Backstage & Influences

A former executive at the Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania happens to be sentenced to 32 months for his part in a scheme that involved the casino’s slot machines and creating bogus loyalty rewards.
Casino fraudster Robert Pellegrini (seen right here in December after pleading bad) will be dealing in dapper suits for inmate orange during a 32-month prison sentence. He will also need to pay close to a half-million dollars in restitution to the casino where he once worked.
Robert Pellegrini was VP of player development for the Mohegan Sun when he and two others concocted a scheme to bilk his companies using customers’ stolen loyalty card PIN numbers to play for free, allowing the gang to keep the winnings. The operation went from May 2014 to April 2015, before Pellegrini ended up being busted.
It had been the role of Rochelle Poszeluznyj, a cocktail waitress, to notice down players’ loyalty card PIN numbers as she served them drinks, before passing them onto Pellegrini, whom would create copies of the cards which he then loaded with free slot money. Then it absolutely was Mark Joseph Heltzel, a customer whom had formerly been caught cheating at blackjack but was mysteriously not banned, who posed as a customer that is regular used the cards to play slots, splitting the winnings among the group.
The court was told the way the trio used $478,100 in free slot play to create $418,793 in illicit winnings.
Problem Gambler
‘I’m a flawed man,’ Pellegrini, who claims to be always a problem gambler, told the judge. ‘I’ve made mistakes in my life, this being the biggest,’ he said. ‘I didn’t steal to cover my bills. It was to aid my gambling.’
Whenever asked just how a compulsive gambler could hold down a high-profile job at a casino, Pellegrini replied: ‘in which do you think casino workers go on their days off? They visit other casinos.’
The scheme was uncovered when a dealer at the Mohegan Sun Pocono, who was simply apparently deeply in love with Poszeluznyj, spilled the beans to authorities, because he viewed Heltzel as a rival for her affections.
Getting Busy
Prosecutor Michelle Olshefski countered Pellegrini’s assertion he had hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank, as well as a number of assets that he had not stolen for greed, noting that while the scam was ongoing. She said phone records recommended he had been the ringleader of the scheme and that he regularly told his accomplices to ‘get busy’ because he had ‘bills to pay.’
Nevertheless, Senior US District Judge the Richard Caputo departed from sentencing directions after hearing impassioned pleas from their family members and character testimonies suggesting he was of otherwise good character.
Pellegrini must also pay $478,350 in restitution to their former company. He could have received as much as 20 years in jail.
Poszeluzny and Heltzel have actually both pleaded guilty and are due become sentenced at a later date. Heltzel faces 175 mostly felony counts of theft, identity theft, criminal conspiracy, and winning by fraud. His bail was set at $500,000, but was paid off to $150,000, using the understanding that he would surrender any firearms and pay just 10 percent of the bond to walk free until his sentencing date.
Federal Trade Commission Moves to Block DraftKings-FanDuel Merger
The united states federal government took first steps toward quashing a proposed merger between daily dream sports leaders DraftKings and FanDuel, contending the deal would create an illegal monopoly that controls 90 percent of this DFS market.
FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles (left) and DraftKings CEO Jason Robins (right) argued that a merger was at top interests of DFS players, but FTC administrators disagreed. (Image: Vanity Fair)
On the Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with the Offices of the Attorneys General of California and Washington DC, filed a suit in federal district court to seek an injunction to halt the deal friday.
‘ We are disappointed by this decision and continue to believe that a merger is in the interest that is best of our players, our organizations, our employees and also the dream sports industry,’ said DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles in a joint statement. ‘ We are thinking about all our choices at this time.’
Antitrust-Worthy
The FTC claims the deal as it absolutely was taking form would break Section 7 for the Clayton Act, which prohibits mergers and acquisitions that would in place create a monopoly, and Section 5 of the FTC Act, which makes it unlawful to take part in ‘unfair or misleading acts or practices in or affecting commerce.’
Fundamentally, the FTC refused to swallow DrafKings’ and FanDuel’s core argument that daily fantasy sports comprised merely a small portion of the much wider dream sports market, dominated by the variety that is season-long.
The commission concluded that DFS consumers do perhaps not view season-long as a ‘meaningful substitute’ for DFS.
‘This merger would deprive customers of the substantial advantages of direct competition between DraftKings and FanDuel,’ said Tad Lipsky, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition.
The FTC contends that neither new entrants in the DFS company, nor any future expansion by existing operators, will be likely to deliver meaningful competition, as the two companies hold a combined 90 percent estimated market share.
Love-Hate Relationship
DraftKings and FanDuel announced their intentions to merge November that is last months of speculation. As rivals, they spent an estimated $750 million trying to out-market one another, based on ESPN, while offering a broadly similar item.
Meanwhile, both companies have struggled after experiencing initially explosive growth. Regulatory doubt and legal challenges have actually plagued the industry from late 2015 onward, and it’s also on that front where the two companies think together they could wage the strongest battle.
Tough Fold: Legal Online Poker Off the Table in New York for 2017
The State Assembly in ny won’t be moving a bill to legalize online poker before the chamber adjourns this Wednesday, June 21. That is according to the NY regular News, which spoke to Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester), the prime sponsor of legislation that would’ve made the fourth most populous state the fourth state to own game that is online.
The internet poker dream team in nyc, State Sen. John Bonacic (left) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow say they shall carry on their push for legal internet poker in 2018. (Images: State of the latest York)
Assembly Bill 5250 sought to redefine Texas Hold’em and Omaha as games of skill rather than chance, a key distinction that would’ve permitted both games to be played online.
But Pretlow changed their optimistic tune starting the ultimate week of legislative session, telling proponents to withhold their enthusiasm. ‘There was some opposition,’ Pretlow stated. ‘We’ll pick it up the following year more than likely.’
Year Better Luck Next
The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the lobbying that is leading for internet poker in Washington, DC, explained that the 2017 campaign in New York should give players plenty to cheer about.
‘This year the bill not only easily passed away the Senate, but in addition for the time that is first an iPoker bill passed an Assembly committee. This is progress,’ the PPA stated in a social media marketing post.
Pretlow happens to be at the forefront of trying to get rid of internet poker prohibition into the Empire State. The Democrat first introduced the subject into his chamber back in 2014, and over the last 3 years, he’s remain committed to advancing the conversation.
State Sen. John Bonacic (R-Orange County) has led the battle in the New York Senate, with far more success.
His companion bill earlier this thirty days stumbled on a complete vote on the Senate floor and simply passed, 53-9. But once sent to the Assembly to be merged with Pretlow’s bill, it stalled in the Standing Committee on Codes.
A key hurdle ended up being how to handle ‘bad actors,’ such as PokerStars, a major supporter of the bill, who accepted electronic payments from brand New York customers even with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibited it.
Another roadblock for 2018 is conventional wisdom that has found bills linked to gambling tending not to move during election years.
Population Control
Online poker in the United States has mostly been a bust since 2011. That has been the Department of Justice issued a viewpoint that the Wire that is longstanding Act which banned many forms of gambling through the transmission of phone lines, applied only to sports betting.
That meant that individual states were absolve to license and regulate online video gaming activities except sports betting. Though the DOJ under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has toyed with the idea of re-evaluating the 2011 opinion, thus far efforts to restore the wire work with specific prohibitions on all types of online gambling have also fallen flat.
But still, just three states have actually legalized some forms of on line gambling, plus the fairly small populations of Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware have actuallyn’t quite allowed the poker to fully realize its online potential.
Nyc, nevertheless, stood to dramatically shake up the online poker landscape, with nearly 20 million residents which could potentially more than double the size regarding the overall American player pool, while also motivating other states to move forward with legislation of the very own.
Pennsylvania, the fifth many populous state, immediately behind New York, may be the next market to watch. The Keystone State is currently considering a comprehensive expansion of gambling and regulatory overhaul, and there legalizing internet poker is a chance still up for grabs.
Florida Seminole Tribe’s Bond Credit Rating Upgraded by Moody’s, Fitch
The Seminoles of Florida are likely to save yourself a bundle in the coming months, after bond and credit score services Moody’s and Fitch both upgraded the tribe’s bank financial obligation and bond credit ratings.
The Seminole Tribe’s seven gambling enterprises in Florida, managed by gaming executive Jim Allen, can borrow money at reduced interest levels, after Moody’s and Fitch upgraded the Native United states group’s ratings. (Image: Miami Dolphins)
Moody’s Investment solutions upgraded the Florida tribe’s existing term debt and bonds rating to Baa2, and its Special Obligation Bonds to Baa3. While those increases are welcomed news to the Seminoles, the classifications continue to be described as ‘non-investment grade’ speculations.
However, it inches the Tribe’s financial obligation and bonds nearer to investment-grade securities, and even the smallest bump in the Moody’s score ladder represents huge cost savings in terms of great interest paid to lenders.
‘The real-money-casino.club reviews upgrades, affirmations and strong new ranks are excellent news for the Seminole Tribe of Florida even as we look toward a great, stable future,’ Seminole Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. said in a presser. Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen added that the upgrades ‘will save yourself vast amounts by assisting to keep costs that are borrowing.’
Bullish on Gaming
Whilst the Moody’s news had been cheery, things are searching even brighter for the Seminoles at Fitch. The ranks agency upped its categorization for the Tribe’s video gaming unit to Better Business Bureau.
Where companies level according to the top credit assessors is key to how much they will be paying loan providers. This chart shows how countries rate overall. (Image: World Economic Forum)
According to Fitch, the investment-grade distinction is according to a favorable gambling environment in the Sunshine State, and the Seminoles’ ‘steady, positive running trends in comparison to more flat growth seen in other US gaming markets.’
The Tribe has borrowed $2.4 billion to repay term that is outstanding and fund expansions at its Hollywood and Tampa casinos. ‘These improved and renewed investment-grade reviews … may help Seminole Gaming to continue as you of the world’s most profitable gaming enterprises,’ Allen added.
Both ranks agencies additionally credited the tribe’s ongoing commitment to cover gaming taxes to Tallahassee, despite not having a compact that is valid Florida.
Stalled in State’s Legislature
The state’s legislature neglected to come to terms over a brand new arrangement, using the House seeking to help keep gambling in its current status, although the Senate sought to grow gaming and put slots at dog and horse racetracks in eight counties.
The chamber that is upper wanted to allow the Seminoles to offer craps and roulette, in trade a commercial casino resort to be built in either Broward or Miami-Dade Counties. Moody’s and Fitch believes the tribe’s continuing to spend video gaming revenue could play into its favor during upcoming compact negotiations.
Bonds Explained
A bond is a debt investment issued by businesses to investors who lend the entities money. They truly are different from shares, in that the lender isn’t acquiring ownership into the debtor’s business.
The issuing of bonds takes place when a ongoing company needs to improve money. Bonds are often viewed as fixed-income securities, because the companies issuing them agree to pay either an adjustable or fixed interest rate to loan providers.
The interest rate is determined by just how long the financing period is, the true number of annual payments towards the lender, and most importantly, the credit quality of the bonds, specifically, the risk linked to the loan.
Moody’s and Fitch reducing the long-term danger for the Seminole Tribe’s bonds means rates of interest will slightly reduce, as well as on $2.4 billion, that equates to millions of dollars saved.
Touchdown for Redskins, as Supreme Court Overturns ‘Disparaging’ Trademark Patent Office Ruling
In a major ruling that reverses a longstanding statute, the United States Supreme Court has sided utilizing the Slants, an Asian-American rockband that was denied a trademark by the US Patent and Trademark workplace on the grounds that the title had been disparaging to people of Asian descent.
The Washington Redskins trademark wasn’t renewed in 2015 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but the Supreme Court says the statutory law is on the NFL group’s side. (Image: Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press)
Writing in the majority viewpoint, Justice Samuel Alito declared, ‘ The commercial market is well-stocked with merchandise that disparages prominent numbers and teams, and the line between commercial and non-commercial speech is not always clear. If affixing the label that is commercial the suppression of any message that will lead to political or social ‘volatility,’ free message would be jeopardized.’
Three years ago, online recreations books had the odds of Washington being forced to change the team’s name at around Yes (+300), No (-500). As can be the situation, the bookmakers got it appropriate.
The ruling is a touchdown for Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Snyder has repeatedly refused to rename the NFL franchise, despite intense public scrutiny and even after multiple indigenous American teams said they found the team name to be disparaging.
In 2014, 50 US Senators, 48 Democrats, and two Independents, signed a letter sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking the league to force the Redskins to rebrand. The document requested the league’s ownership send the message ‘that racism and bigotry do not have spot in professional sports.’
What’s in a Name?
If the Supreme Court have seen the case an additional light, the fallout could have been far-reaching. In US activities, there is a host of potentially team that is controversial.
In Major League Baseball, there is the Indians and Braves, and some have a problem with the Yankees designation. In the NBA, there’s the Boston Celtics, characterized by an obese, pipe smoking Leprechaun. There is the NFL Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, plus in university recreations, the Spartans, Trojans, Scots, and Irish are among possibly ‘negative’ names in NCAA programs that are athletic.
Of course, one man’s ‘offensive’ is another’s ‘who really cares?’ Cases in point:
The NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders are coming to town, albeit perhaps not until 2020. The Oakland franchise was at first likely to be named the Señors, but ended up being changed to the Raiders in 1960. Can a man in a football helmut with an optical eye patch and swords on either side of their head be looked at unpleasant? The Las Vegas Golden Knights are coming to try out within the NHL this fall. Are knights a sign of white privilege? Classist elitism? Imperialist conquering? The Crusades?
It’s all in just how you see it, as well as the High Court says additionally it is all within the bounds of free speech.
Speak Freely
The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) had denied the Slants’ application by citing the Lanham Act. The 1946 statute that is federal trademark requests to don’t be disparaging in nature, and to avoid falsely suggesting a ‘connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, thinking, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.’
The PTO attempted to make the argument that trademarks are government speech, as they’re being qualified by the federal agency. Justice Alito rejected that reasoning, saying, ‘It offends a bedrock First Amendment principle: Speech might not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend.’
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