Results tagged “gambling”

An underage gambler has cost the Atlantic City Hilton Casino over $115,000—the second-largest fine for underage gambling in the city's 31-year history of casino gaming. (Last year Bally's Atlantic City was slapped with a record-setting $157,500 fine for letting an underage customer gamble; the legal age there is 21.) The Hilton's teenage gambler, identified only as "M.R." by the gaming commission, was granted a player's account at the Hilton in 2007 and even given a free room. He was 19 at the time, but gave fake identification indicating he was 24. During the next 16 months, "M.R." traveled repeatedly to A.C. from Brooklyn, and in February 2008, he was arrested at a different casino for underage gambling. Still, the Hilton didn't know his real age until April 2008, when the Gaming Enforcement Division found a record for "M.R." at the Hilton, and notified the casino. But the next day, the casino permitted him to gamble some more, for nearly three hours. Linda Kassekert, chairwoman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, tells the AP, "We have a big concern about it because kids can make themselves look older, and that's problematic." Especially if they get lucky.

You know what the Hamptons really need? A more efficient way to throw money away. That's why the Shinnecock tribe on Long Island is hoping to get federal recognition and open a casino out there. (They've been recognized by the state for ages.) The Shinnecocks filed a petition with the Interior Department for federal recognition back in 1978, but you can't rush the Grandfather in Washington. The tribe finally sued the agency in 2006, and on Tuesday the Interior Department finally agreed to a time frame to answer the tribe's petition. John A. Strong, a retired professor who's an expert on Long Island tribes, tells the Times recognition is pretty much a lock, and once that happens, the Shinnecocks will be allowed to open a Class II casino (just video slot machines, no table games). They'd sure love it if they could get out of poverty by attracting gambling swells from the Hamptons, but because Suffolk County is worried about the traffic, the tribe may cut a deal with the state to open a Class I casino in Queens, perhaps at the Aqueduct racetrack!

The state once again announced that it is making a concerted effort in trying to lure in companies that will set up video slot machines (or VLTs) at the Aqueduct Racetracks, offering $250 million in tax-free bonds to help pay for the project. The application process was reopened after the company Delaware North had to default on the original $370 million it was granted. Governor Paterson said, "We remain absolutely committed to bringing a VLT facility to Aqueduct, which will provide much needed economic development to the race track, and critical funding for education in New York. It is extremely disappointing that the economic crisis has slowed this development, but we are confident that Aqueduct will be transformed into a destination spot for racing and gaming fans." The state sees millions of revenue each week from gaming taking place at Yonkers Raceway's Empire City.

Remember Arelia Taveras? She's the lawyer who tried to sue casinos for $20 million for allowing her to gamble, when clearly she was addicted to gambling, pointing out, "They knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping. I would pass out at the tables." But Taveras, who once made $500,000/year and used $100,000 of her clients' money to cover her gambling losses (estimated at $1 million), lost that suit. recently pleaded guilty to charges from the Queens DA's office, which said she "violated her clients' trust and let down the entire legal system, which counts on members of the bar to conduct themselves in an ethical manner." She is expected to be sentenced to over three years of prison time. You can see videos of Taveras telling her clients she will pay them back here.

A source tells the Post that two con men who ran a mortgage scam bilking millions out of now-failed lenders like Countrywide and Washington Mutual blew obscene amounts of money on extravagant gambling trips to Atlantic City. Garri Zhigun and Aleksander Lipkin pleaded guilty earlier this month to running a 27-member gang that borrowed money to buy properties, then faked sales at inflated prices to borrow even more before defaulting on the loans. The two swindlers—who were backed by the Russian mob—made dozens of trips to Atlantic City between '05 and '06, where they were high rollers awarded with free hotel rooms and show tickets. And all this took place while Zhigun was on parole after serving two years in prison for his participation in an insurance scam involving staged car accidents.

While doorman turned million-dollar lottery winner Richie Randazzo has become a bit despicable to some, there's one person who really hates him. Or at least Randazzo's dumb luck: Building superintendent Ray Otero, who worked across the street from Randazzo, tells the NY Times he spent $30,000 last year on the lottery, which clearly means he should have won the big payday, not Randazzo who spent in the two-digits on tickets per week. Otero, who spends hundreds on lottery tickets each week, said, “When I heard he won, I got so mad — I said to myself, ‘I can’t believe it.' I spend all that money and the [unprintable fellow] wins? It’s wrong. I mean, I’m happy for him. But it really isn’t fair.” Related: Here's the Wiki entry on Gamblers Anonymous.

A last-minute deal was worked out between Governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to save Off-track Betting, but the road to the agreement was rocky.

Some gamblers don't need their legs broken by loan sharks if they're paranoid enough. The FDNY discovered four men lying in an alley at 35-12 Farrington St. in Flushing, Queens while responding to a call about a smoke condition at the building. According to WNBC, the building houses a not-that-secret illegal gambling operation.

After years of warnings, the city's Off Track Betting business may be out of luck as Mayor Bloomberg said the city may pull its funding and let the gambling business close. He told the OTB Board of Directors, "The City simply cannot take dollars away from schools and hospitals to pay for a gambling operation. We have no business subsidizing betting parlors at the expense of City taxpayers, particularly at a time when we're asking all agencies to cut their budgets." And what's more, the board agreed and approved the shutdown!

New Jersey police have arrested a number of members of the Lucchese crime family. In the process of breaking up a multi-billion dollar betting organization, cops discovered that the old school mafia family had also teamed up with the more street-level gang the Bloods. The two groups were working together to smuggle things like iPods, cell phones, and drugs into the East Jersey State Prison. The betting ring was fairly sophisticated, utilizing Internet sites, an 800 phone line, and personal interaction to process more than $2 billion in wagers annually. The smuggling ring was facilitated by a corrections officer who worked at the prison.

The underground Flatiron poker club robbery that left one player dead on Friday may be connected to a robbery at a swank Upper East Side club back in June. The Post notes that the two robberies were similar, with gunmen holding up patrons and making off with a lot of cash. The Upper East Side robbery at the National Card Room (a joint that Alex Rodriguez used to frequent) did not turn violent, whereas the...