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Former Mohegan Sun Pocono Exec Sentenced to 32 Months for Bogus Loyalty Card Scheme

16. März 2020 | Kieu Bui

Former Mohegan Sun Pocono Exec Sentenced to 32 Months for Bogus Loyalty Card Scheme

A former executive at the Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has been sentenced to 32 months for his role in a scheme that involved the casino’s slots and creating bogus loyalty benefits.

Casino fraudster Robert Pellegrini (seen here in December after pleading responsible) will be dealing in dapper matches for inmate orange during a prison sentence that is 32-month. He will also have to pay near 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 employers by utilizing customers‘ stolen loyalty card PIN numbers to play for free, enabling the gang to keep the winnings. The operation ran from May 2014 to 2015, before Pellegrini was busted april.

It ended up being the role of Rochelle Poszeluznyj, a cocktail waitress, to notice down players‘ loyalty card PIN numbers onto Pellegrini, who would create copies of the cards which he then loaded with free slot money as she served them drinks, before passing them. Then it was Mark Joseph Heltzel, a customer who 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 generate $418,793 in illicit winnings.

Problem Gambler

‚I’m a problematic man,‘ Pellegrini, who claims to become a issue gambler, told the judge. ‚I’ve made mistakes in my entire life, this being the greatest,‘ he said. ‚I didn’t take to cover my bills. It was to support my gambling.‘

When asked how a gambler that is compulsive hold down a high-profile job at a casino, Pellegrini replied: ‚in which do you consider casino employees go on the days off? They head to other casinos.‘

The scheme was uncovered when a dealer at the Mohegan Sun Pocono, who had been 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 that he’d maybe not stolen for greed, noting that although the scam was ongoing, he had hundreds of 1000s of dollars into the bank, in addition to a quantity of assets. She said phone records recommended he had been the ringleader of the scheme and because he had ‚bills to spend. that he regularly told their accomplices to ‚get busy“

Nevertheless, Senior US District Judge the Richard Caputo departed from sentencing directions after hearing impassioned pleas from his household and character testimonies suggesting he was of otherwise character that is good.

Pellegrini must also pay $478,350 in restitution to their former company. He could have obtained because much as 20 years in prison.

Poszeluzny and Heltzel have actually both pleaded responsible 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, utilizing the understanding that he’d surrender any firearms and pay just 10 percent of the bond to walk free until their 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 giants DraftKings and FanDuel, contending the transaction would create an illegal monopoly that controls 90 percent for the DFS market.

FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles (left) and DraftKings CEO Jason Robins (right) argued that the merger was in 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 most useful interest of our players, our organizations, our employees plus the dream sports industry,‘ stated DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles in a joint statement. ‚ We are considering all our options at this right time.‘

Antitrust-Worthy

The FTC claims the deal as it was taking shape would violate Section 7 regarding 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 illegal to take part in ‚unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.‘

Finally, the FTC refused to swallow DrafKings‘ and FanDuel’s core argument that daily fantasy sports comprised just a small segment associated with much wider fantasy sports market, dominated by the season-long variety.

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 great things about 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, would be likely to deliver meaningful competition, as the two organizations hold a combined 90 percent market share that is estimated.

Love-Hate Relationship

DraftKings and FanDuel announced their intentions to merge final November, following months of speculation. As competitors, they spent an estimated $750 million wanting 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 in fact the two businesses think together they could wage the fight that is strongest.

Tough Fold: Legal Online Poker Off the Table in New York for 2017

The State Assembly in New York will never be moving a bill to legalize poker that is online the chamber adjourns this Wednesday, June 21. That is according to the NY day-to-day News, which talked to Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester), the prime sponsor of legislation that would’ve made the fourth most populous state the fourth state to offer the online game.

The web poker dream team in New York, State Sen. John Bonacic (left) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow state they will continue their push for legal internet poker in 2018. (Images: State of New York)

Assembly Bill 5250 desired 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 last week of legislative session, telling proponents to withhold their enthusiasm. ‚There was some opposition,‘ Pretlow said. ‚We’ll pick it up year that is next than likely.‘

Better Luck Upcoming 12 Months

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading lobbying group for internet poker in Washington, DC, explained that the 2017 campaign in New York should give players plenty to cheer about.

‚This 12 months the bill not only easily passed the Senate, also for the very first time ever an iPoker bill passed an Assembly committee. This is progress,‘ the PPA said in a media that are social.

Pretlow is at the forefront of trying to end internet poker prohibition within the Empire State. The Democrat first introduced this issue into his chamber back in 2014, and throughout the last three years, he’s remain committed to advancing the conversation.

State Sen. John Bonacic County that is(R-Orange led the fight in the New York Senate, with more success.

Their companion bill earlier this month stumbled on a full vote on the Senate floor and easily passed, 53-9. But once delivered to the construction to be merged with Pretlow’s bill, it stalled in the Standing Committee on Codes.

A key hurdle was exactly how to handle ‚bad actors,‘ such as PokerStars, a significant supporter of this bill, whom accepted electronic payments from brand New York customers even after the Unlawful Web Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibited it.

Another roadblock for 2018 is conventional knowledge that has found bills linked to gambling tending never to go during election years.

Population Control

On line poker in the US has mainly been a bust since 2011. Which was the Department of Justice issued an impression that the longstanding Wire Act, which banned most types of gambling through the transmission of phone lines, applied only to sports betting.

That meant that individual states were absolve to license and control gaming that is online except sports betting. Though the DOJ under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has toyed with the idea of re-evaluating the 2011 opinion, up to now efforts to restore the wire work with specific prohibitions on all forms of on the web gambling have fallen flat.

But still, just three states have actually legalized some forms of on the web gambling, as well as the fairly little populations of Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware haven’t quite allowed the poker to fully realize its online potential.

Nyc, but, stood to dramatically shake up the online poker landscape, with nearly 20 million residents that may potentially more than double the size for the overall American player pool, while also encouraging other states to maneuver forward with legislation of these own.

Pennsylvania, the fifth most state that is populous immediately behind brand New York, is the next market to watch. The Keystone State happens to be considering a thorough expansion of gambling and regulatory overhaul, and there legalizing internet poker is a possibility still up for grabs.

Florida Seminole Tribe’s Bond Credit Rating Upgraded by Moody’s, Fitch

The Seminoles of Florida are going to save yourself a bundle in the months that are coming after bond and credit rating services Moody’s and Fitch both upgraded the tribe’s bank debt and bond credit ratings.

The Seminole Tribe’s seven casinos in Florida, handled by video gaming professional Jim Allen, can borrow money at reduced interest levels, after Moody’s and Fitch upgraded the American that is native group 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 are still described as ’non-investment grade‘ speculations.

However, it inches the Tribe’s financial obligation and bonds nearer to investment-grade securities, and even the littlest bump within the Moody’s rating ladder represents huge savings in terms of interest compensated to lenders.

‚The ranks 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 conserve millions of dollars by helping to keep costs that are borrowing.‘

Bullish on Gaming

Even though the Moody’s news was cheery, things are looking even brighter for the Seminoles at Fitch. The ranks agency upped its categorization for the Tribe’s 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 difference is predicated on a favorable gambling environment in the Sunshine State, and the Seminoles‘ ’steady, positive operating 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 ratings … helps Seminole Gaming to continue as you of the world’s many profitable gaming enterprises,‘ Allen added.

Both ratings agencies also credited the tribe’s ongoing commitment to pay 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 new arrangement, utilizing the House seeking to keep gambling in its current status, as the Senate online casino real money free bonus sought to grow gaming and place slots at dog and horse racetracks in eight counties.

The top chamber also wanted to allow the Seminoles to provide craps and roulette, in exchange a commercial casino resort become built in either Broward or Miami-Dade Counties. Moody’s and Fitch thinks the tribe’s continuing to spend gaming revenue could play into its favor during upcoming negotiations that are compact.

Bonds Explained

A bond is a debt investment issued by businesses to investors who lend the entities money. They’re different from shares, in that the lender isn’t acquiring ownership in the borrower’s business.

The issuing of bonds takes place whenever a ongoing business needs to boost money. Bonds are often seen as fixed-income securities, while the companies issuing them agree to spend either a variable or interest that is fixed to loan providers.

The interest rate is dependent upon how long the financing duration is, the true number of yearly payments to your lender, and most importantly, the credit quality of the bonds, particularly, the danger linked to the loan.

Moody’s and Fitch reducing the long-term risk for the Seminole Tribe’s bonds means rates of interest will slightly diminish, 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

The United States Supreme Court has sided with the Slants, an Asian-American rock band that was denied a trademark by the US Patent and Trademark Office on the grounds that the name was disparaging to persons of Asian descent in a major ruling that reverses a longstanding statute.

The Washington Redskins trademark wasn’t renewed in 2015 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but the Supreme Court says the law is on the NFL group’s part. (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 speech that will lead to political or social ‚volatility,‘ free speech would be jeopardized.‘

Three years ago, online recreations books had the odds of Washington being forced to replace the group’s name at around Yes (+300), No (-500). As is normally the case, the bookmakers got it right.

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 groups said they found the group name become disparaging.

In 2014, 50 US Senators, 48 Democrats, and two Independents, finalized a letter delivered to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking the league to force the Redskins to rebrand. The document requested the league’s ownership deliver the message ‚that racism and bigotry don’t have any accepted place in expert sports.‘

What’s in a Name?

Should the Supreme Court have seen the full case in another light, the fallout could have been far-reaching. In American activities, there is a host of potentially team that is controversial.

In Major League Baseball, there is the Indians and Braves, and some have nagging issue with the Yankees designation. In the NBA, there’s the Boston Celtics, characterized by an overweight, pipe smoking Leprechaun. There’s the NFL Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, as well as in university activities, the Spartans, Trojans, Scots, and Irish are among possibly ’negative‘ names in NCAA athletic programs.

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 not until 2020. The Oakland franchise was initially likely to be named the Señors, but was changed to the Raiders in 1960. Can some guy in a football helmut with an optical eye area and swords on either side of their head be looked at offensive? The Las Vegas Golden Knights are coming to relax and play within the NHL this fall. Are knights an indicator of white privilege? Classist elitism? Imperialist conquering? The Crusades?

It’s all in just how it is seen by you, therefore the High Court says it is also all in the bounds of free message.

Talk Freely

The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) had denied the Slants‘ application by citing the Lanham Act. The 1946 federal statute requires trademark requests to don’t be disparaging in nature, and to avoid falsely suggesting a ‚connection with persons, living or dead, organizations, beliefs, or nationwide symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.‘

The PTO attempted to make the argument that trademarks are federal government speech, as they’re being qualified by the agency that is federal. Justice Alito rejected that reasoning, saying, ‚It offends a bedrock First Amendment principle: Speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend.‘

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