Category Archives: Casino

Steve Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets, is in discussions with Las Vegas Sands Corp. about a possible casino next to Citi Field, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions.

The talks are preliminary, according to the people, who were granted anonymity because the matter is private. The state is currently in the early stages of exploring casino licenses in the New York City area, and any formal plan would still require a series of regulatory and legislative approvals.

Steve thinks that Willets Point needs to be addressed long-termits a mess, said a Mets spokesperson, adding the teams priority remains on filling open baseball positions. He has been hearing lots of ideas, and the Mets want to be part of those conversations to ensure the interests of our fans and the local community are well represented.

A representative for Las Vegas Sands didnt respond to an email and voice message.

Earlier this month the New York State gaming commission issued a 14-page request for information to gauge interest in three unawarded casino licenses in the lucrative downstate region in and around New York City. Considered a precursor to opening a formal bidding process, responses are due Dec. 10.

The sports and gaming industries have grown closer in the past few years, following a landmark Supreme Court decision that let states legalize sports betting. League likes the NFL, NBA and MLB, which fought that lawsuit for years, have moved quickly to embrace the new industry and the money associated with it. The Washington Capitals recently became the first major U.S. team to have a sportsbook inside its home venue, a sight that will likely become commonplace in the next few years. New York currently only allows legal sports betting at casinos.

The Mets own Citi Field, which opened in 2009 adjacent to the site of the old Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens. The team has a 99-year lease to the land, which includes lots adjacent to the stadium that are being considered for a potential casino, the people said.

Founded by the late billionaire Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) is one of the countrys largest operators of casinos and resorts, with eight properties and more than 50,000 employees around the world. Its portfolio includes the Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

New York State legalized casino gaming nearly a decade ago, with a license structure that prioritized upstate communities far from New York City. A bidding process awarded four commercial casino licenses, leaving three others for possible future development.

The gaming commissions request for information regarding those three unawarded licenses cover downstate locationsNew York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, and three counties north of the city (Westchester, Rockland and Putnam).

The New York Post reported earlier this month that casino operators had scouted spots near Citi Field, near Belmont Park in Long Island (home to the racetrack and the New York Islanders new arena) and the St. George neighborhood in Staten Island. It mentioned Ballys Corp., Wynn, Las Vegas Sands and Malaysia-based Genting as groups that might express interest.

New York has a number of racinos and tribal casinos, plus the four commercial casinos in the upstate region. They are Del Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, Tioga Downs in Tioga, and Resorts World Catskills in Kiamesha Lake, all at least 90 miles from New York City.

(The story was updated to include a comment from a Mets spokesperson.)

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Mets Owner Steve Cohen in Talks on Sands Casino Near Citi Field - Sportico

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) Richmond residents are three days away from learning whether a casino will be built on the Southside of the city.

Saturday, leaders for and against the idea made final efforts to win over voters before the referendum appears on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Saturday is the last day Richmonders could vote early on whether or not the ONE Casino + Resort will come to Richmond, and activists made sure to get out the vote.

Were in like the last leg of this relay race, so were going to make it happen, Cruz Sherman, CEO of Cruz Media Inc. told 8News in an interview Saturday.

Leaders on both sides of the aisle held rallies Saturday. Those for the One Casino + Resort held a rally at the Satellite Restaurant and Lounge on Richmond Highway Saturday afternoon. Those against the referendum held a rally in opposition to the casino and resort near the Arthur Ashe statue on Monument Avenue Saturday afternoon.

Those in opposition of the casino, like Reverend Allan-Charles Chipman, said the casino would rob working people of their livelihood, possibly draining money from its poorest residents.

A vote for no is a vote for that no, we are not going to ensnare some of our city in order to enrich another part of our city, he said at the rally Saturday.

Karen Wishart, with Urban One, said if anything, the opposite would happen, promising that 60% of jobs created will go to Richmonders and 50% of those jobs will go to minority populations.

Its all about economic empowerment. 3,000 construction jobs, 1,500 permanent jobs, all coming to the city of Richmond, Wishart told 8News.

However, 3rd district school board member Kenya Gibson isnt so sure the casino would benefit anybody, calling the project an exploitive endeavor. She said there are other ways to boost Richmonds economic development.

Richmond is not Atlantic City. Richmond is not Las Vegas. Richmond is about history. Richmond is about the arts. Richmond is about thriving small businesses, she said.

Sherman said the economic impact the casino might make would be tremendous.

The casino is going to be a benefit to Southside and to Richmond as a whole, Sherman said.

Recently, Senator Tim Kaine voted against the proposal, saying there are better ways to enhance economic development in Richmond.

Mayor Levar Stoney has openly supported the casino, saying it would help give money to schools, affordable housing, among other needs. Investors in the casino project have been major donors to Stoneys campaigns in 2016 and 2020.

For Richmonders, the referendum will be on the back of the ballot Tuesday.

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Activists make last effort to win over voters ahead of casino vote Tuesday - 8News

Another in a fine series of concerts from Common Fence Music came to Newport Saturday, October 30th when S.G. Goodman and her band headlined a formidable show.

Goodman, who played the Newport Festivals Folk On this summer, brought penetrating lyrics, wide-ranging vocals, a tight backing band and a large does of Kentucky wit to the Casino Theatre in Newport. Goodman is quirky enough to put you at ease, yet serious enough to make sure you know these well-crafted songs with a message that matters.

Her band moves gracefully between hard-driving rockers like Old Time Feeling to more subdued ballads like Red Bird Morning. Each song is a story in itself. Shes part punk, part rocker, part crooner, total real deal. The music is somewhat familiar, yet original enough to stand out from the crowd.

Goodman released her first album Old Time Feeling in 2020 during the pandemic, and fans are still getting to know the artist and her music. Its one of my favorite releases to come out of the pandemic I bought the vinyl at the show Goodman is a lot more than a Spotify and chill artist.

Speaking of rising stars, RI native Lauren King opened things up with a set of tunes that showcased her strengths as a songwriter and vocalist. King recently won the Best Americana Artist award at the Motif Magazine Music Awards check out one of her shows around the region when you can.

And dont miss S.G. Goodman when she returns to town meanwhile, enjoy some pics from WhatsUp photographer Rick Farrell.

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Concert Recap and Photos: S.G. Goodman brings wit, wisdom, and good vibes to the Casino Theatre - What'sUpNewp

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) The media conglomerate behind a proposed casino in Richmond has many promises, including 1,500 new jobs and $500 million in tax revenue over a decade. But the river city is not without its own skeptics; and the voters will ultimately decide on the back of the November ballot.

An all-out advertisement campaign targeted to potential voters in the city has been thrusted into the final days before the consequential referendum.

Although voters have begun casting ballots early, before the final day to cast a vote on Nov. 2, Urban ONE is ramping up their campaign. And, so are people in opposition.

At Urban ONEs campaign headquarters in the Manchester neighborhood, staff worked around flyers, face masks, yard signs and t shirts donned with ONE, and Say YES messaging.

Although the media company did not confirm to 8News how much theyre spending to win the vote, published reports indicate the budget is between $2 and $5 million dollars.

Urban ONE CEO Alfred Liggins detailed the final play call in an interview with 8News.

To make sure that perfect information is in the air: where its located, what the benefits are, theres no city subsidies, Liggins said.

On the flipside, local political activist Paul Goldman and his Vote No on RVA casino referendum committee has spent much of their $100,000 on anti-casino ads running on social media.

We think that could reach sufficient numbers of people, he said.

Like Urban ONE, Goldman said people with his group will be standing outside polling locations to promote their message.

And I hope the people of Richmond realize you can vote against this casino, because its a bad idea We need something better in Richmond, Goldman said.

Richmonders will soon see which side comes out on top after the effort to campaign, inform and persuade.

Liggins said Urban ONEs polling data makes him confident,but, you dont really know how that turns out until election day.

Longtime civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton will visit Richmond Friday to stump for Urban ONE, and meet with local faith leaders; a sign of several more days of campaigners making their case on both sides of the poker chip.

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Betting on the ads: Richmond casino referendum comes to a head - 8News

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) A flame thrower, drugs, and thousands of dollars were recovered following an illegal casino bust in Oakland, according to police.

The Oakland Police Department says on Oct. 14, Community Resource Officers conducted a search warrant in the 1400 block of 17th Avenue.

At the illegal gambling establishment, authorities recovered four loaded guns, a 50-round drum magazine, a flame thrower, more than $17,500 in cash, eight gambling machines, a quarter pound of methamphetamine, and a large amount of tar heroin with was packed for distribution.

During the search warrant, over 11 people were detained Two of them were arrested for having outstanding warrants.

The person who is believed to be in charge of the illegal casino operation was arrested for being in possession of a gun.

If you have any information, police ask you to call (510) 238-3728 as an investigation continues.

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Flame thrower, drugs, cash recovered in Oakland illegal casino bust - KRON4

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) Walk into a casino today, and chances are it wont look that much different than it did in the 1942 movie Casablanca when Humphrey Bogart made his way through the gambling tables in the smoke-filled room.

Sure, the slot machines are larger, louder and flashier than they were back then. But the central fact remains that the casino floor of today is not all that different than the casino floor of yesteryear.

What the casino floor of the future should look like is a question the gambling industry has wrestled with for decades.

And it still has no definitive answers.

The topic was discussed Monday at the East Coast Gaming Congress, a major gambling conference in Atlantic City.

One big question: How to get young people interested in what casinos have to offer.

Its tough to get that kid out of his parents basement, and casino games arent going to do it, said Joe Lupo, president of Atlantic Citys Hard Rock casino, referring to young adults.

The industry has tried several tactics to attract younger gamblers, with varying rates of success. Six years ago, Atlantic City debuted so-called skill-based games for its casinos.

They were games in which a players ability to perform a certain task was taken into account in determining whether he or she would win or lose a game a departure from the strict random games of chance that have been the backbone of the gambling industry since its inception.

But they never really caught on, and most were quietly removed in less than a year.

Casino executives and gambling equipment manufacturers at Mondays conference agreed younger customers want varied experiences, much more than the monotony of pushing a button and waiting to see whether theyve won or lost.

The younger generation likes to do things, said Rick Meitzler, CEO of gambling manufacturer Novomatic Americas. They like to play on their phones. Ten to 15 years from now, youll see that 25-year-old become a 40-year-old and part of our target audience.

But can casinos afford to wait that long?

Jacqueline Grace, senior vice president of Atlantic Citys Tropicana casino, said her company is constantly studying younger gamblers.

What appeals to them? she asked. What gets them going? They like games of skill, not games of chance. They like to eat. They like to travel. They like experiences.

Most casinos have embraced electronic tables games, not only as a way to save on labor costs, but to offer a low-stress introduction to games, particularly card games, that novice gamblers might find intimidating.

Panelists agrees that sports betting and particularly esports, or competitive video gaming, offer an opportunity to connect with younger potential customers.

Atlantic City and particularly Las Vegas have begun to embrace esports as a way to fill their casinos and hotels with young customers interested first and foremost in playing online games against each other. But when theyre done, they order food and drinks and engage in non-gambling activities that the casino resorts offer.

We think esports is the next big thing, said Robert Heller, president and CEO of Spectrum Gaming Capital. Every casino company Ive talked to is interested. This is happening.

Ari Fox, co-CEO of Gameacon, an esports tournament company, said the key is reaching younger customers where they are.

Younger people dont go on Facebook; they dont play on Instagram, he said. They talk on Discord. The key to earning them as customers is earning their trust. He said gambling companies need to tell these customers, This is not where your parents go. This space is for you.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at @WayneParryAC

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US industry wonders: What should tomorrow's casino floor be? - Associated Press

Posted on: October 17, 2021, 11:01h.

Last updated on: October 17, 2021, 11:01h.

Authorities in New Jersey have indicted five New York State residents for allegedly bilking Atlantic casinos out of more than $1.1 million using a sophisticated fraudulent check scheme.

Xiuhuan Zhang, 65, Qingtao Zhang, 53, Sen Ge, 29,Shuai Liu, 30, and Peng Cai, 33 were charged Thursday with second-degree conspiracy and various counts of second-degree theft by deception, the state Attorney Generals Office said.

Over the space of three days in August, the two female members of the gang, Xiuhuan Zhang and Qingtao Zhang, allegedly presented forged checks at five casinos in the city. These were exchanged for casino chips before being cashed out. According to state prosecutors, the three men assisted [the women] at various times during the alleged fraud.

Casinos targeted were Caesars, Borgata, Ocean, Hard Rock, and Golden Nugget. At each casino, Xiuhuan Zhang allegedly presented a fraudulent TD Bank Official check for $150,000 to obtain chips, and Qingtao Zhang allegedly presented a fraudulent Bank of America Cashiers check for $134,000.

The gang was not always successful. The Hard Rock denied one check for $150,000, while Qingtao Zhang was told she could only receive chips in incremental amounts on her $134,000 check.

Xiuhuan Zhang was arrested by Dutch police in Amsterdam earlier this month at the request of New Jersey authorities. The others are still at large. The state Attorney Generals Office said it was currently investigating other individuals it believes may be linked to the crimes.

The defendants were caught executing a sophisticated financial scheme spanning multiple casinos and over a million dollars in fraudulent checks, saidActing Attorney General Andrew Bruck in a statement.

This case is just one example of the excellent work in this instance across international borders performed by the members of the New Jersey State Police and Division of Criminal Justice who are assigned to investigate and prosecute crimes in the casinos, he added.

New Jerseys Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau obtained an Atlantic County grand jury indictment on October 13. If convicted, the suspects face five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000.

The State Police Casino Gaming Bureau and the Division of Criminal Justice Casino Prosecutions Unit routinely work together to investigate and prosecute major cases involving financial fraud, money laundering, or other criminal conduct committed in the casinos in Atlantic City, saidDirector Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice.

Through their vigilance, expertise, and diligent work, we are holding those responsible for these crimes accountable, she added.

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Five Indicted for $1.1 Million Atlantic City Casino Bogus Check... - Casino.Org News

Posted: Oct 15, 2021 / 10:31 PM EDT / Updated: Oct 15, 2021 / 10:31 PM EDT

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. (WTRF) The Meadows Casino and Racetrack, and Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency hosted an unveiling of the new brand, called Hollywood Casino at the Meadows.

Rebranding into Hollywood Casino at the Meadows has been a two-year process, with millions of dollars being invested into upgrades and other quality-of-life improvements. The unveiling was followed by various celebrations on the racetrack and casino floor, and was attended by many of the community leaders who played a role in this upgrading process.

You know, for us, it really unlocks the power of our network with over nine Hollywood Casinos in a close proximity to us. Uh, the power of My Choice Network which is connected to over 22 states and 40over 40 properties. Hollywood Casino.com, Barstool Sports, uh, online, it lets our customers know that when theyre playing at all those channels, it all connects back to us.

The transformation to the new brand will continue into quarter one of 2022, with a new Barstool Sportsbook campus. Some upcoming events slated for Saturday include concerts with local bands, free giveaways, hourly lucky draws, and fireworks.

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Unveiling the newly rebranded Hollywood Casino at the Meadows - WTRF

Five New Yorkers are facing theft charges for allegedly scheming to steal more than $1.1 million from multiple casinos in Atlantic City, where prosecutors say they attempted to pass false blank checks in order to obtain an equivalent amount in gaming chips.

The investigation began after a serious of suspicious transactions between Aug. 26-28, when the defendants allegedly conspired to carry out the scheme at five casinos.

Two women, identified as 65-year-old Xiuhuan Zhang and 53-year-old Qingtao Zhang, allegedly presented fraudulent TD Bank Official Check and America Cashier's Checks at Caesars, the Borgata, Ocean Casino Resort, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

The women received assistance from three male suspects, identified by investigators as 30-year-old Shuai Liu, 33-year-old Peng Cai and 29-year-old Sen Ge.

At each of the five casinos Xiuhuan, Zhang is accused of presenting a false TD Bank Official Check for $150,000. Qingtao Zhang allegedly presented America Cashier's Checks in the amount of $134,000. The checks were identical at all casinos and totaled $1,120,000, investigators said,

At the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, staff rejected a $150,000 and refused to give out chips. The Golden Nugget also was leery of one of the checks it received, agreeing only to provide incremental amounts of equivalent value in gaming chips.

Qingtao Zhang was arrested Sept. 7 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on an arrest warrant obtained during the investigation. The other five defendants remain at large and are being sought on arrest warrants.

The defendants were caught executing a sophisticated financial scheme spanning multiple casinos and over a million dollars in fraudulent checks, said Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck. This case is just one example of the excellent work in this instance across international borders performed by the members of the New Jersey State Police and Division of Criminal Justice who are assigned to investigate and prosecute crimes in the casinos.

All five defendants face charges of second-degree conspiracy, second-degree theft by deception and second-degree attempted theft by deception, which carry a potential sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000.

Originally posted here:

Five charged with allegedly stealing $1.1 million from Atlantic City casinos - PhillyVoice.com

AP Top Stories October 14

Here's the latest for Thursday October 14th: Thousands of John Deere workers go on strike; Former Justice Dept. official subpoenaed in January 6th investigation; Deadly building fire in Taiwan; Winds spell more fire danger in California.

AP

ATLANTIC CITY - Five New York City residents are accused of stealing more than $1.1 million from casinos here through a bogus-check scheme.

The suspects allegedly exchanged phony bank checks for gaming chips at five casinos between Aug. 26 and Aug. 28, said the Attorney General's Office.

Three of the casinos Borgata, Caesars and Ocean each lost $284,000 to the scheme, the agency said in a statement Thursday.

The Golden Nugget and Hard Rock casinoslost $134,000 apiece.

The defendants were caught executing a sophisticated financial scheme spanning multiple casinos and over a million dollars in fraudulent checks,Acting Attorney General AndrewBruck allegedThursday in announcing charges in the case.

The suspects allegedly presented each casino with two fake checks, one for $150,000 and another for $134,000, the statement said. The checks appeared to be from TD Bank and Bank of America.

Hard Rock's loss was lower because it denied a$150,000 check. Golden Nugget reduced its exposure by telling a suspect she could only receive incremental amounts on a$134,000 check.

One suspect, 53-year-old Qingtao Zhang, was detained earlier this month in Amsterdam.

Investigators still are seekingXiuhuan Zhang, 65;Shuai Liu, 30;Peng Cai, 33; and Sen Ge, 29.

Additional individuals are under investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

An indictment accuses the suspects of conspiracy, theft by deception and attempted theft by deception.

The charges are only allegations. No one has been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

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Five accused of scamming more than $1M at Atlantic City casinos - Courier Post