September 2024 – OPINIAO-PUBLICA24-7

Malta Court Upholds Sentencing of ex-MGA CEO Connected to Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Suspect

Murder suspect link

Malta’s Court of Criminal Appeal has upheld the conviction and sentencing of the ex-CEO of the Malta Gaming Association (MGA) connected to Yorgen Fenech, the man awaiting trial for the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

head’s-up on an anti-money laundering review

On Tuesday, Justice Neville Camilleri ruled in favor of the May sentencing of former MGA boss Heathcliffe Farrugia for giving Fenech the head’s-up on an anti-money laundering review the MGA was going to subject a rival casino to in 2019.

Earlier this year, Magistrate Ian Farrugia had found the ex-MGA CEO guilty of illegally disclosing information obtained by virtue of his role and sharing professional secrets, for which the magistrate sentenced Farrugia to “a three-year conditional discharge.”

Implicated by chats

The former head of Malta’s gaming authority resigned his post in October 2020 after he was charged over his communications with Fenech, the former head of the Tumas Group, which operates Portomaso Casino on the Saint Julian’s coast.

Maltese investigative journalist Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in October 2017 after she leveled a series of corruption claims against powerful figures. One of the final words the 53-year-old wrote before her murder was: “Do your worst, you bastards, until the only option left to you is to take out a contract on my life.”

Investigators rumbled Farrugia after he was implicated via an analysis of the murder suspect’s mobile phone.

The criminal chats were found after Fenech’s phone was seized by police investigators in December 2019 during his arrest in connection with Caruana Galizia’s murder.

In possession of Fenech’s mobile, investigators perused 24 pages of texts between him and the MGA CEO. The chats revealed Fenech had told Farrugia of his disappointment with the result of an AML compliance review into his Tumas Gaming Group, which also operates Oracle Casino, in addition to Portomaso.

Favors and tip offs

Fenech’s beef with Farrugia was that the MGA review gave Tumas a bad reputation. In an effort to assuage the ex-casino and property kingpin, the MGA exec promised, according to Malta Today, to delay the release of the compliance report.

AML inspection was going to hit Casino Malta

Farrugia also tipped Fenech off that an MGA AML inspection was going to hit Casino Malta, which is owned by Eden Leisure Group, a rival to the murder suspect’s corporate group.

On Tuesday, however, Judge Camilleri tossed the appeal, ruling that the court of first instance’s conclusions in May were justified.

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Singapore Allowing Cashless Gambling at Casinos Except for Cryptocurrencies

Singapore lawmakers have changed the nation’s Casino Control Act to allow cashless gaming at the two casinos in the city. The only exception is that cryptocurrencies are not permitted due to the possible money laundering risk, so people will have to stick with virtual credit cards and e-wallets.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development announced the decision on Tuesday, which eliminates the need for gamblers to exchange physical cash for playing chips.

change will strengthen security, create more efficiency

Lawmakers believe this move will strengthen security, create more efficiency by reducing the amount of cash casinos handle, as well as incentivize younger people who don’t use physical cash in their daily lives.

The changes won’t take effect straight away as Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands need to upgrade their systems to allow cashless gaming.

Other amendments also came into place on Tuesday relating to the region’s casinos. The two properties can now share the data of patrons without their consent if it’s to combat terrorism financing or money laundering. Operators will also have the ability to offer mobile gaming on their premises if they get approval from the Gambling Regulatory Authority.

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Nevada Residents Flee From Davis Wildfire, Many Find Housing at Casino Hotels

A wildfire south of Reno, Nev., forced an estimated 14K residents to evacuate their homes over the weekend. Some have found temporary shelter in nearby resort casinos.

Smoke from the Davis Fire, pictured above. The wildfire is located south of Reno, Nev. (Image: InciWeb)

Several properties are offering those impacted by the wildfire discounted rates. The Row in Reno is charging evacuees $59 a night and waiving its resort fees.

J Resort and Grand Sierra Resort are also offering discounts to evacuees. In addition, the Nugget Casino Resort, in Sparks, is charging $100 a night with the special code EVAC24.

Fire Began in Davis Creek Park

Called the Davis Fire, the wildfire started at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Davis Creek Regional Park. Flames scorched much of the park and damaged park buildings.

Driven by continuing winds, the fire spread northeast in Washoe Valley and now involves approximately 4,703 acres. None of it was contained as of Monday with some 600 firefighting personnel in the area.

At least 14 buildings were damaged by the wildfire and there was a “moderate” amount of smoke in the Reno-Sparks region, officials added. The threat of fire also led to the temporary closing of the Sky Tavern Lodge and Mount Rose Ski Tahoe ski resorts.

Also, as of Monday, local schools were shuttered while Mt. Rose Highway and Old US Highway 395 between East Lake Boulevard and Bowers Mansion Interchange, were closed.

NV Energy reported that some 17K customers in the region lost power. As of Monday night, that number was lowered to 3,100 customers, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Due to the wildfire, the air quality in northern Washoe Valley, south Reno, and Virginia City was listed as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Children, the elderly, and those with chronic ailments are particularly at risk.

Washoe County and the Red Cross of Nevada opened an evacuation center with food and shelter at Washoe County Senior Services, 1155 East 9th St., in Reno. Small animals can be taken to the shelter while larger animals and livestock can be taken to the UNR Equestrian Center at 1290 Valley Road in Reno. The Silver Saddle Ranch in Carson City is accepting animals, too.

Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the wildfire.

State, Federal Responses

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), issued a state of emergency in response to the fire.

I implore all residents to follow the directions of local authorities assisting in the evacuations. Our firefighters and emergency management teams are fully engaged and working tirelessly to mitigate this threat and prevent further losses,” Lombardo said in a statement.

“We are praying for the thousands of Americans under mandatory evacuation orders out West,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday in reference to the wildfires in Nevada and elsewhere. “We urge everyone … in the affected areas to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate.”

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Arkansas Casino Referendum Likely to Remain Following Special Master’s Report

The odds of the Arkansas casino referendum remaining on the November 5 ballot shortened this week after a special master assigned to review litigation challenging the campaign’s canvassing procedures found little evidence of wrongdoing.

Arkansas casino referendum Pope County — The Arkansas Supreme Court will soon decide if a casino referendum goes before voters during the 2024 election. A campaign is seeking to rescind a casino license issued for Pope County. (Image: *CBS11*)

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is trying to stop the referendum that would ask Arkansans to amend the state constitution to only allow the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC) to grant commercial casino licenses to counties that want them.

In 2018, Arkansas voters passed a statewide referendum to allow casinos in Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope counties. However, Pope County was one of only 11 counties among the 75 in the state that voted against the gaming question.

The Choctaw Nation is behind the Local Voters in Charge committee that submitted more than 160K signatures from registered voters to push the casino repeal to the 2024 ballot. The Choctaws are seeking to protect their tribal casinos in neighboring Oklahoma.

Special Report Finds Few Discrepancies

In June, the Cherokee Nation, doing business as Cherokee Nation Entertainment in Arkansas, was deemed the winner for the gaming license earmarked for Pope County. The tribe plans to build a $300 million destination called Legends Resort & Casino in Russellville.

Last month, Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston said Local Voters in Charge had met the 2024 referendum requirements and the casino question would go before voters. Thurston’s office validated more than 116K of the 160K signatures submitted.

The Cherokees consequently filed a lawsuit with the Arkansas Supreme Court.

The Cherokees argued that the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee, which the tribe created and funds, found numerous errors in how Local Voters in Charge went about collecting signatures. The lawsuit includes claims that canvassers were paid based on the number of signatures collected, canvassers and canvassing captains weren’t properly certified, and residential addresses for several canvassers were incorrect.

Since time is critical, as Election Day is only 55 days away and early voting in Arkansas begins two weeks before November 5, the state Supreme Court agreed to expedite its review of the Cherokee lawsuit. The high court appointed Randy Wright, a judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court, to serve as a special master on the case.

On Monday, Wright released his “Master’s Report and Findings of Fact” that seemingly improved the odds of the Local Voters in Charge question remaining on the ballot.

Report Findings

Wright said the canvassing claims made by the Arkansas Canvassing Compliance Committee had little to no merit. The judge said there was no evidence that canvassers were compensated based on the number of signatures they collected.

The Petitioners … did not offer proof that Local Voters in Charge or its agents actually paid a canvasser based on the signatures he or she obtained,” Wright wrote.

However, Wright did say that signatures collected from nine canvassers should be disqualified because those agents provided incomplete or incorrect addresses when registering.

The number of signatures to be disqualified totaled 5,966. That still leaves the number of total valid signatures at 110,234 — far more than the 90,704 needed.

Additional briefs from each side are expected in response to Wright’s report in the coming weeks. The Arkansas Supreme Court will likely render its decision in mid-October.

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MGM Is Full Steam Ahead With Japan Casino After Eliminating Early Exit Clause

MGM Resorts International is now fully committed to developing Japan’s first casino resort after eliminating the exit clause that would allow it back out of the project without paying a penalty. It got the all-clear in April 2023 for a license to build the property in Osaka alongside its main partner, the Orix Corporation.

The exit clause was a get-out-of-jail-free card for the Las Vegas-based casino company, allowing it to terminate its agreement under certain conditions, such as tourism in the region not getting back to pre-pandemic levels, financing terms not making sense, or any unforeseen issues with the site.

MGM reportedly wants to show good faith by voluntarily eliminating the option

While the clause was valid until September 2026, MGM reportedly wants to show good faith by voluntarily eliminating the option. Some construction companies had expressed concerns about entering contracts for the work due to possible uncertainty.

Work on the new development began in December, and the current planned opening date is fall 2030. Initial tasks include fortifying the artificial island on which the casino will lie to make sure it is fully fortified, as well as laying power lines and setting up fences.

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Wynn Resorts Forfeiting Record $130m to DOJ Over Unlicensed Money Transmitting

Bringing the matter to a close

Wynn Resorts has agreed to forfeit $130m to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a “non-prosecution agreement” regarding a decade-long case relating to unlicensed global money transmitting.

Justice Department didn’t pursue criminal charges in the case

The company noted on Friday that this is not a fine and the money will come through the funds related to the payments in question. The Justice Department didn’t pursue criminal charges in the case, which dates back to 2014. Mitigating factors included the casino company’s cooperation in the case and the historical element of the payments.

Wynn Resorts also rolled out extensive improvements to its compliance systems to ensure something similar doesn’t happen again.

No meager sum

It is the largest payment that a casino company in Nevada has made to the DOJ, significantly surpassing the $47.4m settlement from Las Vegas Sands in 2013 in a money laundering case.

The main issue related to the Wynn Las Vegas property, with investigators discovering disguised transactions at the property involving former agents, employees, and some patrons. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Wynn Resorts said that the actions of the individuals under scrutiny “date back many years and violated Wynn’s compliance policies and procedures.”

The payment transmission process at Wynn’s customers avoided US and overseas laws relating to money transfers and the reporting of transactions.

Talking about the case, US Attorney Tara McGrath said: “Casinos, like all businesses, will be held to account when they allow customers to evade U.S. laws for the sake of profit.”

Another settlement

In the same SEC filing, Wynn Resorts also revealed that it settled a shareholder class action lawsuit concerning the expenses of key management figures surrounding the sexual misconduct allegations against the company’s founder and former CEO Steve Wynn. The mogul stood down from his role and sold his stock when the allegations came to light.

The company did not reveal the size of this settlement, just saying that all claims against the former and current executives and directors are now concluded.

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MGM Resorts Doubles Down on Japan Commitment, Strikes Termination Clause

MGM Resorts International has reaffirmed its commitment to Japan by striking a clause that would have allowed the Las Vegas-based gaming operator to jump ship on its multibillion-dollar undertaking in Osaka.

MGM Resorts Osaka casino Japan — An aerial view of Yumeshima Island in Japan’s Osaka shows the construction of the 2025 Expo Grand Ring underway. The facility will serve as the primary site for the World Expo. The vacant space just to the right of the Grand Ring is where MGM Resorts is planning to build an integrated resort casino. (Image: *NZZ*)

In September 2021, the Osaka Prefecture selected MGM as its casino resort development partner. After years of planning and the obtaining of necessary approvals, MGM and its local consortium were issued Japan’s first casino license in April 2023.

MGM and Japanese financial services conglomerate Orix Corporation are equal 42.5% partners in MGM Osaka, a sprawling integrated resort complex on the artificial man-made island of Yumeshima. The remaining 15% equity stake is comprised of several Japanese companies, including Panasonic, Kansai Electric, and West Japan Railway.

When MGM Resorts signed its development agreement with the Osaka prefecture and city governments, a condition was included to allow the company to back out of the deal under certain terms. MGM has reportedly canned the clause to signal its ongoing commitment to completing the more than $8 billion project.

Exit Terms

The Osaka casino development agreement with MGM Resorts allowed the Bellagio operator to withdraw from the project if tourism failed to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels, if financing was unable to be secured at fair terms, or if unexpected issues with the construction site on Yumeshima Island arose.

Japanese media outlet Nikkei reports that MGM recently amended the partnership to remove the exit clause. Construction companies reportedly expressed concerns about signing contracts amid the possibility that MGM could depart the venture.

With MGM fully on board, construction is expected to be expedited. Work began on the JPY1.27 trillion (US$8.9 billion) scheme in December 2023.

MGM Osaka is slated to be a six-year construction endeavor. The integrated resort blueprint includes 2,500 hotel rooms across three distinct brands, 730K square feet of convention and meeting space, dozens of restaurants and bars, a theatre, and a shopping mall.

MGM hasn’t specified the scope of the casino, but the gaming floor is limited to 3% of the property’s overall indoor floor space under Japan’s 2018 gaming law.

Solid Foundation

With MGM Resorts securing its Osaka plan, an unwavering pledge that originated nearly a decade ago, laborers are focused on strengthening the island worksite. Since December, workers have been drilling holes where steel beams will extend some 230 feet deep to reach bedrock.

Yumeshima Island was a former landfill that became a land reclamation project in the early 1990s. Yumeshima is to play an integral role in Osaka’s hosting of the 2025 World Expo.

MGM had hoped to have its Osaka casino resort up and running in time for Expo 2025, which begins next April and runs through mid-October. The theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives, is billed as a showcase laboratory for a future society.

Yumeshima is targeted to become a “smart resort city” by the city government that serves Osaka as a “global tourism hub.” The long-term development plan includes zones for business, tourism, and logistics, plus green space.

MGM told Asian gaming media outlet GGRAsia over the weekend that it continues to target a mid-2030 opening for MGM Osaka.

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Fantasy Football World Championships Kick Off at Circa Casino

FFWC starts Circa deal

The Fantasy Football World Championships (FFWC) got started for the first week of the NFL season at their new home of Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

thousands of players from across the US descended on the casino to draft teams

The FFWC has moved from venue to venue for over 20 years, but signed a five-year contract to be hosted at Circa. Thousands of players from across the US descended on the casino to draft teams for multiple leagues, with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $10,000.

The players will compete for the illustrious title of Fantasy Football World Champion, which awards the winner $150,000 as well as a championship belt.

Fantasy football front of house

The FFWC has typically been given a backseat to other events at the casino, but since the move to Circa, the game is no longer taking place on the sidelines.

“Being partnered here at Circa helps elevate that experience and puts us in the middle of the casino,” said Ian Ritchie, owner of Circa FullTime Fantasy Sports. “What that’s done for fantasy and live events is it’s helped it absolutely explode.”

they bend over backward to make our players feel comfortable”

“Our experience at Circa couldn’t be more different than any other property we’ve dealt with doing these contests,” Ritchie said. “They bend over backwards to make our players feel comfortable and treat everybody special to give them a Las Vegas experience.”

Players are given drinks and food while they conduct their drafts, with casino staff putting up picks on a physical draft board.

Multiple celebrities have appeared at the FFWC, including former MLB star Jayson Werth and NASCAR driver Austin Dillon.

Circa breaks records

Players can also reserve their seating at the sportsbook or at Stadium Swim, a six-pool complex with private cabanas, bars, and giant screens showing all of the day’s biggest games.

“The past two weekends, in particular, there have been almost every moment of the day there’s been somebody drafting out at Stadium Swim,” said Aaron Oster, Circa Media Relations and Marketing Manager. “It’s a very popular thing and a lot of people are enjoying it.”

Meanwhile, Circa’s own NFL handicapping competitions, Circa Millions and Survivor, shattered records, attracting a combined $20.6m in entries, exceeding their total $16m guarantee by over 25%.

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High Roller Ordered to Pay AU$38m Gambling Debts After Blank Check Bounced

High roller ordered to pay up

A Singaporean high-roller has been ordered to repay more than AU$38m ($25.28m) in gambling debts after losing a court case on Monday.

Billionaire Dr Yew Choy Wong racked up the debts to The Star Entertainment QLD Limited in 2018 during a trip to the Broadbeach Island casino on the Gold Coast.

lost over AU$47.3m ($31.5m) during the week-long stay to play a baccarat tournament

Wong lost over AU$47.3m ($31.5m) during the week-long stay to play a baccarat tournament, which was reduced to AU$43.2m ($28.7m) including rebates and allowances.

Blank check issued to casino

The Star informed the court that they had made AU$40m ($26.6m) of credit available to Wong, via a blank check that was issued to the Star Sydney in 2017.

However, after leaving the casino, Wong canceled the check and instructed his bank to not honor the agreement. When the Star attempted to cash the check at the National Australia Bank in Bundall on the Gold Coast, it bounced.

Wong denied giving the casino permission to use the blank check

The Star issued written demands for repayment on October 16 and December 21, 2018. Wong denied giving the casino permission to use the blank check, and argued that mistakes made by baccarat dealers meant that he was not obliged to honor the debt.

The Star admitted that they had been at fault over three incidents, with Chief Operating Officer Paul Arbuckle issuing a written apology to Wong on August 1, but this had no bearing on the money owed.

The Star had attempted to take Wong to court in Singapore in 2019, but failed due to the Singapore Civil Law Act, which prevents the Singaporean government from assisting foreign companies attempting to recover gambling debts incurred overseas.

In response, the Star took the case to the Queensland Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the casino, with Justice Melanie Hindman stating: “The Star GC has made out its claim for recovery of the CCF [cheque cashing facility] monies as loans, and Dr Wong has not made out any pleaded defence to that claim.”

Welcome reprieve for Star

The verdict comes as a rare piece of good news for The Star, which has faced serious problems in recent years.

Star Sydney had its license suspended and received a record AU$100m ($66.6m) fine after an inquiry in October 2022, while a second enquiry last month found the company unfit to reobtain its license.

On September 2, Star was suspended from trading after failing to reveal its accounts for the year. The company faced serious cashflow issues, with new CEO Steve McCann attempting to secure tax reprieves from local authorities in an effort to buy time for the floundering business.

Before trading was stopped, the company was trading at AU$0.45 ($0.30) a share, a 50% drop over the previous year.

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New York State Casino Evacuated Temporarily After Chemical Smell

Guests and employees were forced to leave Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel located on New York’s Long Island after a chemical-like odor there on Friday.

The evacuation began at 1 p.m. Officials found nothing suspicious at the property and was allowed back into the Islandia, NY gaming property at about 2:45 p.m.

Three employees were checked out at a local hospital as a precautionary measure, according to Newsday.

The three employees had taken part in what was described as a “welfare check” of a hotel room when they noticed the strange smell.

Emergency crews were alerted and searched the property. Responding units included Suffolk County police officers, firefighters, and EMS staff.

Nothing hazardous was located, according to News 12 Long Island and there’s no word on what caused the suspicious odor.

Out of an abundance of caution, the hotel and casino were evacuated by local law enforcement,” Michael Bonakdar, general manager of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel, said in a statement.

“After a brief evacuation, it was determined that there was no threat to the public, and all patrons were able to re-enter the casino.”

Dizzy Feeling

One guest, Matthew Morano, 49, of Fire Island, NY told Newsday, he had felt a little dizzy. An EMT crew examined him.

They just wanted to check me out,” Morano said. “They offered me to go to the hospital, but I don’t need to take up a spot. I’m OK.”

At about noon, he had checked out of his seventh-floor hotel room.

He remained in the lobby until 1:30 p.m.

“All the sudden, medics started coming in with stretchers,” Morano recalled. “There was a big scene around here.”

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