Federal Court Rules Against Caesars in Lawsuit Against Massachusetts Gaming Commission

A Circuit Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Caesars against Massachusetts Gaming Commission chairman Stephen Crosby.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation has suffered a courtroom loss inside their lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that claimed the board was indeed biased in favor of Wynn Resorts in the battle over the Greater Boston casino license.
In a decision reached last Friday, the First Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Caesars’ lawsuit against two Massachusetts officials which was predicated on allegations that they were biased against Caesars throughout the process.
The lawsuit had been targeted against state gaming payment chairman Stephen Crosby and Karen Wells, the manager of the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau.
A Federal District Court had already reached the decision that is same dismiss the lawsuits final May.
Caesars Hoped to Build Casino at Suffolk Downs
Caesars had been the combined group initially behind an agenda to build a casino together with the Suffolk Downs racetrack in Boston. However, the business withdrew from the competition following the video gaming commission released a report that is investigative found Caesars to be an unsuitable operator for the casino.
In particular, the report raised questioned about Mitch Garber’s suitability to receive a license, since he had previously been the CEO of two online gambling companies that had to reach agreements with the US Attorney’s Office in nyc to avoid prosecution.
Ultimately, that casino task had been rejected by East Boston voters, and was replaced by the alternate plan in which Suffolk Downs would mate with Mohegan Sun to build only on the Revere side of the track’s property. That ended up being approved by Revere voters, however a Wynn Resorts proposal in Everett was awarded the only area casino license.
Caesars argued that Crosby had urged Wynn Resorts to remain within the race for the permit whenever company was considering dropping out due to issues with the process. The business also claimed they did not need enough time to appeal the payment’s ruling, depriving it of a home interest.
Bidding for License Didn’t Create Property Rights
In the many ruling that is recent Judge David H. Souter discovered that the state commission was charged with making ‘highly discretionary’ decisions, and therefore Caesars’ equal security claim could be dismissed, and that just bidding for a general public contract would not produce a property right. The ruling cited A supreme that is similar judicial ruling as precedent for that finding.
‘The issue…is whether Massachusetts law would recognize in the request for action by the commission a supply of expectable value sufficiently reliable to be protected as property,’ wrote Souter. ‘The licensing situations point to an answer that is negative and the casino licensing legislation does equivalent with unmistakable emphasis.’
Without any protected property interest for Caesars, the court dismissed Caesars’ claims that their legal rights to procedural and substantive due process had been violated.
By way of a spokesperson, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said it was pleased with the decision to dismiss the case.
‘Chairman Crosby and director Wells, along side the commission appreciate the court’s careful consideration of the issues raised by the events therefore the court’s recognition of the broad discernment granted to your commission by the Legislature,’ said payment spokesperson Elaine Driscoll. ‘The Commission looks forward to continuing to guard the interests of this Commonwealth and its citizens as expanded gaming is introduced to the Commonwealth.’
The ruling also needs to be welcomed by Wynn Resorts, as it removes a potential complication as they move to begin building their resort in Everett.
Michigan Lottery First Million-Dollar On The Web Scratch Card Winner
On line lottery scratch cards, which have sparked controversy for their similarity to slots games, are responsible for creating the initial lottery that is online in Michigan. (Image: www.lotto-game.com)
Michigan on the web lottery created its first millionaire this week, maybe not with a lottery that is traditional game, but a $20 online scratch card.
The state rolled out its online lottery sales quietly and without fanfare in November, and ever since then, despite limited marketing, over 100,000 customers have registered to play online, lottery officials have said.
And even though online lottery sales still only represent around 1 percent of all tickets bought in the state, Lottery Commissioner Scott M Bowen recently revealed that online product sales are raking in around $2 million a week.
It’s predicted that online sales will top $480m during the first eight years of operation in Michigan.
Controversy
The scratch card games themselves have actually provoked controversy because of the similarity to traditional gambling that is online such as slots; players must match up symbols in purchase to win prizes.
In Minnesota, where they were first debuted a year ago, outraged lawmakers passed a wide margin to prohibit online instant-play lottery games, along with the sales of tickets via fuel pumps or ATMs. But Governor Mark Dayton vetoed it at the last minute saying he thought that the Lottery had the authority to offer online ticket product sales without legislative approval.
‘The authorization for the Lottery stems straight through the folks of Minnesota,’ Dayton penned, adding later, ‘It appears to me that the Executive Director is operating within the range of his legislatively-established authority.’
Lottery officials argue that online scratch cards can be an important branding tool that enable them to promote tickets to a younger audience that are more prone to build relationships the Lottery through their mobile phones and pills.
Their detractors argue that they are accessed too easily and too soon and are worried that lotteries are stealthily expanding their casino-bonus-free-money.com scope beyond traditional draw games.
Privatization
Meanwhile, back in Michigan, two bills were introduced recently that seek to privatize hawaii Lottery, sparking fears for the jobs of 170 public sector workers. State Representative Earl Poleski stated his aim was to find down ‘if the lottery couldn’t earn more or have a better return for the college Aid Fund if it had some administration that had been a little little more innovative or did a better job of advertising than we can do ourselves.
‘he added, ‘we’ll never understand. if we don’t ask the question,”
Senator Wayne Schmidt, sponsor of the 2nd bill which was introduced last week, said: ‘There’s lots of good stuff that the state of Michigan and its employees do. Personally, I believe the lottery would be one of those that should be more in the private sector.’
Bills SB 75 and HB 4077 would require Commissioner Bowen to seek bids from private companies to manage the lottery, although he wouldn’t be obligated to simply accept any of these bids.
Riviera Hotel & Casino to Be Demolished in Favor of More Convention Space
The Riviera that is famed is latest Strip icon to fall victim to the changing times in Las Vegas. (Image: daynaroselli.com)
The Riviera Hotel and Casino’s storied history will end in demolition to make means for extra conference space.
The 60-year-old Strip symbol and its 26.4 acres will be sold to your Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) for $182.5 million to allow for a portion of the planned $2.3 billion worldwide Business District.
The transaction is scheduled to be approved by LVCVA board members at a unique meeting on Friday.
Should the deal be accepted, the sale would shut immediately but the Riv casino would have six months to vacate the property.
Casino games would are provided during that time through a leaseback provision and gambling license arrangement that is special. Sometime in mid-August, the resort must certanly be empty, with demolition planned soon after.
Bu(SIN)ess City
The Riv was a star in several memorable Hollywood pictures from the original Ocean’s 11 to The Hangover. Being the high-rise that is first the strip, its scandalous owners like Meyer Lansky, and unrivaled list of performers including Liberace, Elvis, and Sinatra, the resort is synonymous with old Vegas.
Its planned demolition signals the final end of a period, plus the continuation of the town becoming the convention capital of the entire world. Every Howard Hughes, Rat Pack, and landmark that is mafia-associated Strip loses, Sin City also loses a little bit of its sex appeal. The Desert Inn, Sands, Sahara, Riviera; with each demolition, Vegas folds on what originally made it so appealing.
Needless to say, nostalgia does not always equal smart strategy that is economic. The Riviera is certainly financially troubled, filing for bankruptcy 3 x, most recently in 2010. The Las Vegas Convention Center has continued to see exponential growth and demand from trade shows, trade fairs, and conferences while the famed casino struggled to even come close to turning a profit.
Convention Impact on Gambling
The region tremendously benefits from being North America’s premiere convention destination. Based on the LVCVA, 5.2 million people attended 22,103 conferences in 2014, a 1.2 percent increase and its own biggest figures ever. The sum total Vegas tourism industry attracted 41 million visitors last year, supporting 376,000 jobs and impacting the neighborhood economy towards the tune of $45 billion.
However, a study by UNLV says there’s little evidence to recommend this large influx of businessmen and females boosts gambling income. While statistical evidence may be difficult to provide, greater hotel occupancy prices very nearly certainly increases a casino’s overall decide to try some degree. That verification might come by means of downtown gambling revenue’s 2.1 % rise in 2014, a reasonable correlation to record setting convention figures.
Because of the Convention Center acquiring the Riviera, meeting attendees will now have access that is direct the Strip. With currently significantly more than 10.9 million square feet of display and conference space and a planned 1.8 million sq ft expansion planned, 2015 is shaping up to be another record-setting year.
‘This is really likely to be news that is bad other convention markets,’ MGM Resorts Global Chairman Jim Murren said for the LVCVA and Riviera purchase. ‘I love this deal because it will generate a attractive corridor from the Strip to the Convention Center. It’s going to help bring individuals down to that final end of the Strip.’
