
Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino will redistribute competition winnings following a major chip-cheating scandal that rocked the Borgata Winter Poker Open in January. (Image: ac2lv.com)
The newest Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has reached a resolution regarding the Borgata Winter Poker Open chips that are counterfeit at last. The tournament ended up being suspended on January eighteenth, and subsequently cancelled, following revelation that the fake poker potato chips had been introduced.
The DGE certainly had their work cut out in reaching an equitable solution to a very sticky issue: whenever play was stopped, there have been 27 players left of 4,824 initial entrants in the $500 + 60 NLH Big Stack event, which had a guaranteed award pool of $2 million. A one-time chip leader named Christian Lusardi, actually busted on Day 2 for $6,814, it wasn’t simply a matter of confiscating his ill-gotten winnings and paying the bubble boy while the perpetrator of the scam.
Ripple Effect
Investigators had to ascertain which players among this field that is huge be believed to have been adversely affected by the cheating and discover a fair way to distribute a complete of $1,721,805 to those that deserved it. That includes $1,433,145 in prize money, in addition to $288,720 the Borgata collected in registration charges. This also meant trying to quantify the intangible ‘ripple effect’ that Lusardi’s scam might have caused; a task that is almost impossible.
The DGE decided that 2143 entrants who did not cash were entitled for their money back (buy-in plus reg cost). These included all players who played on Day 1a from 10am, apart from people who began in the occasion Center and had been eliminated before 4:30pm, since the group that is latter not need enter into contact with Lusardi. Since it was a reentry tournament, Lusardi was also playing on Day 1b, having busted Day 1a, and thus all players who played that day from 10am are also qualified, apart from people who played in the Signature Room and Poker Room. Meanwhile, the $50,893 in rewards owed to players whom busted into the cash will be paid as scheduled, while the remaining 27 players still ‘in’ will chop the rest for $19,323 each.
The Borgata may still have a headache to contend with while this would appear to be the fairest solution given the circumstances. In February, a class-action lawsuit was filed by brand New Jersey attorney Bruce Li Causi with respect to one of the players, Jacob Mustere. The lawsuit claimed that players is liable to damages along with refunds. During the 888 casino contact email time of writing, it isn’t known whether Causi’s client is satisfied with the current settlement.
Money Down the Can
Meanwhile, Lusardi continues to be in jail in brand New Jersey on $300,000 relationship, awaiting trial. He was arrested after attempting to flush 2.7 million in fake tournament potato chips down the toilet of his accommodation at the nearby Harrah’s Resort. This resulted in the pipes becoming clogged, which caused water to drip on to the spaces of guests on the ground below. He can be charged with running a large-scale DVD that is pirate from his North Carolina home that allegedly grossed over $1 million.
The Borgata has since introduced new high-tech poker chips that are more intricately designed, making them harder to counterfeit, and may be checked under ultraviolet light.
Everett May Purchase Land for Wynn Casino
Will the town of Everett buy this web site of the former Monsanto chemical plant for Wynn Everett? Mayor Carlo DeMaria hopes so. (Image: wcvb.com)
It appears that every right time an obstacle emerges for one of the proposed Massachusetts casino plans, someone or something steps up to offer a solution. When there have been questions about that would take advantage of the sale of land Wynn Resorts would use to host their Everett casino, possibly we should have expected a resolution to present it self before too long.
Eminent Domain Buy Considered
In this case, the city of Everett it self may finally acquire the property before offering it to Wynn, sidestepping the murky situation that currently surrounds the land sale. The city would use their power of eminent domain to purchase the land also seven other properties in the area for a price that is total of $41 million. The land needed for the casino could be sold to then Wynn from the city.
According to Mayor Carlo DeMaria, this move wouldn’t be solely for the advantage of Steve Wynn and the prospective casino resort he would like to build. Rather, this is a plan that was in development before anyone considered bringing gambling to the town.
‘This area, when you are well aware, is crucial to your future success associated with the entire city and can serve as being a gateway to the entire region,’ DeMaria composed in a letter to Everett city councilors week that is last. ‘My administration is committed to realizing the extraordinary potential of this area and the city as being a whole.’
Controversy Over Secret Partners
Although the city may be willing to buy the land in order to develop it, that was not the initial proposal Wynn had been banking on. They decided to purchase the land for $35 million, presuming that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was to approve their casino plan.
As we recently reported, the controversy over the land began after payment investigators discovered that the existing owners of the property FBT Everett Realty may be lying about the involvement of Charles Lightbody, one of the original partners. Lightbody, a convicted felon, claimed to possess sold off their interest in the home way back when, despite having put up $1 million associated with original $8 million purchase price in ’09.
That could have now been resolved if the other owners had pledged that the property purchase wouldn’t benefit any unknown, key lovers. By Anthony Gattineri has refused to sign such a pledge, fueling speculation that Lightbody might have a pursuit. And because the commission has required the statements become signed in order to approve Wynn’s license, it offers put the sale in question.
A Public Purpose?
Issue of whether or not the city of Everett will get around this issue through the use of eminent domain could be tricky. The city can only take private land if doing so serves a public purpose under state law. Mayor DeMaria claims the land is perfect for redevelopment and that the populous city would invest tens of millions to upgrade the area after the purchase.
But not many people are convinced that anyone would develop the certain area if Wynn doesn’t have the casino permit. City Council president Michael Marchese states he appears at the proposition as nothing less than a favor to Wynn.
‘We haven’t possessed a developer here in over 20 years,’ Marchese said. ‘We just know what we hear, and what we hear we don’t trust.’
Illinois Rep Bob Rita OffersTwo Plans for Chicago Casino Expansion
Will Illinois legislators approve either of Rep. Bob Rita’s land gaming proposals? The jury’s still down. (Image: chicagotribune.com)
You can imagine so just how lucrative a casino that is massive in Chicago could be. It’s been a fantasy of many for decades now, though never one who has come anywhere near fruition. Now, one lawmaker has placed two proposals for such a casino before an Illinois House committee though the probability of either ultimately passing into law are slim at most useful.
Two Plans, One Man
Representative Bob Rita (D-Blue Island) has put together two variations of the plan that would bring casino gambling to Chicago. In the version that is first designed to appease as many interest groups as possible, five new gambling enterprises would be authorized. That would add a Chicago casino with up to 4,000 games, along side smaller casinos in Rockford, Danville, Lake County and another suburb towards the south of Chicago. It might also give racetracks the proper to host a varying number of slot machines, up to 600 for locations in Cook County.
But that is not the plan that received the attention of the Illinois home. It’s an alternate Rita-backed plan one that would accept only a single casino with up to 10,000 games in Chicago that promised to cause plenty of heated arguments on both sides of the issue.
Chicago vs. Downstate Illinois
Rita is hoping that by talking to lawmakers, he can convince them that an enormous Chicago casino will benefit the entire state. His plan would see half of all revenues from the casino that is proposed projects through the entire state.
‘It’s part of the procedure of moving this forward,’ Rita stated before the hearing. ‘ We now have never really had a full in-depth conversation or a hearing of a Chicago-only choice.’
The single-venue plan is popular with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which stated at the hearing that they would like a casino in the central part of downtown Chicago. Governor Pat Quinn has also suggested that this version of the bill is more likely to make his support than past bills which he has vetoed.
But politicians through the rest of the continuing state are predictably dubious of any plan that would expand gambling only in the city.
‘The purpose [of gambling expansion] would be to help economically troubled communities,’ said state Representative Chad Hays (R-Catlin). ‘ I would suggest that downstate taking the leftover crumbs from Chicago is just a laughable assertion that no downstater would bite on.’
A Term from the Mayor
Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer also weighed in against A chicago-only plan.
‘The opportunity to add downstate job creation and revenue growth far outweighs the advantages of a license that is chicago-only’ said Eisenhauer, who also planned to attend the hearings.
Representatives from social groups spoke at the hearings to state that they were focused on the impact a casino that is massive have on the state. Meanwhile, other casinos worried that a venue that is large Chicago would hurt their businesses. And the horse rushing industry opposes both the single-casino and broader expansion plans, as they want more slots available at their tracks.
With so opposition that is much round the state, many lawmakers believe that just a broader gambling bill has any possibility of success.