Monthly Archives: April 2017

As gambling casinos continue to open up across the state, the shadow of compulsive gambling grows larger. One Syracuse area gambling addiction clinic is already booked.

Right now, the Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare Gambling Clinic can handle 15 patients at a time, according to integrated outpatient service director Kathi Meadows. And often thats not enough.

We actually had people who were coming that we successfully completed. They would have stayed longer, but there was a need to complete them, so we could get more people in the door, said Meadows.

Meadows says her agency is concerned about the proliferating number of slot machines and gaming tables becoming available to people with gambling problems. In central New York that includes the Del Lago Casino that recently opened up in Seneca County, and news that the Oneida Nation plans to build a gaming facility in Bridgeport. And its forced SBH to think about expanding services.

"It is a concern in that there is more access for gambling for people, especially young people. Because you can go to gambling casinos at age 18 and its easy to spend money. Weve had students whove lost a large sum of money as a result of their gambling, said Meadows.

New York state could help. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this year Albany is coming up with $4.7 million in annual funding for gambling outreach, education and treatment. The state is creating seven problem gambling resource centers across the state.

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Compulsive gambling growing problem as number of casinos in ... - WRVO Public Media

New York Times

As It Embraces Las Vegas, NFL Is Awash in Gambling Contradictions New York Times The decision to move the Raiders to Las Vegas from Oakland presents conflicts for a league that has long opposed gambling. and more »

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As It Embraces Las Vegas, NFL Is Awash in Gambling Contradictions - New York Times

CONCORD, N.H.

Another vote on casino gambling is looming at the statehouse.

During a public hearing Tuesday, opponents of expanded gaming laid out their arguments against adding video slots.

It's not possible to be both anti-crime and pro-casino at the same time, Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein said, speaking on behalf of the Chiefs of Police Association.

Goldstein pointed to the issues already plaguing our state, specifically the opioid epidemic.

What sense does it make to introduce and legalize another form of addiction in our state? he asked.

The group CasiNO opposes expanded gaming.

Rusty McLear, co-owner of Lakes Region hotel Pres Mills Falls -- said casinos would have an unfair advantage as they lower their rates to attract gamblers.

In essence, gambling will subsidize the restaurants and the rooms. How do we compete with that? The answer is we can't compete with that, McLear said.

Newly sworn-in Attorney General Gordon MacDonald stood with longstanding tradition, urging house members not to pass the bill.

"The concern is, at bottom, that we've got an excellent quality of life and a very low crime rate and the nature of expanded gambling threatens both, MacDonald said.

The bill's supporters maintain that the addition would provide a boost for business.

We have a good bill. It's a strong bill. It's a bill that provides economic opportunity and job creation to people in New Hampshire, Sen. Lou DAllesandro (D-Manchester) said.

Supporters said it's an uphill battle, but its one they will continue to fight as they look to have the bill passed by the House.

"The wealthiest people in the state of New Hampshire are opposed to the bill. It's quite clear. I give them a great deal of credit for the fight. We've been battling for the last two decades, we'll continue to battle, DAllesandro said.

This bill has already passed the Senate, but as in the past, it is expected to have a much more difficult time in the House.

WEBVTT OTS WHILE THE BILL'SSUPPORTERS MAINTAIN IT WOULDPROVIDE A BOOST FOR BUSINESS.>> IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTHANTI-CRIME AND PRO-CASINO AT THESAME TIME. SIOBHAN: SPEAKING ON BEHALF OFTHE CHIEF'S OF POLICEASSOCIATION, FRANKLIN CHIEFDAVID GOLDSTEIN POINTS TO THEISSUES ALREADY PLAGUING OURSTATE, SPECIFICALLY THE OPIOIDEPIDEMIC.>> WHAT SENSE DOES IT MAKE TOINTRODUCE AND LEGALIZE ANOTHERFORM OF ADDICTION IN OUR STATE? SIOBHAN: THE GROUP CAS-NOOPPOSES EXPANDING GAMING.RUSTY MCLEAR, CO-OWNER OF ALAKES REGION HOTEL, SAYS CASINOS-WOULD HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGEAS THEY LOWER THEIR RATES TOATTRACT GAMBLERS.>> IN ESSENCE GAMBLING WILLSUBSIDIZE THE RESTAURANTS ANDTHE ROOMS.HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH THAT?THE ANSWER IS WE CAN'T COMPETEWITH THAT. SIOBHAN: THE NEWLY SWORN-INATTORNEY GENERAL STOOD WITHLONGSTANDING TRADITION, URGINGHOUSE MEMBERS NOT TO PASS THEBILL.>> THE CONCERN IS, AT BOTTOM,THAT WE'VE GOT AN EXCELLENTQUALITY OF LIFE AND A VERY LOWCRIME RATE AND THE NATURE OFEXPANDED GAMBLING THREATENSBOTH. >> WE HAVE A GOOD BILL.IT'S A STRONG BILL.IT'S A BILL THAT PROVIDESECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND JOBCREATION TO PEOPLE IN NEWHAMPSHIRE. SIOBHAN: SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S ANUPHILL BATTLE, BUT ONE THEY WILLCONTINUE TO FIGHT AS THEY LOOKTO HAVE THE BILL PASSED BY THEHOUSE.>> THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THESTATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AREOPPOSED TO THE BILL.IT'S QUITE CLEAR.I GIVE THEM A GREAT DEAL OFCREDIT FOR THE FIGHT.WE'VE BEEN BATTLING FOR THE LASTTWO DECADES.WE'LL CONTINUE TO BATTLE. SIOBHAN: THE BILL HAS ALREADYPASSED THE SENATE AS IT HAS INTHE PAST.

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Public hearing held on expanded gambling bill - WMUR.com - WMUR Manchester

Amanda Thames AmandaThames

Three locations were busted and six people arrested in connection with alleged illegal gambling.

The Onslow County Sheriffs Office conducted a two-month-long investigation into Holly Mart, located at 954 U.S. 17 South in Holly Ridge; BJs Yard Sale, located at 3117 Richlands Hwy in Jacksonville; and Best Exxon, located at 2945 Richlands Hwy in Jacksonville, according to a press release.

During a search of the three locations on Thursday, the sheriffs office allegedly seized 11 gambling machines, gambling paraphernalia, ledgers, receipts, tally sheets, and gambling proceeds, according to the press release.

The money seized, $11,667, was the total from all three establishments, said Maj. Chris Thomas with the sheriffs office.

The first complaint about these stores gambling came in eight months ago, Thomas said, but he believes the alleged gambling practices have been going on for a long time.

The complaints came from several different people, including people whod heard about it, people who felt theyd been defrauded by the establishments, and other business owners, Thomas said.

Inside, the establishments allegedly had machines people put money into to play games and received a voucher with their winnings they would then redeem for cash, he said.

Gambling is illegal in North Carolina, Thomas said.

The sheriffs office began investigating these stores two months ago, Thomas said, and although all of the warrants were served on Thursday, they were part of separate investigations.

It takes time to verify the fact that they were gambling, Thomas said.

There are other investigations ongoing, Thomas said, and he believes there are other places in Onslow County participating in gambling.

The following people were arrested Thursday.

Thomas Alexander Newkirk, 31, of Armstrong Drive in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. His bond was set at $5,000. He is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Teresa Hollis Evans, 66, of U.S. Hwy 17 in Holly Ridge was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. Her bond was set at $6,000. She is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Richard Earl Melton Jr., 29, of Rainmaker Drive in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. His bond was set at $3,000. He recently bonded out of jail, according to VineLink.

Teresa Ann Blakley, 57, of Kenwood Drive in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. Her bond was set at $5,000. She is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Malek Redhwan Taher-Maswarah, 32, of Cordell Circle in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. His bond was set at $5,000. He is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Eyad Ahmed Saleh, 20, of Wilmington Hwy in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables; conducting gambling at a licensed ABC premise; and consuming alcohol by a 19 or 20 year old. His bond was set at $7,000. He is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Onslow County Sheriff's Office at 910-455-3113 or Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information provided thats deemed of value or assistance to law enforcement. Callers to Crime Stoppers are not required to reveal their identities. Information can also be anonymously texted via Text-A-Tip by typing TIP4CSJAX and the message to 274637.

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Six accused of gambling in local stores - News - The Daily News ... - Jacksonville Daily News

The Facebook murderer who took his own life earlier today (April 18) after a pursuit with Pennsylvania State Police had a troubled past with women, according to several neighbors. Steve Stephens, 37, was on the run after shooting and killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin.

One next door neighbor had known Stephens since the two were teenagers. It was at this time that the suspect bought a python and would use it to get attention from women.

It was a slimy thing to do and now he's just a snake in the grass too, Alexis Lee, 34, told DailyMail.com about her neighbor. He didn't really know how to talk to us ladies.

Although Stephens did not attract many of the women in his neighborhood, he reportedly had a nice demeanor with the community children.

He was great with the kids around here and when he was driving out after seeing his mom he'd stop his car, Lee added. He would tell the kids,'Stay out of trouble, go to school and don't be knuckle heads.

Lee said she also saw him frequently gambling at the casino.

I saw him at the casino a couple of times and he would remind me that he always had a crush on me, Lee said. One [time] he asked me to sit next to him at the tables, saying, Be my queen... be my lucky charm." But I wasn't interested. I just went home.

In the past, Stephens lost his salary at the tables in the Jack Cleveland Casino in Downtown Cleveland. He even had to file for bankruptcy at one point.

Charisse Leonard, 28, another neighbor, was confused about Stephens and his approach with women.

I thought he was confused about his sexuality and could even have been gay, Leonard told DailyMail.com.

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Neighbors of Steve Stephens Say He Had a Gambling Problem and Seemed to Have a Hard Time With Women - BET

Posted April 19, 2017 19:38:40

Australia's major sporting codes have launched a furious rearguard action to try and stop the Turnbull Government from restricting gambling advertising on television.

The ABC understands Cabinet is poised to limit the times when gambling ads can be shown on both free to air and pay TV.

The plan has met stiff resistance from both, with the free to air networks demanding relief from Commonwealth licence fees if the move goes ahead.

But the biggest forces standing against the planned changes are Australia's largest sporting codes.

Last Wednesday, Australian Football League chief executive Gillon McLachlan and the National Rugby League's second in command, Nick Weeks, met with the Communications Minister Mitch Fifield in Melbourne.

Both argued that curtailing gambling advertising will slash the value of the television rights their codes attract.

The National Rugby League also has a commercial deal with Sportsbet worth $60 million, and half of the league's 16 teams have a corporate bookmaker as a major sponsor.

The AFL has a $10 million a year deal with CrownBet.

The codes also argued that the change risked the integrity agreements struck with Australian-based licensed betting agencies; which impose information sharing arrangements on the bookmakers and ensure the AFL and NRL can monitor and police any gambling by players, coaches and staff.

The codes said the risk was that betting operations would go offshore and that control would be lost.

The ABC has been told that Cricket Australia has also been lobbying against the change.

An Easter weekend rearguard action by the football codes might have had the effect of stalling ministerial deliberations because an answer was expected by Wednesday. But the ABC understands there is a mood in Government for further restrictions.

And that could pit the Government against a mighty foe.

Topics: gambling, community-and-society, advertising-and-marketing, advertising, industry, sports-organisations, information-and-communication, federal-government, sport, business-economics-and-finance, australia

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Sporting codes fight Government's proposed restrictions on gambling advertising on TV - ABC Online

News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE - House and Senate leaders met briefly Monday afternoon to lay the groundwork for negotiations on the two chambers' vastly different approaches to gambling policy.

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who will chair the conference committee on gambling, said the panel won't meet again before Thursday but could work over the weekend hashing out differences between the plans.

Lawmakers are trying to reach consensus on a new deal with the Seminole Tribe after a portion of an agreement with the tribe expired in 2015. That component of the 20-year deal gave the tribe "exclusive" rights to operate banked card games, such as blackjack, at most of its casinos. The tribe sued the state over the games, and a federal judge gave the Seminoles permission to continue to conduct the games.

The House is backing what is essentially a status quo proposal that would give the Seminoles permission to operate the banked card games, such as blackjack, for another 20 years. The Senate, in contrast, has endorsed a pari-mutuel friendly plan that would allow slot machines at pari-mutuels in the eight counties - Brevard, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Washington - where voters have approved them.

Which pari-mutuels get slots - and where - is one of the biggest sticking points for the negotiators, according to Galvano and Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, a Miami Republican who is vice-chair of the gambling conference committee.

"Obviously, there are members from each of those communities that are looking out to make sure that one county doesn't get new slots and their county is left out," Diaz told reporters after the meeting.

Another point of contention involves controversial "designated player" card games operated by a number of pari-mutuel cardrooms, which are at the heart of the state's legal dispute with the tribe. The Senate plan would legalize the card games, while the House proposal would ban them. The tribe, which is seeking to add craps and roulette at its casinos, has maintained that the House measure - which would require a minimum guarantee from the tribe of $3 billion over seven years-- would not get the requisite approval from federal authorities.

We're going to have to figure out what's more important, (not) giving them those new games or getting more money for the state, because you might not be able to do both, Diaz said.

Lawmakers, who for years have been unable to reach consensus on broad gambling legislation, could be more motivated this year by a series of court decisions that could jeopardize the nearly $120 million in annual payments paid to the state by the Seminoles. Given what has occurred over the last several years, but especially recently with the judicial branch and the decisions that are coming out and the complexity and the ambiguity of the issues that we're dealing with, inaction is not an option. We have to act, Galvano said.

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House, Senate begin trying to reach gambling deal - Holmes County Times Advertiser