black Friday are a result of a consorted effort to keep control of an International Gambling Cartel.

Article submitted by John Bradford aka Prospace

Domain Seizures Part 6 The Monopoly
Domain Seizures part 5 In defence or Ray Bitar
Poker Domain Seizures Part 4 Jack Abramoff’s Playbook used by Covington and Burling
Domain Seizures Part 3
Domain Seizures Part 2
Domain Seizures Part 1 addendum
Domain Seizures Part 1

Editors Note: These opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Pokerbloggs.com

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Global Gaming Monopoly

Posted by Poker Videos on May 3rd, 2012

DOJ seizures of Poker Domains Part 6 – The Systematic Takeover of the State Casinos and Worldwide Gaming Monopoly

A Poker Room Skin is an online poker room with it’s own skin that operates on the same platform with many more individually branded online poker rooms. An example would be Doyles Room and how it operated on Cake platform, but was branded as Doyles Room. In 2006 before Doyles Room started moving from one platform to another, a poker affiliate could have paid $10,000 or less to Doyles Room and created their own “skin” with their own brand earning 40% rakeback with only some monthly fees for operation. If you were savvy enough, you could run your own poker room. This all ended when the NFL used lobbyist group Covington and Burling to attach the UIGEA. It was no longer viable to buy a skin with threat of the DOJ shutting you or your network down. This was the solution brought about by Brick and Mortar casinos and the NFL who’s owners and members have big plans for gambling. The major challenge was getting rid of the successful and fast growing Full Tilt Poker. Bernard Tapie was most likely sent by Steve Wynn to broker a deal. Preceding his visit, was Jack Binion who is a paid employee of Steve Wynn and former owner of the Horseshoe casino. Bernard Tapie and his son would come shortly after no deal could be reached with Binion. Or was Binion’s visit just to make an offer from Wynn privately and use Tapie as front man for Pokerstars/Wynn hostile takeover? The DOJ who had confiscated the Full Tilt Poker domain name and player funds was in total control. Full Tilt was till operating in Europe, but that was all about to change with Phil Ivey’s lawsuit against them. It would cause a “run on the bank” of Euro player funds. Tony G would claim (and I believe him) that this was a ploy to devalue Full Tilt Poker value to enable a takeover for cheap. Soon it would be leaked to NoahSD, a mod at Two Plus Two, that Phil Ivey owed at least 4 million and asmuch as 10 million to Full Tilt Poker. This would enrage many players who believed that Ivey lost 10 million of their funds playing craps. Phil Ivey was playing craps at up to $100k a roll and it is totally plausible that he owed markers to Brick & Mortar Vegas Casinos. If he owed more money to the Brick & Mortars or specifically Wynn, this could put him under pressure to file the lawsuit. Tapie would later sign agreement to buy FTP with many contingencies. They would create company in Ireland with the function of “leasing software”. Shortly after this, DOJ would reject Tapie and another leak OK’d by NoahSD in Two plus Two announcing that Pokerstars is going to buy the software off of Full Tilt Poker. This all seemed very suspicious to me and to others, that it happened so fast.

I had predicted only one week after Black Friday, that Caesars would end up with the software and lease it to the state casinos:
In my opinion all of these studies the states are doing are wasting tax payers money. They could drag a third rate affiliate off any forum and that affiliate would be able to tell them that the state would not be able to get the conversions needed to have profitable poker eco system. You need thousands of players all day long to get games going. This leads me to the conclusion that the government went after Full Tilt Poker, UB, and Pokerstars to wipe out future competition for Caesars Entertainment Group. Once they have a bill in place for regulation of online poker, they will grant Caesars Entertainment Group a sweetheart license to run online poker sites in the USA. The state’s study will conclude that they can’t do it on their own, and that they will have to buy “skins” from Caesars Entertainment group.

A year later (a few days ago), an industry insider from Bodog would say almost the identical statement:

The deal would then see PokerStars pardoned, potentially allowing it to partner with a land-based casino and apply for a license to enter the US market in the eventuality of legalisation. Under these circumstances, it has been suggested that PokerStars could even licence out Full Tilt’s software,with a Bodog representative commenting via Facebook:
“I think it has to do with the software. I think they will keep the Full Tilt software ‘clean’ and license it to new operators in regulated states and jurisdictions looking to get into the online poker space.”

Shortly thereafter, on Quad Jacks Radio, Scott Yeates, a former employee for Pokerstars, who is now consulting in the industry, said the same thing about the leasing of the software. It is beginning to look like I was right, except that it is Pokerstars and not Caesars or Zynga.

Shortly before Black Friday Wynn aligned with Pokerstars:
If federal regulation passes, Wynn plans to launch PokerStarsWynn.com. With Wynn’s backing, it seems much more likely that PokerStars will be able to secure a license, and that is a strong sign that poker players will be able to prosper in a regulated U.S. environment.

It is my belief that they formed a sort of Hegelian Dialectic to get rid of Full Tilt Poker.

Pokerstars meetings with Wynn years before Black Friday
Nearly two years ago billionaire Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn met Isai Scheinberg, the founder of PokerStars, the world’s biggest online gaming firm, for the first time. Scheinberg generally avoids traveling to the U.S., but the meeting took place on Wynn’s boat while it was anchored in the Mediterranean Sea. Over a three-hour lunch, Scheinberg tried to convince Wynn that the two of them should work together to regulate online poker in the U.S. with an eye toward setting up a joint venture.

They would create a problem: DOJ shuts down poker sites and confiscates bank accounts.

People would react: by begging for regulation of course all along being prodded by PPA and Fair Play. Two Plus Two would soon fill with shill accounts and leaked news promoted by the mods.

Solution: Pokerstars would save the day and pay everyone back their own money. The masses would then rejoice in a Pokerstars monopoly and legislation preventing this from ever happening again.

It has become more evident from all of my research that there has been a systematic takeover of all gaming by a small group of individuals. After over 510 hours of research into Black Friday and the events before and after, I can only come to this sad hypothesis; There is a consorted effort state by state, for a few individuals, to have a monopoly in gambling. In many cases they partner up with corrupt local officials or corrupt or greedy Indian casinos in order to eliminate opposition from local lawmakers. And in many cases these casinos are tied to money laundering. These state casino monopolies would open up across the country, in some cases financed by the state or pension funds, for people that won’t travel to Las Vegas. The main east coast centers would be in New York, Jew Jersey, and Miami.

Take a look at these examples of state and international casinos where mega lobbying is involved and decide for yourself:

The Rooney family, who own the Pittsburgh Steelers and racetracks and casinos are getting in on the action:
Rooney’s Tri-State Strategies LLC, now a registered lobbying firm in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, includes such political heavies as former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio; Paul T. Fader, the former chief counsel to former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey; Michael Perrucci, an attorney who has invested in the casino project in south Bethlehem; and attorney Douglas J. Steinhardt.
The NFL was responsible for the actual attachment of the UIGEA

Rooney Mara – Descendant of Steelers owner and Giants Owner and
Star of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Rooneys have long been involved in gambling and are tied by blood to the New York Giants owners family the Maras:

In 1925, bookie Timothy Mara decided against investing $500 in the career of heavyweight boxer Gene Tunney, instead pumping the cash into the new New York Football Giants,

Playing Football
Besides the conservative authors of the UIGEA, the NFL is pushing for it to go into affect as soon as possible.

According to the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, a Bush official who once worked as a lobbyist for the National Football League is behind the push to rush the regulations through before Bush leaves office.

The NFL has voiced its support for the UIGEA because it will snuff out illegal sports wagering that it thinks could threaten the integrity of the game. According to the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) asked the White House what role Deputy Director of Public Liaison William Wichterman had in encouraging the Treasury to send over the final draft of the regulations.

Now they are changing their policies:
Last month, the NFL considered during its annual meetings a revision to its gambling policies aimed at allowing teams to sell advertisements to casinos. The league made no announcement during the meetings regarding whether a vote was taken on the matter, or whether the rules in any way had changed.They have.
Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reports that the NFL has communicated to all teams the new rules regarding casino advertising, which allow such ads for the next two seasons.

NFL FLip FLops like DOJ when all their duck are in a row or indicted acually
Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league are discussing the issue at their annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., this week. Sources said an agreement to alter current policy would be a drastic about-face for the NFL.
For years, the NFL has been vehemently opposed to any tie-ins with the industry, fearing that it would be seen as promoting sports wagering.
In 2003, the league wouldn’t let the Las Vegas tourism campaign “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas,” run during the Super Bowl.

DOJ FLIP FLOPS after Tapie agreement signed

A few days early, the U.S. Department of Justice has given poker players a Christmas presents of sorts. The DOJ, which has long held the position that the Wire Act of 1961 applies to all forms of internet gambling, changed their position and now believe the 50-year-old law only applies to sports betting and not other forms of online gambling, including poker and lotteries.

The DOJ had been asked for their opinion on the Wire Act as it pertained to lotteries in New York and Illinois. In the documents released on Friday the DOJ took the position that “interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a “sporting event or contest” fall outside the reach of the Wire Act”.

Jon Kyl Flip flops after Black Friday

In the last couple months, words attributed to Kyl on his official website were added that appear to back up that possibility. The text reads: “Efforts to carve out an exception for games like poker, which many believe is a game of skill, may be considered later this year. Until I have the chance to review them, I cannot make a judgment about their merits; but I will consider them carefully as long as they leave in place the broader proscriptions against online betting.”

Looking at all the research in retrospect, it only makes sense. If we take a look at how Jack Abramoff closed Indian Casinos, bilked them of money, and did a hostile illegal takeover of Sun Cruz Casinos, it resembles the Full Tilt Poker takeover. Indian Casinos were a threat to state casinos popping up all over the country. There is also an effort to turn Miami into the east coast Las Vegas. They did not want Indian Casinos to limit their profits in anyway. Same holds true with Full Tilt Poker. Full Tilt was becoming a serious threat to a global monopoly. They had risen unexpectedly and could actually surpass Pokerstars and then follow up with a brick and mortar casino or partner with one like Stations (who owed Caesars Money). For those of you who don’t remember, Pokerstars was always copying Full Tilt Poker. Full Tilt Poker was innovative and cutting edge and Pokerstars was always a month or two behind. Then a serious threat came in the form of Rush Poker. Rush poker was a new, exciting form of poker that was more profitable and faster. It meant players could play more hands which led to more profits per player. This also meant that anyone who played it would have serious problems waiting for hands at another site or in live play. So the threat was established, the brand was growing, and had cooler pros and higher high stake games. The trap was set long before Black Friday. The trap was set already to get rid of the fast growing poker room.

Back to the states… The Indian casinos held monopolies in some states because they were on territories that are out of jurisdiction for regulators. This enabled them to run Casinos with competition, but that is changing state by state. Jack Abramoff seemed to being working alone to bilk the Indian Casinos out of millions. That was far from the truth, he worked for a major casino lobbyist law firm called Greenberg Taurig (same law firm of PPA an Two Plus Two). Jack was using his friend Ralph Reed to manipulate Focus on Family (religious group) into writing congress to shut down Indian Casinos. He would then have them reverse their opinion once Abramoff collected millions in fees and the Indian Casino flooded PACs with donations.

STATES

Resorts World Miami Design photos

FLORIDA

Miami to Become New Las Vegas
Internalize the name “Resorts World Miami.” It is a 3 Billion dollar investment taking place at the heart of Downtown Miami. If the term “3 Billion” didn’t give you a conceptual mental picture of how massive this undertaking is, really take a closer look at the pictures provided. This project is like Disney World for adults in Miami. It may just be pictures and computer generated renditions, but “Genting” a Malaysian company already owns specific key locations to start construction as early as Spring of 2012 with a projected finish date as early as Fall 2014. Genting contracted a Miami based Architectural company named, get ready for this, “Arquitectonica!” Try and say that with a straight face. Despite their great name, Arquitectonica really went all out and didn’t hold back when designing Resorts World Miami. They’ve managed to design the buildings with a futuristic marine life feel, in homage to Miami’s aquatic lifestyle. Looking at the pictures it almost seems as if it were an underwater city made from gigantic coral reef structures.

Miami Lobby Effort for East Coast Resort
Last week, a Senate committee heard a pitch envisioning a handful of casino resorts in places like Miami and Tampa/St. Petersburg, with bidders paying a $50 million application fee.
One proposal calls for a 75-mile exclusivity zone around the new casinos, but that wouldn’t include the existing South Florida pari-mutuel and sovereign Seminole casinos. The casino proposal calls for a 10 percent tax rate on gambling revenue, which is far less than the 35 percent paid by the Broward and Miami-Dade racinos.
The plan raises plenty of questions for South Florida’s existing casinos.
If full-fledged casino resorts are authorized, it means the state’s 2010 gambling agreement with the Seminoles would be voided. The five-year deal, which gave blackjack and other table games to five tribal casinos, was supposed to generate at least $1 billion for the state.
It means the tribal casinos, like the Hard Rocks in Hollywood and Tampa, might get to stay open and expand gambling menus while not paying anything to the state. For that reason, the tribe might not oppose the new plan as much as you’d think.
A voided compact would give them a huge competitive edge, with more money available for promotions, marketing and payouts. Federal regulators and courts would have to sort out the inevitable legal disputes that would arise.

NEW YORK

New York Race Track Expansions
Racetracks across New York Sept. 7 will unveil a plan to amend the state constitution to permit them to offer a complete array of casino gambling as part of a proposal they say will raise money for the state government and the industry.

With state officials, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, signaling interest in possibly expanding casino options in the state, the racetracks that already have video lottery terminals say any future expansion should be limited to their sites as a way to block added casino competition from within New York.

Backers say the plan would stand a better chance with voters because it would feature an expansion of existing casinos instead of new, Las Vegas-style casinos in new areas of the state. Nine tracks now are permitted to have VLT casinos under a 2001 law.

Rooneys Blood Ties (full article deleted by Tribune Review) This is why I’m copy pasting then linking to the sources.)
The five sons of the late Art Rooney Sr., often called The Chief by friends and family, oversee a sprawling empire that includes at least two dozen corporations — in fields as diverse as dog racing, restaurants and electrical contracting — that combine to churn more than $650 million in annual revenue. One piece, a casino and harness racing track at the northern edge of New York City, raked in more than $400 million last year.

OHIO

Lyle Berman
Berman also played an important role in gaming companies. In 1990 he was a co-founder of Grand Casinos Inc., a company that sought to create gambling establishments outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Grand Casinos’ Native American casino holdings were spun off into a new company, Lakes Entertainment Inc., and Berman was named CEO. Additionally, Berman is the chairman of the board of the World Poker Tour and Pokertek.

Lyle Berman’s stake in Pokertek could be key in having all the casinos tied together for online poker while sitting in B&M Casinos. Each state casino could have their own skin for online and use Pokertek to tie live casino players to online rooms.

Caesar’s Ohio Investment + Berman’s Company

Press Release announcing partnership between Berman’s Company and Caesars:
Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: LACO) announced today that Rock Ohio Ventures, LLC (”Rock”), the company that owns the rights to develop a casino in each of Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio, recently entered into an agreement with Caesar’s Ohio Investment, LLC, a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.) (”Agreement”) providing for the joint ownership and management of Rock Ohio Caesar’s, LLC, the entity that will ultimately own, develop and operate the two Ohio casinos. Lakes continues to have the right to own up to 10% of Rock’s ownership in the two casinos, provided that Lakes funds a proportionate amount of the capital required from Rock to develop such casinos.

“We are pleased that Rock chose such a well established and reputable management company,” stated Lyle Berman, CEO of Lakes. “Caesar’s has a rich history of casino gaming and operates some of the best casinos in the United States and we believe this enhances the value of our ownership in these casinos. We currently have the capital and intent to fund the amount required to maintain our ownership position and we look forward to being a part of this business venture in Ohio.” added Mr. Berman.

Hosted with myphotocloud.com
Lakes Entertainment state Casino development projects past and future.

Current Projects
Red Hawk Casino

In Development
Rocky Gap Proposal
Vicksburg Development
Cincinnati Development
Cleveland Development

Past Projects
Four Winds Casino Resort
Cimaron Casino
Grand Casino Tunica
Grand Casino Coushatta
Grand Casino Avoyelles
Grand Casino Biloxi
Grand Casino Gulfport
Grand Casino Hinkley
Grand Casino Mille Lacs

MARYLAND

Lyle Berman – Leon Black in two separate projects in Maryland

Caesars Entertainment Corp. is proposing to build a $310 million casino with a steakhouse, buffet, sports bar and 4,000-car garage near M&T Bank Stadium in South Baltimore.
The gaming company unveiled details of Harrah’s Baltimore to a state slots panel on Monday afternoon at the site of the proposed project along Russell Street. Caesars owns the Harrah’s brand.
CBAC Gaming LLC proposed in September to build the casino slated to include 3,750 machines.
Members of CBAC include local businessmen Arthur Adler, Michael Bronfein, Anthony Deering and Theo Rodgers.
The group hopes to open the casino in the second half of 2013. The state slots panel — headed by Greater Baltimore Committee CEO Donald C. Fry— must still approve or reject a gaming license for Caesars.
Caesars said the project would create the equivalent of 1,225 full-time jobs. Total gaming space would be 110,000 square feet. The steakhouse would seat 125 people, while the buffet could accommodate 400. The project would also include a 5,700-square-foot sports and restaurant and 2,500-square-foot food court.

Below are the full details on each of the five bids.
Baltimore site:
Baltimore City Casino LLC

3,750 slot machines
Principals: Charles Hopkins, Erwin Haitzmann, Peter Hoetzinger, Andreas Terler, Margaret Stapleton, Ryan Green, and Lori Steele
CBAC Gaming LLC (Harrah’s Baltimore)

3,750 slot machines
Principal entities: CR Baltimore Holdings (Rock Gaming Mothership LLC and Caesars Baltimore Investment Company LLC); CVPR Gaming Holdings LLC and STRON-MD Limited Partnership
Officers: Arthur Adler, Leon Black, Michael Bronfein, Margorie Rodgers Cheshire, Craig Colton, Jonathan Coslet, James Coulter, Matt Cullen, Anthony Deering, Timothy Donovan, Steven Fader, Daniel Gilbert, Jonathan Halkyard, Joshua Harris, Eric Hession, Gary Loveman, Donald Marrandino, John Payne, Karl Peterson, Eric Press, Anthony Rodgers, Theo Rodgers, Marc Rowan, Steven Sibel, Belinda Stronach, Jinlong Wang, and Christopher Williams
Rocky Gap site:
Landow Partners LLC

500 slot machines
Principal: Nathan Landow
Evitts Resort LLC

850 slot machines
Principals: William Correa, Lyle Berman, Tim Cope, and Enrique Melendez
Allegany Entertainment Group/Potts Gaming LLC

200 slot machines
Principals: Vincent Tagliabracci, Tom Aro, John Jagiela, Frank Shunock, and Craig Potts

How The Casino cartels are financing the deals:

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s slot machine commission voted 6-0 on Friday to reject a proposal to bring slot machines to western Maryland’s Rocky Gap State Park.

Don Fry, the commission’s chairman, said the proposal, by Landow Partners LLC, failed to provide detailed information that is required about how they would finance the casino.

“We never received a full financial plan or business plan that met the requirements as set forth in the (request for proposal),” Fry said after the vote.

Fry said Landow’s proposal included a request to borrow about $25 million through state bonds for the venture.

“We’re not in the position to offer state bonds as part of the deal,” Fry said. “We have no authority to ask the state, or rely on the state, to issue additional state bonds to fund what this project would be.”

Think back to Jstat and how Harrahs now Caesars Entertainment was no so coinsidentally purchased the day after the UIGEA:

Apollo Management’s Black fingerprints are in this indictment, but nothing stuck to “Teflon Leon.” The money invested from CalPERS/CalSTRS was bundled into the Harrah’s/Caesars Entertainment (Hamlet Holdings) buyout in Jan. 2008. Apollo Investment Fund L.P. VI and the 10% ownership of Apollo Management by California’s public employees’ pension funds assisted in buying Harrah’s/Caesars are shown in the SEC filing. Caesars Entertainment later extended much of its debt obligations to 2015 and required teachers and law enforcement pensions to take a haircut in the process. The billions lost to Caesars Entertainment won’t be known until then. Who allowed California’s teachers and public workers to be owners of the world largest casino?

Cleveland Casinos set to open:
The vote came after the commission spent 30 minutes with their legal counsel prior to the public meeting.
Commission chair Jo Ann Davidson told ONN that this marks a critical day in the history of gaming in Ohio.
Today’s vote clears the way for the Cleveland casino to open on May 14th. It will be the first full gambling facility in Ohio.
Rock Ohio Caesar’s wired a required $50 million fee to the state last night. In addition, they paid $3 million in licensing fees.
Last month Cullen and his business partners, including Dan Gilbert, passed a background investigation conducted by the state

More on Cleveland Casino
Ohio Casino Control Commission during a two-hour presentation about his company’s vision for the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, scheduled to open in May.
But Gilbert, who also is a majority owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team, answered questions from the commission over a $60,000 unsecured loan he personally made to former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2009. Kilpatrick owes that city more than $800,000 from a criminal case that forced him out of office in 2008.
Gilbert told the commission the loan was “poor judgment” in hindsight. Gilbert never faced criminal charges over the loan, and investigators determined it was not part of an extortion or bribery scheme.

Spectrum also cleared for a license another business partner in the deal, Lake Ohio Development CEO and former world poker champion Lyle Berman. Berman’s company will own 10 percent of the Cleveland casino.

Tie to New State Casinos and People backed by Las Vegas

MAPP contends that 40% of tribal profits goes to Lyle Berman and his management company (former owner of Berman Buckskin) and his non-Indian management group. The remaining 60% of the profits go to the tribal leaders who take it for their personal gain, and then distribute some to the reservation members in the form of services and a $500 check at Christmas. Even with supposed millions in casino profits, Hill contends that the Mille Lacs reservation has no chemical dependency half-way houses, little or no program in the schools to keep kids off drugs, no shelters for abused children, and only five foster homes.
In addition, MAPP contends that the Tribe has borrowed millions of dollars from Berman for start-up costs; a debt that may take decades to pay back. MAPP members argue that the casinos are making millionaires out of a few corrupt leaders, and are not benefiting most Indians. MAPP is trying to get the Tribal Council to agree to a referendum on how casino profits should be spent and distributed. MAPP wants improved services, especially for chemical dependency and children’s programs, and a more substantial per capita payment plan than the current $500 per member per year.
According to Hunting and Angling Club President Howard Hanson, Indian groups like MAPP are vitally important to provide internal policing of tribal governments, because the U.S. government gets involved only when violations and criminal activity become flagrant enough to warrant making a federal case.

North Carolina

Introducing ‘Vegas style’ gambling at Cherokee Casino a safe bet

When the N.C. Senate reconvenes on Sept. 12 they will likely be voting on whether or not to ratify an amended gaming compact between the state and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians that would allow for live table games at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel resort. The North Carolina General Assembly passed a Joint Resolution (938) in July that declared which legislation and bills would be considered in September.

Delaware

Delaware Still Lobbying for Sportsbooks
The State of Delaware has long been trying to enact legislation that would allow gambling on sports as a way to raise much needed revenue.

Delaware is the only state east of the Mississippi River that is, under federal law, allowed to offer this type of gambling. There are three other states, Montana, Oregon, and Nevada that have laws pre-dating the federal governments ban on sports betting, which allow them to utilize this type of wagering. Of those, only Nevada does take full advantage of the law.

Gary Ward, a lobbyist for International Sports Link, Inc., said that, “the estimated annual revenues of $70 million are conservative.” Ward said he would like to see sports betting expanded to beyond the confines of the three established racinos currently in operation in Delaware.

South Carolina

U.S. Says Indictments Expose Money-Laundering Scheme

The man accused of being the ringleader of the money-laundering operation, Stephen A. Saccoccia of Cranston, R.I., was arrested in Geneva, said Lincoln C. Almond, the United States Attorney for Rhode Island. The Government will seek Mr. Saccoccia’s extradition.

Most of those indicted will face charges of racketeering, conspiracy and money laundering, Mr. Almond said, and if convicted, the ringleaders could face life in prison without parole. Laundered $500 Million

Mr. Almond said that in the past two years the operation disguised the source of up to $500 million for the cocaine cartels based in Cali and Medellin, Colombia.

The investigation grew from a previous one that uncovered a $1.1 billion money-laundering operation in New York, Miami and Los Angeles in 1989, Customs Commissioner Carol B. Hallett said at a news conference in Washington today.

Aquasino Partners of South Carolina run Sun Cruz Casinos of Abramoff fame.

New owners buy Sun Cruz, sending casino boat to SC

New owner of Sun Cruz has ties to money launderer.

Mollicone’s mania for deal-making took its toll on his staff. His erratic moves frequently drove his property manager, Diana C. Dumin, to tears. His accountant, Stephen R. Zito, anguished over books that would not balance. His bank vice president, Peter J. Iannuccilli, scrambled to keep up with his frenetic boss.

Heritage Loan had always had its quirks. But without Puppy Dog’s disciplined hand, the bank just went to hell.

Every few days, prosecutors say, David Izzi and Kenneth Saccoccio of Cranston carried in suitcases crammed with $10s, $20s and $50s. The bills were sometimes covered with cocaine residue. A bank employee would take the money downstairs, count it and send a check to a metals company.

The money was from drug sales on the streets of America. The notorious Cali drug cartel used Heritage and a string of businesses around the world to help obscure the money’s origins.

Prosecutors would later charge that Mollicone, Iannuccilli and Raymond Marotto, a branch manager, were members of an international money-laundering ring .

Mollicone turned to Fleet.

Robert Weisberg, President Fleet

He applied for a $3.5 million, short-term loan. He told Michael Patch, the commercial loan officer, that he needed the money to pump up the balance sheet to make the bank more attractive to potential investors.

Fleet approved the loan.

Mollicone used the money to buy a Fleet certificate of deposit in Heritage’s name.

When Ziroli returned, Mollicone showed him the $3.5 million CD. He didn’t tell the examiner that the money was just a loan. Instead, he showed him a CD statement from Fleet, which said nothing about the origins of the money.

When the examination was over, Mollicone paid back Fleet and tossed the loan records in a box in the basement.

Fleet says it didn’t know Mollicone was going to use the loan to fool the state examiners. The bank’s spokesman said the loan was a “perfectly good and legitimate transaction.” The bank has declined to discuss the loan in detail.

(AP) — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) – The Sun Cruz name will return to the South Carolina coast when new owners send a casino boat to operate out of Little River.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported Saturday that the Aquasino is expected to sail from Miami next week. The company plans to hire about 160 workers and should be ready for gambling cruises before the end of the month.

The Aquasino can hold 600 passengers and is about three times the size of the old Sun Cruz boat. The plan is for two daily trips, costing passengers $10 each plus additional costs for food and drinks.

Owner Bob Weisberg of Highland Park Real Estate Development says he expects the boat to take over the Sun Cruz name. Sun Cruz operated gambling cruises out of Little River before filing for bankruptcy in December.

Pennsylvania
Rivers Casinos Pittsburgh

Government watchdogs and antigambling groups say the Zappalas’ quiet involvement gives the appearance of undue influence. That perception, they said, breeds public distrust of the courts that hear cases involving the gaming industry.

“What connections does a Supreme Court justice have to bring to an organization that does things that sure look a lot like lobbying? The obvious answer — and it might not be the right one — is to lobby the court,” said Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania.

“If you hire somebody like that, you’re hiring him for his connections. It sure looks like the gaming folks wanted somebody who has played with the Supreme Court and also has connections with the Legislature. He’s the perfect go-between.”

Mr. Zappala has close ties to prominent lawmakers, including former Sen. Vince Fumo who wrote the state gaming law. He presided at Mr. Fumo’s second wedding and wrote a letter on his behalf to the judge who last year sentenced him to 55 months in prison after a federal corruption conviction.

Mr. Zappala declined to comment and Mrs. Zappala Peck did not respond to telephone messages left last week.

“It seems to me that they’re doing a pretty good job of trying to remain invisible, but the stench is great,” said Dianne M. Berlin, coordinator of the antigaming coalition CasinoFreePA. “Gaming interests try to keep this kind of thing under the carpet so people don’t really know how much has been tainted in our state.”

Email sent to Full Tilt Poker Employees by Laurent Tapie

Posted by Poker Videos on May 1st, 2012

It seems Pokerstars has made a deal with DOJ for Full Tilt Poker and it’s player base. Which leaves the question: Why would they do that is they already had most of those players and didn’t have exclusive rights to the software. It appear to me that (this is just a hypothesis based on industry knowledge and government), Full Tilt Poker must have made deal to avoid USA, let Pokerstars buy the poker software and license to the states, and partner with Tapie to create new site and license in Europe. Pokerstars becomes huge, makes money of state skins and shares that with Wynn, retains their Euro player base, and most importantly avoids anti trust laws in USA and Germany. Bitar and Ferguson stay out of jail, collaborate on new room with Tapie, keep some of their money, and won’t have to pay back the poker player base….. This is purely a hypothesis at this point. Will report as more info comes in.

Dear All,

Considering the work we have been doing together to relaunch FTP over the last 7 months, I feel it is my duty to inform you on the current situation, and my plan, before I release a press statement in the coming hours.

The deal with DOJ is off, and the negotiations are terminated. Ultimately, DOJ refused to accept GBT’s proposal for repayment of the ROW players – a proposal that we thought had been accepted – and, on 14 April 2012, informed my lawyer that they could only agree on an agreement where GBT would repay 100% of the 184M$ value of ROW players balance in a maximum of 90 days.

That clearly made the deal unworkable. And I believe no one would accept such terms.

I continue to believe that our plan for repayment was fair. We would have made all ROW players’ balances available for play on the relaunched site immediately. Furthermore, we would have repaid (allowed withdrawal of funds for) 94.9% of ROW players day 1, 4.9% of ROW players in 18 months and only 0.2% of these players in more than 18 months, with a maximum of 5 years for the very large balances. In addition, we agreed to a DOJ proposal to allow ROW players to submit petitions to the DOJ for compensation as well, and agreed both to reimburse DOJ for those players and to compensate those players for any amounts DOJ did not reimburse.

According to (finance employee’s name redacted by diamondflushpoker) last report, PK has enough funds to pay the april salaries but not May.

Therefore, as an alternative to the purchase, I offered Ray Bitar to license the assets on a temporary basis, in order to relaunch the site, preserve the value of the assets and participate in an eventual auction as a bidder in the future.

Ray required DOJ’s aproval to do this. My own understanding of the situation was different : I thought that since the companies were clearly in insolvency, as a legal representative Ray should have immediately accepted this licensing offer which was the only concrete offer to preserve the jobs, the cash, and the value of the assets of the companies. Futhermore the DOJ is not the owner of the assets until it decides (if it ever decides) to forfeit them.

But Ray stayed on its position that DOJ’s aproval was necessary.

So we made the offer to DOJ but despite our best efforts, and with no surprise on my side, DOJ was unmoved and, on 20 April 2012, reaffirmed that its decision was final, that no licensing agreement of any kind would be accepted by them, and that our negotiations were ended.

I met Ray last friday and suggested him to place the companies into insolvency in each of the countries where they are (my understanding of the situation is that he legally should), and inform the staff that he can no longer guarantee their jobs.

Considering he has always required US DOJ’s aproval before taking any decision for the last 7 months I have been observing him, I don’t know if he has or if he will.

But on my side, I am unwilling to allow 7 months of effort to go to waste, to see 200 employees lose their jobs and to witness former FTP players around the world go unpaid.

For that reason, I have decided to devote a significant portion of the funds that I was planning to use for the acquisition of the FTP assets instead to launch my own company, under the auspices of Game Cubed, the company I have created in Ireland. I will do this only if I can attract ALL OF the Pocket Kings KEY STAFF to join me. With your help and know-how, we will launch a new website that will be best of breed in 6-7 months.

I know that any such step requires a leap of faith, so here is my offer: as of May 1, I will hire the entire Pocket Kings key staff – every single one of you – at your current salaries and with your accumulated benefits intact. I also will include stock options in the new company, so that weall will share in what I believe to be the exciting upside this opportunity represents.

We will write a new poker software platform based on your knowledge and relaunch using a new brand, with an offer to former FTP ROW players that will allow them to recover their lost balances if they come to our new site, just as we had planned in our agreement with DOJ.

I have the money to make this happen and am working with the Alderney licensing authorities on obtaining a license and getting their help on the repayment plan.

I am also negotiating with Poker Strategy to resurrect an affiliate arrangement similar to that which I was negotiating with FTP.

In order to make this work, I need commitments from you all very quickly. I am sorry to put this pressure on you, but timing is critical if this is to work. I need to know whether I have sufficient critical mass to move forward no later than the end of THIS WEEK.

If I do, I will schedule a meeting in Paris with the top 5-10 key peopleat the end of this week. We will take care of your travel and accomodation.

I look forward to partnering with each of you to help build the best poker site in the business.

Laurent Tapie

Directeur Général

BLT Développement

Source http://diamondflushpoker.com

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