Terror Vision

The House member leading negotiations on expanded gambling legislation indicated Tuesday that hes inclined to oppose an attempt by senators to block lawmakers from working in the casino industry for a year after they leave office.

Its my sense that this matter is so important that we should not preclude the best and the brightest from being eligible even if those people would be in government presently, said Rep. Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee) told reporters at the State House.

I dont think we should say we want to bring an industry online that doesnt exist, make it the best it can be particularly compared with other states who are doing the same thing and then tie one or both hands behind our backs by limiting ourselves. Thats my personal view going in. How it plays out remains to be seen.

Gov. Pat Quinn offered a bit of a mixed message on gambling today.

In one breath, Quinn made his annual pitch for the Veterans Cash lottery game, encouraging people to buy the scratch-off tickets. In the next breath, Quinn warned that the state cannot gamble its way to prosperity.

Quinn appeared to be trying to draw the line between lottery games that raise money for specific causes and what he calls widespread casino gambling proposed by lawmakers.

TALLAHASSEE — A coalition of religious and anti-gambling groups said Tuesday they are launching an aggressive lobbying campaign to convince the Legislature to reject a plan to allow massive luxury casinos in two South Florida counties.

These predominantly religious groups join a growing list of opponents to identical bills (HB 487, SB 710) that permit Las Vegas-style destination resort casinos and establish a new state agency to regulate gambling.

Groups such as the Florida Baptist Convention, the Florida Catholic Conference, Florida Casino Watch and Florida Family Action say they oppose any measure to expand gambling because it victimizes poor people, tempts compulsive gamblers, sullies the states family-friend image and could harm businesses that rely on tourists.

We are working to make our message very clear to legislators that it is unconscionable to vote for a change that will negatively affect thousands of families in our state, said Mark Andrews, chairman of Florida Casino Watch.

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, a nonprofit group that operates the states hotline, said Tuesday it has received 18 percent more calls in the 2010-11 fiscal year. The council attributes this increase to the expansion of gambling options in Florida. The council reports that Florida is home to 500,000 people who have serious to severe gambling problems.

The groups said fighting the destination resorts proposal filed last week will be their number one priority this year. Their campaign includes an attempt to track lawmakers votes, shaming legislators that support the proposal by outing them online, and tracking which lawmakers accept money from casino groups.

The people of this state do not want to turn Florida into the next Las Vegas or Atlantic City, said John Stemberger, the president of the Florida Family Policy Council, which successfully pushed for a constitutional amendment through its lobbying arm, Florida Family Action, to block gay people from marrying in 2008.

The high-stakes competition for Bay State casino licenses has shifted to western Massachusetts even before the state has approved expanded gambling as experts say Suffolk Downs in East Boston and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe have locks on two of three licenses.

The mayors support for Suffolk Downs puts lots of wind in their sails and the legislations provision to allow the Mashpee Wampanoags to reach a compact with the state within a year will have a chilling effect on bids in Southeastern Massachusetts, said Eric Schippers, senior vice president at Penn National Gaming, the Pennsylvania company thats looking at sites in Springfield. That leaves Western Massachusetts.

Most of the competition is centered in Western Massachusetts now, agreed Clyde Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts.

MICHAEL CHOPRA has laid bare the full extent of his gambling problems that spiralled out of control while at Cardiff City.

In a candid interview, the former Bluebirds idol has revealed just how much his addiction impacted on his time in South Wales.

He admitted:

LOSING up to a staggering 2m on gambling over the course of his career

BLOWING 20,000 a day in betting sprees

PLUMMETING into debts of 700,000 at any one time as a result

LEAVING Cardiff in a 5m Sunderland deal in 2007 simply to pay off gambling debts he brought here from Newcastle

PLAYING while injured to collect appearance bonuses to ease his betting burden.

Chopra admitted: It feels like somebody tied a rope to me and was pulling me back for the last three years.

I have probably lost between 1.5m and 2m just by gambling.

The 27-year-old, who left City for a second time to join Ipswich this summer, has been associated for a while with having gambling problems. But he has never spoken in such detail before of the huge sums of money involved, let alone admitted to have played while injured just to get appearance money to ease his debts.

It is unclear which matches Chopra is talking about and the player himself does not specify any particular games.

But, having checked into the Sporting Chance rehabilitation clinic, Chopra reckons he has finally banished his demons and has come clean over how severely his habit affected his time at Cardiff. Chopra said: Your first bet is your worst bet. Even when I was 17 there were times when I couldnt control it then, gambling more than I was earning.

Even though I was on only about 90 a week, it was still too much for me.

As the years have come along and Ive earned a lot more money I started to gamble more.

I was gambling from about a grand to 20,000 a day at times, thats how bad it was getting. Id get up in the middle of the night and bet on Brazilian football, Argentinean football.

When asked how much of that 20,000 Chopra was losing, he said: Probably most of it.

As soon as Id step over the white line I would focus on football but as soon as I got back into the dressing room the first thing I would do was check my mobile phone to see if Id won.

It was taking me over and at times I wasnt in the right place (mentally) to be playing football. But as a gambler you want to be playing to get the appearance money. Sometimes I was playing through injury just to get my appearance money and cover a debt.

Image: Source

About to begin his third season with the Philadelphia Eagles, this time declared before the season as the teams starting quarterback, Michael Vick got a nice bonus in the form of a $100 million for six years contract, 40 million of them guaranteed. A long way since being released from Leavenworth two years ago. 

His new rode, towards redemption and also paying off his debts began as him being considered as the third string quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009. Since then, both Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb have been traded, and Vick is entering this season stronger than ever, but with plenty to lose as well.

The question that come from this contract Is Vick right up there with the best in the league Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and even Philip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger? Does getting this contract, becoming the first player in NFL history to sign two nine digit contracts in his career, satisfy him? It certainly helps him with his financial situation and paying off his debts. But does Vick want a Super Bowl ring with all his heart?

Nothing will make me happier than to put a ring on this guys finger right here next to me, and mine as well. Thats my focus. Thats what Im setting out to do. And thats what Ill rally this team to do. 

People will do a lot for money, especially in Vicks situation two years ago. He worked hard, probably harder than ever before, fighting in training to win his deserved place as the Eagles no. 1 quarterback. He said the right things along the way, and did the right things to win his place back in the media attention for the right reasons. No longer being the most hated athlete in America is also proof for how far hes come. Its also proof for the short memory of the public.

Philadelphia are going all in this season The contract to Vick, who might be the most exciting quarterback to watch in the league, a natural leader who won over the Eagles locker room pretty quickly, something McNabb wasnt able to do for a decade or so, is the latest in big moves made in Philly since the NFL lockout has been lifted. Anything short of a Super Bowl will be considered a failure, have no doubt about it.

So can a risk taking, love to rush and constantly taking and absorbing big hits quarterback the man Andy Reid should have went with in 2011? Problems with the offensive line, an area that wasnt as problematic last season, stood out throughout the pre season games. The Eagles are putting everything on this season, mostly on Michael Vicks ability to maybe fight against his instincts and personal style of play, which after eight season in the league, have only led his team to four playoff appearances in the post season.

Warren City prosecutors have filed misdemeanor charges on seven people as a result of gambling raids that took place in March.

We filed charges of operating a gambling house against the owners and or operators of three different establishments within the city of Warren based upon the results of a search warrant executed on March 25, said Warren City Prosecutor Traci Timko Mendenhall. The Trumbull County prosecutor was involved in the investigation in preparing the search warrants and in that phase. Once all the evidence came in and it was determined the criminal charges would be misdemeanors, it was referred ot our office.

A few of those charged were arraigned Wednesday afternoon and freed on bond. The others are expected to be in court sometime in the next few days.

Police raided three Internet Cafes on March 25: Lucky Charms, Lots-A-Loot and the Players Club. During the raid, equipment was seized from all three cafes and that equipment remains in the hands of the prosecutors.

Those charged as a result of the raids include: Ingo Schlaf, 54, Travis Bailey, 35, and Jennifer Bailey, 31, all of Newbury and all from Lucky Charms; Miracle Petrino, 40, of Boardman, and Mandi Bero, 33, of Poland, from Lots-A-Loot; and David Miner, 69, and Robert Dabish, 36, both of Warren and both from Players Club.

Warren City Law Director Greg Hicks said the equipment seized is considered instruments of a criminal enterprise and should be forfeited.

There are some Internet cafes operating in Mahoning County and other parts of the state. However, Hicks and Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said the cafes are illegal and will not be allowed to operate in Trumbull County.

There is no government regulations, and as a result, you could never win if that is how they wanted it to be. Or a few people would win here and there some pennies. I mean they are making gobs of money and that is why they want to do it and it is illegal, Hicks said.

Casino lobbyist Jerrod Massey, right, is released from the Montgomery County Jail on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011. US District Judge Myron Thompson said Wednesday that Massey meets the qualifications for release pending his sentencing. Massey pleaded guilty in December in Alabamas gambling corruption case. He volunteered to go to jail in January even though he hasnt been sentenced yet.
Photo: Montgomery Advertiser, Amanda Sowards
/ AP

And theyre off! Kentucky Downs is offering a new instant gaming option at their race track.

Executive Director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, Patrick Neely says, this new way of gambling will keep Kentucky on top.

Spicola is the Spenard pull-tab dealer who became famous
statewide in 2008 by launching high-stakes raffles – he paid one
winner a half-million bucks, and Spicolas lottery became even more
famous when news media reported the winner was on Alaskas sex
offender registry. It was a bizarre coincidence that Spicolas
charitable partner in the raffle was the nonprofit victims
advocacy group Standing Together Against Rape.

Spicola marketed his high stakes raffles as lotteries or
lotto games and claimed they were Alaskas first. His celebrity
turned to notoriety in January, when state prosecutors announced
felony charges against him. Spicola, the state claimed, had been
seeking kickbacks from two nonprofits he sold pull-tabs for under
Alaskas gaming laws. The prosecutors said money put down on
pull-tabs at Spicolas operation, Lucky Times Pull Tabs, was not
being shared correctly with the nonprofits that are permitted.

Spicolas seeming patience with the court last week should be no
surprise: It had been almost eight full months since his felony
gaming case was first made public. The state announced those
charges in a press release and by filing information documents in
court. There was no indictment by grand jury until last week, until
just hours after the arraignment on unemployment fraud. (Alaska
prosecutors are required to bring felony charges first to a grand
jury, which decides if there is enough evidence to proceed.)

White color crime is intensely paper-oriented, says Assistant
District Attorney Anne Preston, who is prosecuting Spicola. Preston
works in the states special prosecutors office, enforcing mostly
tax law cases investigated by the Department of Revenue. Spicola
was formerly an investigator in the Department of Revenue. (Preston
says she never worked with Spicola.)

The January court filings claim Spicola knew the gaming laws,
and became a for-profit pull-tab operator soon after leaving his
state job in 2007. He needed nonprofit gaming partners to work with
in order to make his business work. (Some call it charitable
gaming but in Alaska any nonprofit, whether its a snowmachine
race or soup kitchen, can get into gambling on equal footing-a
charitable mission is not required.) The court filings also claim
Spicola established a relationship with one nonprofit, Anchorage
Community Theater, before he left his state job. Spicola told ACT
board members hed like to play their pull-tab permit once he
launched his own private business, the court filings allege.

Pull-tabs, or rippies, are games composed of hundreds of cards
with perforated tabs that usually cost one or two dollars per card.
Players rip open the windows to see if their card is a winner. In
some cases a one-dollar wager can earn $200. State laws are written
with the intention to guarantee a nonprofit with a gaming permit
can earn money on the game, even if their for-profit partner is not
selling a game fast enough to recoup its expenses.

Spicola told the Press, back in January, that he is an
innocent man. He politely declined comment following his
arraignment last week. The community theaters bookkeeper Darcy
Bennett, who testified before the grand jury that indicted Spicola,
declined to talk about the case on Tuesday.

A nonprofit permit holder is meant to take 30 percent of
adjusted gross receipts. The adjusted gross is only meant to
subtract the prize money given out and some taxes. In the Lucky
Times case, Spicola is accused of spending money on expenses that
made it impossible for him to pay 30 percent of the properly
adjusted gross to ACT and one other non profit, a motorcycle safety
group called ABATE (Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and
Education).

Spicola created his high-stakes raffles to benefit STAR, the
nonprofit called Standing Together Against Rape. STAR was not
included in the January filings, but this weeks indictment
includes nine felonies, and one names STAR as a victim.

Spicolas hearing in front of judge Hanley was brief. He tried
to explain to the judge that the two cases were about to be
combined – turns out it was an accurate prediction-and he asked
about a bench warrant, issued because he missed a previous
arraignment on the new case.

I was about 45 minutes late, Spicola said, adding that he was
directed by a clerk to a different courtroom. So I went to B-2 and
hung out and no one ever came and got me…

Judge Hanley quashed the bench warrant.

Does that mean I get all my bail back? Spicola asked.

That bail is not yet forfeited, Hanley said, so whoever paid it
would be returned the money when the case is resolved.

Later that day Spicola would be indicted by a grand jury for the
rewritten white collar crime charges. The state now accuses him, in
one indictment, of bilking three nonprofits and of filing for
unemployment during ten workweeks for which he didnt qualify. The
prosecutor withdrew several charges for soliciting bribes from
nonprofits and failing to file proper paperwork with the Revenue
Department where he once worked. Spicolas trial is scheduled for
October 10, but the wheels of justice can turn slowly in cases so
intensely paper-oriented. Spicolas court file includes a
notation that says the defense received more than 1,000 pages of
discovery materials.

scott@anchoragepress

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