Chris Christie accused of blocking casino deal to help billionaire donor

Note I'm not a Christie hater, but it does not seem like he's taken a free market approach re AC, especially regarding the Revel, subsidizing an obvious white elephant concept with taxpayer$ funded improvements , & putting the final bullet in the head of AC's prospects for future private investment...

"A plan to bring one of the world's largest online gambling companies to Atlantic City has seemingly stalled, and some critics are pointing their fingers at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino mogul who is one of the GOP's most influential donors.
Adelson has a reputation as a man whose money can make or break a presidential campaign, and Christie is widely seen as a likely 2016 hopeful. Their relationship made headlines last week after revelations showed Adelson had lent the governor his plane...The company in question is PokerStars, which announced a partnership with Atlantic City's Resorts Casino Hotel in July 2013. PokerStars planned to open a $10 million poker room at the casino, but the company has been unable to obtain a gaming license in New Jersey. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a Democrat who sponsored the bill that legalized online gambling in the state, blamed the company's inability to get licensed on Christie."It's apparent that Christie has held back on PokerStars," Lesniak said.

As evidence that the process was derailed, Lesniak pointed to comments from the director of New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement and other officials indicating that they were ready to move forward with licensing.

"Christie put a stop to it," said Lesniak. "With a high degree of confidence it's apparent that's exactly what has happened."

http://www.businessinsider.in/Chris-Christie-accused-of-blocking-casino-deal-to-help-billionaire-donor/articleshow/46224148.cms

Quote: 7star4now

PokerStars planned to open a $10 million poker room at the casino, but the company has been unable to obtain a gaming license in New Jersey. State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a Democrat who sponsored the bill that legalized online gambling in the state, blamed the company's inability to get licensed on Christie."It's apparent that Christie has held back on PokerStars," Lesniak said.

Not sure I blame Christie alone here. A company that operated in violation of Federal Law, not matter how stupid the law, is going to have a tough time getting a license. A felon would not even get a lowly Dealer Work Card much less a Key Employee designation let alone an owner's license.

Quote: AZDuffman

Not sure I blame Christie alone here. A company that operated in violation of Federal Law, not matter how stupid the law, is going to have a tough time getting a license. A felon would not even get a lowly Dealer Work Card much less a Key Employee designation let alone an owner's license.

Fair point, but right now, I think AL Capone could get a Casino license in AC - if he prepaid property taxes

I'm not sold Christie is the reason but it cannot be completely discounted. Lesniak is a constant critic of him.

PokerStars has a lot of issues and licensing them in the U.S. is problematic, even with the sale to Amaya. For example, in NV, PokerStars is considered tainted and cannot operate by law. Proposals in all states that have yet to allow online poker have included this so called bad actor clause. Selling the asset didn't cleanse the software and player databases that were built with the rake paid by U.S. players.

Virtually every other U.S. gaming company is fighting PokerStars because they feel it is unfair that they should have to compete against a company that operated illegally in the U.S. while they sat on the sidelines.

The bigger problem with Christie is that he is taking gifts from Sheldon Adelson who is trying to buy politicians so he can ban online gambling altogether. His company (Las Vegas Sands) missed the online gaming boat. Their venture already failed. This would keep his competitors from profiting from it. There isn't much more repulsive than that. Ron Paul called it "Cronyism".

Quote: 7star4now

Fair point, but right now, I think AL Capone could get a Casino license in AC - if he prepaid property taxes

Too bad Rosenthal is dead. If anyone could make a go of it there he could.

New Jersey is tough on licensing down in AC, always has been. Remember, they forever forbade MGM from coming in mostly due to Stanly Ho, Pansy Ho's father and MGM would not get rid of her. They made Boyd buy out MGM in the land deal the Borgata sat on. I had a family member working for NJSP and he was a high ranking detective for 20 years plus, retired last year. He had his share of cases with CCC, AC and other joint agencies involving AC people. They don't play games and while the occasional slip up might happen, the CCC and related agencies pretty much was and is the toughest licensing agency in the country.

Quote: Baccaratfrom79

New Jersey is tough on licensing down in AC, always has been. Remember, they forever forbade MGM from coming in mostly due to Stanly Ho, Pansy Ho's father and MGM would not get rid of her. They made Boyd buy out MGM in the land deal the Borgata sat on. I had a family member working for NJSP and he was a high ranking detective for 20 years plus, retired last year. He had his share of cases with CCC, AC and other joint agencies involving AC people. They don't play games and while the occasional slip up might happen, the CCC and related agencies pretty much was and is the toughest licensing agency in the country.

Interesting questions:

Did the MGM ban benefit AC or hurt AC?

Who built Vegas, the hedge funds that brought on the bloodbaths of ch 11's- past decade - or the mob who took care of customers?

(not defending the Mob, but they did take care of customers & built something out of nothing in the middle of a desert)

Hey I am with you, I would love for Vegas to return to the days of Stardust, Desert Inn and the old Riv. I posted about that, I played at those in the 80's. All I heard on here was the new Vegas and the tourist and the clubs. It is what it is. BTW, my brother hated the problems I caused by parking at diners on Route 3, 22 and 46 in NJ to eat and meet people. Certain diners were always under surveillance and plates recorded. When they ran mine he would be called, LOL. Growing up in NJ with a state detective for a brother and my x wife was a Asian brothel madam! Needless to say, I spent my time in AC.

Quote: Baccaratfrom79

...my brother hated the problems I caused by parking at diners on Route 3, 22 and 46 in NJ to eat and meet people.

Can you blame him?