Category Archives: Gambling

For ten years, coordinators of an after-school anti-gambling program have been growing the number of students they reach in an effort to stop problem gambling and teach students money management skills.

The program, called Betting on Our Future, is hostingparticipants from throughout California at their annual, three-day conference in Anaheim starting on Monday.

We know that young people arent necessarily the primary problem in problem gambling, but theyre affected by it in their families and their communities, said Jim Kooler, who administers the program as head of the California Friday Night Live Partnership at the Tulare County Office of Education.

Problem gambling affects about 10 percent of teenagers and 4 percent of adults in the state, according to state officials. Kooler said its a much bigger problem when you think about the ripple effects.

You may have a young person who has a family member, a parent who is gambling, and theres no money for rent, theres no money for food, and theyre affected by it as well, Kooler said.

The goal of the program is to help students learn how bets at school, online games, and financial risk-taking like high-interest loans can feed gambling tendencies while helping them identify the skills needs to engage in healthy gambling defined as that which is under control. Organizers say the program reinforces leadership skills, community problem solving, and civics lessons by pushing students to find out how prevalent a problem is in their school and neighborhoods.

Taking part in the program helped some of the teens see the harmful side of everyday behavior at their school, students said.

My friends like to play basketball or sports and like, play for money, said eleventh grader Breanna Martin, who took part in the program at Citrus Valley High School in Redlands. And they sometimes end up losing a lot and getting into fights over it.

Her school and 28 other sites across the state, including ones in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Anaheim, received grants that paid for video production equipment. Students met during lunch, after school, or on weekends to learn about problem gambling and to plan and shoot a short video about the effects of gambling addiction.

It was the first year Martin's school took part in Betting on Our Future.

Next year it would be interesting to get a little more in depth as to what exactly is going on at our school, said Pam Martin, a teacher at school who advises the group and who is Breannas mother. We heard about dice throwing and cards and whatnot, but maybe looking at it a little deeper and possibly trying to track down some these kids that are in trouble, in order to help them.

The videos produced at this and 28 other sites will compete at the Betting on Our Future annual conference in Anaheim this week. The videos are about 30 seconds long each and all have an anti-gambling messages.

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Statewide teen program tackles gambling addiction - 89.3 KPCC

In this April 15, 2015, file photo,Resorts Casino Hotel Internet gambling lounge. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)

Pennsylvania is considering the expansion of slots and internet gambling by placing machines in bars and restaurants. Atlantic Citys long-awaited turnaround seems to have started. Is this a new threat for AC?

Gaming expert Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business Magazine, says there is plenty of opposition in that state from Pennsylvania casinos.

I doubt if you will see all of this stuff (in Pennsylvania) get to the governors desk. It is going to be changed markedly if it even reaches it.

The (Pennsylvania) House has passed a bill that was very different from the bill that the state Senate passed. So what you are seeing stipulated in the House bill, and in the state Senate bill in Pennsylvania, for that matter, will change markedly. We really have to see what the final version of the bill is and whether the governor will sign it.

Gros says that further expansion into bars and restaurants would be questionable.

But we are not talking about any new casino. So I think that is not going to impact Atlantic City that greatly any more.

Gros also suggests that this internet gambling expansion could actually benefit both states.

If New Jersey and Pennsylvania should create a compact allowing them to share players, that would be very good for the market.

There is already a deal between Nevada and Delaware for their online gaming.

Basically it is where youre gambling from, the taxes will go to that state.

Pennsylvania needs revenue, so Harrisburg is considering this.

Joe Cutter is the afternoon news anchor on New Jersey 101.5.

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Pennsylvania off-site gambling a threat to Atlantic City? - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

The NFLs silence on its gambling policy is deafening, and now the heat is starting to get turned up. Maybe its not the silence, but the hypocritical stance the NFL keeps taking when it comes to gambling. USA TODAYs Brent Schrotenboers piece on the NFLs do one thing but say another strategy proves that the league cant stay the current course. Whether the league and teams are courting casinos for sponsors, or making it illegal to gamble inside a stadium even though gambling on phones is legal in Las Vegas, its all just public posturing.

This is simply about public perception. The NFL has no problem with gambling when it gets to make money off sponsors. They are courting casinos as partners, while telling players they cant hold events, fundraisers, and conferences on casino grounds. The league is willing to take $750 million dollars in public money to move the Raiders to Sin City, but wants to stress that it is against legalized sports wagering expansion. Wait until Sands, Wynn, or Caesars wants to slap its name on the Las Vegas stadium through a multi-million dollar naming rights deal. Its way past the point of do as I say, not as I do. Its almost blatantly hypocritical.

The NFL has had the opportunity to change its stance. It would have been easy to come out in concert with the NBA and simply say that maybe the league could benefit from legalized sports gambling. It could even take the high road and say that legalizing gambling or at least doing research into the effects of legalization would take away a large revenue stream from organized crime. Instead, Roger Goodell has steadfastly said that gambling has no place in the NFL.

That stance is pretty rich. The NFL is one of the most wagered on leagues in the United States. Spreads are discussed on almost of their television partners programs. The injury report is almost exclusively designed to make sure that people cant take advantage of inside tips to have a better chance at winning a bet. The NFL and its teams already have official partnership deals with DraftKings and FanDuel. Both companies are involved with gambling even if they call it a different name.

We are way past the point of pretending that football and gambling dont go hand in hand. Its almost to the point that the NFL is insulting a large portion of its fans intelligence. Maybe its all about public relations, but three out of four sports fans are in favor of legalized sports gambling.Its time to come clean, but theres no sign of the league changing its stance. That means more articles, social media chatter, and television debates on the NFLs hypocritical stance.

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Heat being turned up on NFL in regards to gambling policy - Touchdown Wire

SANTA FE COUNTY, New Mexico Police in New Mexico have released body camera video of a man accused of leaving his three children in the car while he went into a casino to gamble.

Around 10:00 p.m. on June 1st, Santa Fe County sheriffs deputies were called out to the Camel Rock Casino on Highway 285. They confronted 34-year-old Andrew Martinez in the parking lot. He told investigators hed been in the casino for about 15 minutes.

Deputies were called by casino security, who noticed Martinez left his three kids a four-year-old and twin two-year-olds in his SUV in the casino parking lot.

Martinez claimed he wanted to get a burger on special.

McDonalds has specials. I mean, you can get a burger for a buck, Martinez is heard saying in the video.

The video makes it clear that the deputy grew irritated by the minute when dealing with Martinez.

Deputy:So if I go watch surveillance, youre not playing a card game?

Yeah, I was, Martinez said.

Deputy: So thats not getting refreshments. Youre gambling. Do you think its a good idea to leave your kids out in the car for 20, 30 minutes while you go gamble a hand, right? This was a poor mistake.

The deputy checked on the kids in the car, who were quiet, but OK.

Deputies tested Martinez to see if he was under the influence. Investigators believed hed been drinking, but he swore he did not.

Either way, he was taken to jail, and the kids went home with their mother.

You going in that casino and leaving your kids out in the car is child neglect, the deputy said.

Martinez is charged with three counts of child abuse through abandonment.

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You're gambling Man accused of leaving 3 kids in car at casino - fox6now.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Economic Zone Authority is not closing its doors completely to online gambling firms wanting to locate in PEZA-accredited buildings and sites, agreeing to a compromise that will enforce much stricter rules for locators in accordance with President Dutertes war against illegal gambling.

PEZA director general Charito Plaza said she is now amenable to hosting online gambling firms in PEZA-accredited buildings and sites, provided they first secure a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

Plaza said the POGO license will also be required even if the locator has already been given license to operate by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

So now it is already the decision of the building owners, they have the last say. They will ask us permit to locate if they are willing to host this online gambling locators but no incentives from us. We will give them permit to locate in our PEZA accredited buildings provided they fall under EO (Executive Order) 13 as the legal entities to operate online gambling, Plaza said.

Its already a good compromise because of course we want to support the program of the President, especially when what he is really after is the social funds which Pagcor provides, 70 percent of their income accordingly goes to the social fund of the President, she added.

Executive Order (EO) 13 signed by Duterte last May directed the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against illegal gambling. It likewise recognized Pagcor, CEZA, and APECO as authorized to operate gambling facilities or give licenses to operators.

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But online gambling operators in CEZA and APECO should still get POGO license from Pagcor to operate in PEZA buildings, said Plaza, noting she still has reservations about hosting APECO and CEZA authorized online gaming operators in PEZA accredited facilities.

She said she has sought guidance from Malacanang regarding the matter.

I have reservations thats why Im getting guidance from the Office of the President on the CEZA and on APECO case because what Pagcor is saying is they should only operate in their territory, Plaza said.

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PEZA agrees to compromise on hosting online gambling - Philippine Star

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Greek company wins renewed contract for Ohio's gambling operations despite objections - Akron Beacon Journal

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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a sweeping gambling bill last week to generate money for the cash-straved state. House Bill 271 was introduced by Republican lawmakers and passed narrowly by a 102-89 vote with legislators from both parties voting for and against the proposal.

The bill would allow video gaming machines to be operated by bars, truck stops, bowling alleys, VFW's and private clubs. It could lead to about 8,000 establishments operating nearly 40,000 machines - each generating tax revenue for state and local governments. It would also facilitate the development of online gaming and lottery playing and allow online fantasy sports gambling.

Supporters point to the much-needed tax revenue. House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana Co.) said the bill would " . . . actually enhance revenue a little further." These machines have been used for years, they should be regulated, contend Lancaster Democratic Representative Mike Sturla. "This issue has been around for 30 years and for 30 years there have been members who have turned a blind eye to this," he said.

Opponents are concerned with the speed with which the bill was passed. "If you all had the chance to read it, I don't know how you did it," said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery County. Others are worried about the impact on their communities. Philadelphia Representative Jason Dawkins worries that "when you live in communities like mine, when you see poverty, addiction and opioid abuse, you can't understand how we are putting another potential problem in our city."

Tuesday's Smart Talk discusses the merits and potential consequences of the gambling expansion bill with Representatives Mike Sturla and Dawkins as well as Josh Ercole, COO of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania and Robert Howard, co-founder of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Responsible Government.

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PA's Gambling Expansion Bill - witf.org

USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones looks at how offseason changes in the NFC West will affect the division's 2017 NFL season. USA TODAY Sports

A nonprofit whose charity event was forced to relocate by the NFL has asked a judge to demand league commissioner Roger Goodell explain the league's gambling policy.(Photo: Paul Beaty, AP)

In 2015, a nonprofit organization called Strikes for Kids invited more than 100 boys and girls to a charity event at a bowling alley near Las Vegas.

The star attraction was NFL players. More than 25 were scheduled to bowl with the kids and families all to help support youth development and education.

But there was one big problem with it:The bowling alley was part of a casino.

So the NFL forced the event to relocate, saying the leagues gambling policy forbids players from making promotional appearances at casinos.

And now the charity is fighting back.

After filing suit against the league last year, on Thursday the charity asked a federal judge to force NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to testify about how he interprets his gambling policy.

Mr. Goodell alone is charged with interpretation and enforcement of the gambling policy that served as the basis for relocating the charity event, said the request filed Thursday in federal court in Dallas.

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NFLs gambling policy appears consistently inconsistent

The request marks the latest strange legal entanglement the league finds itself in over its gambling policy. Even after the league recently approved the relocation of the Oakland Raiders to the casino capital of Las Vegas, this case also shows NFL is still heavily invested in the notion that casinos are bad places for players and children alike.

In this case, the NFLs position against casinos also stands out because the charity bowling event moved from a large bowling alley at the Sunset Station casino to the smaller Brooklyn Bowl, which is part of the LINQ casino promenade but not inside the casino itself.

One casino relationship was OK, according to the league. One was not.

So whats the difference, according to the leagues gambling policy?

The Brooklyn Bowl on the Las Vegas strip is not inside a casino, but it shares a promenade with one. Apparently that nuance is important to the NFL.(Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)

It depends. Strikes for Kids is seeking damages and has accused the league of fraud, saying an NFL lawyer misled the group and caused the charity to lose revenue. The event moved from a 72-lane bowling alley to one with only 16 lanes available by the Las Vegas Strip.

The NFL lawyer stated that the charity event needed to be moved, or no NFL player would be permitted to participate, the charity said in court filing June 6. Not only were these statements not true but were made with reckless disregard for the truth because the NFL approved a nearly identical venue for the charity event.

The NFL disagrees and is fighting this case and a similar case brought by two Dallas law firms: Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst LLP and the Pettit Law Firm. The two firms also are pursuing a separate suit against the NFL on behalf of a company affiliated with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

In that case, they say the NFL forced the cancellation of a fantasy football event in Las Vegas in 2015 because the event violated the same policy involving promotional appearances at casinos. However, the Romo event was not to take place inside a casino but rather in a convention property that was next to the Venetian casino and owned by the Las Vegas Sands casino company.

The league argued it had authority under its collective bargaining agreement with players to enforce its gambling policy in the Romo case. A judge agreed last year and threw the case out, but the plaintiffs appealed in Texas court. That case is still pending.

In the bowling alley imbroglio, the NFL noted that the Palazzo casino also was sponsoring the event, which was against league policy.

After speaking with the NFL lawyer, plaintiff dropped the casino sponsor and voluntarily moved its event to another venue called the Brooklyn Bowl, which plaintiff represented did not have any affiliation with a casino, attorneys for the NFL stated in court documents last month. The event then proceeded in the new venue with the participation of several NFL players and without any objection from the NFL.

This smaller bowling alley in Las Vegas wasn't the charity's first choice, but in the NFL's eyes, it was acceptable. It is located in a casino promenade.(Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY)

The NFL attorneys noted that the NFL Foundation donated $5,000 to the charity to help support the event and was thanked for it by the charitys executive director.

The charitys attorneys described this as hush money. And now they want to take Goodells testimony about the gambling policy in a deposition. U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver denied this request last month on the basis that it was not relevant or proportional to the needs of the case. But the charity filed objections to her ruling last week and is trying again with a different judge.

When you look at the two (bowling alleys), there does not seem to be a difference, plaintiff attorney Julie Pettit told Toliver in a hearing May 25. And there's only one person (Goodell) that can tell us what's the difference between the non-approved venue and the approved venue. And he's this Oz behind the curtain, this person that the NFL will not allow us to talk to. And everyone points their finger at him, saying he's the only one that can make that determination.

In March, Goodell told reporters that the league doesnt envision changing its policies just because the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas by 2020. He also said the league retains the right to make changes if it thinks they are necessary.

Under the same gambling policy, NFL teams are allowed to accept limited advertising from casinos. In Las Vegas, the Raiders new NFL stadium will be owned by a landlord whose governing board includes executives from the MGM and Caesars casino companies.

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NFL fighting youth charity over gambling policy - USA TODAY

A vote in favor of a massive gambling expansion in Pennsylvania passed the state House of Representatives late Wednesday night by a vote of 102-89.

First addressing the need to fix the local share tax issue in which the local revenue from Harrahs casino has been crucial to the city of Chester the bill intends to open up and legalize online gambling and daily fantasy sports, and authorizes tablet gambling at Pennsylvania airports. It will allow video gaming terminals in drinking establishments.

Split mostly down party lines, local representatives were deeply divided over the need for revenue and the difficulty in regulating the video gaming terminals.

Democratic Reps. Brian Kirkland, D-159 of Chester, Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby, and Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161 of Swarthmore, voted nay, while Reps. Nick Miccarelli, R-162 of Ridley Park, Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, and Steve Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester, voted in the affirmative.

This is a revenue generator, Santora said, who serves on the Gaming Oversight Committee. Were finally addressing the fantasy sports, which at some point will have a ruling from the federal government, but if youre not regulating youre not taking part in it.

Under HB 271, daily fantasy sports like FanDuel and DraftKings would have to pay $50,000 license fee and pay a 19 percent tax based on in-state participation. Applicants would also have to verifying they are at least 18 years of age.

Additionally, it solidifies the local shares from casinos locking in Harrahs at 2 percent a year of gross slot-machine gambling to Delaware County and $10 million a year to the city of Chester. Municipalities across the state will receive similar revenue shares, save for the city-county of Philadelphia, where SugarHouse Casino will pay 2 percent a year to both the host county and the host municipality.

Chester is in big trouble. Theyre one of the poorest municipalities in the state. They cant afford to lose the $10 million a year, Santora said. Blocking this is risking that.

The county hasnt raised taxes in three years, and Im sure the casino revenue is a big reason why, he continued.

However, the expansion of video gaming terminals, or VGTs, into bars, hotels, restaurants, truck stops, clubs or nursing homes, has brought great concern over the capacity of those owners to oversee and regulate addictive gambling among their patrons.

The casinos are highly regulated. They have mechanisms in place to identify and support folks with gambling addiction issues. The state police offer safety, said Krueger-Braneky. None of that will be true in this case. This is nothing more than a massive gambling expansion in an attempt to find new revenue from a Republican body that refuses to pass a severance tax (on Marcellus shale extractors).

Gov. Tom Wolf and fellow Democrats have been trying to pass a natural gas severance tax for years.

The bill is expected to go through drastic changes once the state Senate is back in session on Monday.

Barrar said he expects the gambling expansion bill to go to conference committee, which will include members from both the House and Senate from both majority and minority parties to hash out the differences between the two houses.

I voted in favor of the VGTs for the tavern owners. Theyre struggling, and a big chunk will come back to the communities, Barrar said. Right now Harrahs gives back to the county, but I dont know that it benefits my constituents.

Im not sure theres an appetite for VGTs in the Senate, but I do think well see an expansion of gaming, Miccarelli said.

Miccarelli too said the lack of oversight was of concern, but it didnt outweigh the benefits of revenue to local municipalities.

Itll ensure the additional revenue to municipalities is done in a responsible way, Miccarelli said. At the end of the day, you have problems at casinos with the strictest oversight I have concerns about gambling, but that versus raising taxes, Id rather not raise taxes on working families.

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Delco reps split on expanded gambling in Pa. - Delco News Network

Its incredible that in a place devoted to scads of money being won and lost, no one is in command and control of security. But this was the reported finding of an inquiry into the possible security lapses at Resorts World Manila, scene of a horrific attack by a man with a gun where 38 people including himself died on June 2.

Apart from there being no ground commander, there was also no emergency response team that could have prevented the gunman, the down-on-his-luck gambler Jessie Carlos, from torching the gaming tables, which caused the fire that led to the deaths from suffocation and smoke inhalation of most of the victims. They waited for the PNP. But what if the PNP station is far away? Who will now react? said Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, leader of the Philippine National Police-Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies that conducted the inquiry.

That there was only one roving guard at the time of Carlos major meltdown is another damning finding, apparently a result of the scaling down of personnel, Espino said.

The confluence of events resulted in a tragic occurrence: Armed with an assault rifle, Carlos arrived at RWM past midnight, made his entry despite an unarmed female guards remonstrations, proceeded to steal gaming chips worth millions of pesos and, almost leisurely, to douse gaming tables with gasoline he had brought and to set them ablaze. He exchanged fire with guards and policemen and shot several rounds into the air, and later made his way to a hotel room where he killed himself.

In the aftermath, Why did so many die? was the poignant question raised by Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., whose wife Elizabeth was among those who perished. Even with over 12,000 patrons and employees evacuated from the complex, 37 others died 37 too many, among them young people employed by RWM, leaving their families in grief and anguish. This is unpardonable; accountability should be swiftly pinpointed and the creaky wheels of justice set into motion.

The general public, including the bereaved families, are still wondering how such an incident could transpire in this popular casino complex where people also go to celebrate special occasions, hold meetings, or watch musicales and other shows. There is a sudden shattering of the sense of comfort and security, leaving a public on edge. The costs in terms of damage and lost tourism and other revenues have yet to be figured out.

Meanwhile, the shuttered RWM has been served a cease and desist order by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. All its operations are on hold pending investigation and final determination of its compliance with all security, safety and gaming operations requirements, according to Pagcor. The Department of Tourism is now reviewing its accreditation process for hotels, restaurants and similar establishments.

But all these are predictable measures, generally taken when a tragedy jolts society at large and forces itself to take stock of what has become routine. And theres the elephant looming in the room: the issue of gambling addiction and how it has brought many Filipinos, male and female, to ruin. (Recall the stories, told in whispers, of car keys and land titles surrendered to pay off gambling debts, and whole families destroyed by addicted members.)

The government-enabled gaming industry cannot escape liability for making it so easy for Filipinos to part with their money and eventually squander their life and those of their family members in these perfumed temples where day turns into night and back unbeknownst to those who haunt them. In other countriesfor example, Singaporethe government makes it difficult for ordinary citizens to get into state casinos because the entrance costs are prohibitive.

And something also has to be said about a culture that encourages gambling whether in slick city centers or hick towns. Surely the gambling revenues supposedly used by the state to fund charity projects and such can be found elsewhere.

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Gambling with lives - Inquirer.net