Connecticut Lawmakers Propose Adding Three New Casinos To State

Connect<span id="more-22840"></span>icut Lawmakers Propose Adding Three New Casinos To State

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are hoping Connecticut allows three smaller casinos become built at strategic locations throughout the state, getting a lot more of the.

Connecticut could be home to around three new casinos in the years to come, if a proposal that was made public by lawmakers on Tuesday is ultimately approved.

A handful of state legislators, along with all the leaders of both the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes (which run the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods resorts, respectively), introduced the proposition at a news conference in Hartford on Tuesday early morning.

The proposal has been presented as a way to protect jobs in Connecticut at a time when Massachusetts is gearing around build as much as three scale that is full and a slots parlor in various areas of that state.

Connecticut lawmakers and tribal video gaming officials worry that these facilities, in particular an MGM resort in Springfield, could cut deeply into traffic to the Connecticut gambling enterprises, which in turn would cause the state to lose significant tax revenues.

‘Massachusetts has declared war that is economic us, and we’re going to react,’ said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk).

Casinos Would Be Located Near Major Highways

The idea should be to set up to three smaller casinos near the three highways that are major tell you Connecticut. These casinos that are new act as satellite operations for both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, aided by the two tribes nevertheless attempting to provide promotions that would drive extra traffic to the larger existing facilities in southeastern Connecticut.

So far, most of the talk is in regards to the I-91 corridor north of Hartford, where a casino titanic mobile slot game could stop gamblers from travelling north to Springfield once the MGM resort is built there. However, there could additionally be interest in building somewhere along I-95 (which runs along southern Connecticut from nyc) and I-84 (which enters Connecticut that is western near and then runs northeast towards eastern Massachusetts).

In previous years, there are talks about placing gambling enterprises in locations including Danbury, which is near the brand New York border and would satisfy the I-84 location. Nevertheless, lawmakers are saying that they aren’t favoring any locations at this time, and would enable the market to choose where any of these casinos that are new be built.

New Places Could Stop Flow of Gamblers to Neighboring States

‘ We know that the 91 corridor is of interest to them now, but they’re also experiencing some stress through the New York area,’ said State Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford). ‘So, without focusing on a town that is specific we thought three ended up being appropriate.’

State Senator Catherine Osten (D-Sprague), who oversees the region that features both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, claims that having these casino locations could stop Connecticut residents from taking their gambling dollars to Massachusetts, New York, or Rhode Island, all of which have (or will soon have) casinos of their particular.

‘By having the satellite facilities within the Connecticut edge, it will stop people from crossing the Connecticut edges for a nights video gaming and will continue keeping them in connecticut,’ osten stated.

Public just isn’t Convinced That State Needs More Gaming

However the proposal will face significant hurdles, perhaps not the least of which will be public opinion. a poll that is new Wednesday by Quinnipiac University found that simply 20 percent of Connecticut voters help adding new gambling sites to the state. Even whenever specifically expected about a plan about allowing the two tribes to put casinos close to the Massachusetts and brand New York borders, only 36 percent supported such a plan, while 59 percent were opposed. Likewise, simply 23 percent of voters said they’d support a gaming establishment in their very own hometown.

San Jose Police And FBI Raid Vietnamese Cafes In Gambling Sting

San Jose police and FBI agents raided a few cafes into the city to seize gambling that is illegal. (Image: baycitizen.org)

San Jose was the website of an important unlawful gambling crackdown Tuesday night, as city authorities and FBI agents raided numerous Vietnamese cafes in order to seize unlawful gambling devices.

The crackdown, known as ‘Operation Omni,’ followed 18 months of investigations into physical violence, prostitution and gambling that is illegal these locations.

The raids arrived after search warrants were issued for 11 locations in East San Jose at around 6 pm Tuesday night.

The effect was the seizure greater than 100 machines from the cafes that are various bars that were raided. A large number of people had been also detained, though no arrests were made.

Several Machines at Each Location

According to authorities, each business had between three and ten machines, with each machine bringing in anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 an in revenue week. However, even though the devices were the target of the raids, it was really violence in and around these venues that caught the attention of law enforcement.

‘People are seriously injuring people in and round the establishments, and now we believe it is tied to your gaming,’ said Lt. Mike Sullivan, the commander of the San Jose authorities’s vice unit. ‘Everything from serious physical violence to people becoming addicted to gambling. It’s almost at epidemic amounts.’

After reviewing a true quantity of shootings and stabbings near the cafes in 2013, Vice Sgt. Todd Trayer and an FBI counterpart through the agency’s San Jose office recognized that there was a pattern connecting the locations where these instances of violence were place that is taking which generated the joint investigation that culminated in the raids.

Gambling Machines Were Connected To Violence

‘There was a huge uptick in physical violence related to these cafes and bars,’ Trayer stated. ‘And we noticed that certain of the connecting dots was that they had machines in them.’

The raids, which were conducted against venues such as for instance the Wave Café, the Got Hong Coffee House, and the Golden King Teahouse, left patrons and workers during the places stunned.

Vu Nguyen, a 40-year-old from San Jose, said he had been at the 168 Café when police stormed the building.

‘They rushed into the shop, they are yelling, pulling weapons on customers, tie-wrapping us,’ Nguyen said. ‘I’m playing pool with buddies, and I also turned around and have two shotguns pointed at me. What did I actually do wrong?’

In accordance with Nguyen, he had no proven fact that there is unlawful gambling in the store. Nevertheless, a waitress that is female the Xinh Xinh Café who asked not to ever be named did confirm to the San Jose Mercury Information that she knew her place of work had hosted movie gambling devices.

According to San Jose Police spokeswoman Sgt. Heather Randol, the illegal gambling ended up being not merely associated with a minumum of one homicide, but also ‘quality of life issues’ like prostitution and medications.

‘We desired to send an email that individuals don’t want this activity in San Jose,’ Randol said.

This wasn’t the time that is first San Jose authorities had worked to split down on unlawful gambling into the town. In November 2013, the San Jose Police Department partnered with the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency to break a gambling ring up that had been go out of a few coffee shops.

In that raid, there have been eight individuals arrested and indicted in federal court. In both that instance and this week’s raids, police suspect ties to crime that is organized.

Iconic Riviera Casino To Close Its Doors For The Final Time

The Riviera that is iconic previous owners have included Dean Martin, The Marx Brothers and the Chicago Outfit, it to close its doors after 60 years. (Image: topvegaspokerganes.com)

The iconic Riviera Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip will close might 4th, its administration announced this week, just two days after it celebrates its 60th anniversary.

‘The Riv,’ as it is affectionately known, is one of the oldest gambling enterprises in Vegas, the ninth become built on the Las Vegas Strip and the high-rise building that is first.

Its story took in sets from the Mob to the Marx Brothers; Joan Crawford hosted its night that is opening party April twentieth, 1955, while Liberace provided the activity.

However, if its glamor has faded in the last few years, it’s going to be snuffed out completely whenever the property is demolished to produce method for an expansion of the Las Vegas Center and Convention Authority’s (LVCCA) vegas Global Business District.

$275 Million in Debt

‘With no shortage of sadness, we can confirm that our doors will close at noon May 4, 2015,’ the casino said in a new launch.’

‘ We greatly appreciate the expressions of loyalty and fondness for ‘The Riv’ from our guests since ground first broke in 1954 and in recent times. More importantly we wish to acknowledge and applaud our associates who’ve worked to create memories that are enduring all of our guests. It’s this that are recalled long after the walls have come down. We look forward to making the coming weeks fun, exciting and unforgettable.’

The Riviera filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2010 for the time that is second its history, its holding company listing $275 million in debt. The casino had endured too little foot traffic in its part of the Strip because of the demolition of its neighbors, the Stardust, The New Frontier and also The Westward Ho.

The properties had been knocked down to make way for new constructions, all of which were stalled by the recession, which designed that Vegas’ overstimulated tourists stayed in livelier areas. The property had been acquired month that is last the LVCCA for $182.5 million and it is currently leased back to its operators Paragon Gaming.

1000 Jobs Lost

Paragon could be the latest in a lengthy type of operators, which has included Meyer Lansky plus the Chicago Outfit, while shareholders have actually included Dean Martin therefore the Marx that is aforementioned Brothers.

Meanwhile, Paragon has said that its main concern is finding work for the casino 1,000 staff. The company is working with a few agencies in Nevada to help in the transition, it said. ‘we have had a huge response of support from neighborhood and regional gaming companies interested in experienced and well-seasoned individuals,’ stated Paragon CEO Scott Menk. ‘We aspire to be effective in helping everybody connect.’

The new property, meanwhile, is expected to produce 6,000 construction jobs, along with 6,000 more projected permanent jobs on completion.