The Bear Growls: Harrah’s slithers off the hook again
By LVBear | February 26, 2010
The Nevada State Contractors Board on Thursday closed its long-standing investigations into illegal remodeling at six Las Vegas hotels in the Harrah’s Entertainment group, when it adopted a settlement in which the parties agree to pay the board $26,000.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/harrah_s-hotels-will-pay-fines-85462462.html
A tiny fine for all the building code violations and related crookedness. Shameful, but expected. A disgusting performance by all the public officials involved in this skulduggery, even by Nevada standards. I wonder what the price was of each public official who refused to properly do his or her duty?
A recap of the case:
http://www.thebeargrowls.com/?p=602
Topics: Government Corruption, Harrah's, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Law Enforcement, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Nevada Politics | No Comments »
The Bear Growls: Colorado casinos move to cheapen blackjack
By LVBear | February 17, 2010
It’s a shame that Colorado casino operators have already shown their excessive greed by requesting state regulators to permit the sucker-fleecing 6 to 5 payoff on blackjack. Some of the information in this article is misleading, to say the least:
“Six-to-5 is common in Vegas now, so the industry wants to be consistent with other jurisdictions,” (Colorado Division of Gaming spokesman) Don Burmania said.
It is not mentioned that the 6 to 5 sucker ripoff is rare in other parts of the country and throughout the world. In Las Vegas, 6 to 5 is found mostly on the lowest-stakes tables of the tourist ripoff capital of the world. Of course, with all of Colorado being low-stakes, there is no distinction. But the present Colorado game rule regulations are fine. There is no need to change them, except to further increase the table maximums. Let’s hope the Colorado regulators have the backbone to stand up to the casino bullies and say NO to this ripoff.
UPDATE February 19, 2010:
Unfortunately, the Colorado regulators had no backbone to stand up to the casino bullies and say NO to this ripoff.
Topics: Casino Executives, Colorado | 2 Comments »
The Bear Growls: The coverup and whitewash of Harrah’s crimes — criminal case dismissed
By LVBear | December 6, 2009
HALL OF SHAME CHARTER MEMBERS
Judge Eric Goodman
DA David Roger
Harrah's CEO Gary Loveman
Judge Eric Goodman in Las Vegas Justice Court dismissed six misdemeanor counts faced by the hotel company and two hotel employees. Goodman, who happens to be the son of the Las Vegas mayor, did so after hearing statements by Clark County District Attorney David Roger and Harrah’s attorney, who is Richard Bryan, the former governor and U.S. senator.
Criminal charges related to Harrah’s remodeling dismissed
Though this was entirely expected, the reality of it actually happening is still sickening. Similar to the Gaming Control Board, our apparently corrupt District Attorney David Roger seems to have decided that when a casino corporation commits crimes, all it has to do to avoid prosecution of it and its executives is say it’s sorry and pay the costs of the investigation.
Of all the shameful, despicable things we see from Nevada governments on a routine basis, this has to rank among the worst. Shame on David Roger, shame on Harrah’s, and shame on Judge Goodman.
Judging by the comments posted after the news article linked above, it appears that many other local residents are outraged by the cowardly behavior displayed by Mr. Roger and Judge Goodman. I hope that voters remember this when these two creeps are up for re-election.
Previous comments on this matter:
Harrah’s whistleblower names names
Petty spitefulness by Harrah’s?
District Attorney helping sweep Harrah’s crimes under the rug
Shoddy construction but no meaningful enforcement; MGM, Harrah’s get free passes
Topics: Government Corruption, Harrah's, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Law Enforcement, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Nevada Politics | 4 Comments »
The Bear Growls: Nevada Gaming Control Board won’t punish casino wrongdoing
By LVBear | November 8, 2009
As regular readers of this blog know, I often criticize Gaming. I think the agency is much too cozy with the industry it is supposed to be policing. I think it fails to mete out adequate penalties when casinos try to cheat patrons. Indeed, most of the time there is no penalty whatsoever for cheating attempts or other misconduct. The casino essentially gets a free roll to cheat patrons. All that happens is it is ordered to pay what it should have paid in the first place; no further penalties. This is Gaming’s biggest weakness — it does not use its considerable statutory authority and latitude in a way that would discourage casinos from trying to cheat patrons or engage in other unsavory practices. A few fines against individual dishonest employees and revocations of their “work permits” would go a long way in discouraging the common mindset of “we get one free bite” that has infested the industry. Referrals to the DA for criminal prosecutions of casino executives who try to cheat patrons, and security thugs who commit violent felonies (forcible backroomings and illegal “detentions”) would help reduce these incidents. Sadly, Gaming is woefully inadequate in taking meaningful enforcement action in these cases. The most egregious recent example is Gaming’s refusal to take action in dozens of false imprisonment and extortion cases admitted to by casinos.
Nevertheless, Gaming is fairly good in properly resolving simple patron disputes. It does err in favor of casinos too often, but overall I think the individual patron usually gets a fair shake. When there is large-scale dishonesty or malfeasance, as in the recent Hard Rock/IGT/Krider case, or going back a few years, the Eldorado Reno/MindPlay cheating incidents, the patron(s) has very little chance of meaningful recompense for being wronged. But in petty individual cases like this Vegas Club incident, at the field agent level the patron often recovers what is owed him or her.
I personally have had Gaming involved in disputes with casinos fifteen times. Twelve times Gaming ruled in my favor and the casino complied with the ruling. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, in none of the twelve cases was the casino or its employees punished for the wrongful behavior that resulted in my complaints. Admittedly, my complaints may have a higher success rate than the average complainant, as I have good working knowledge of the statutes and regulations, and involve Gaming only when I am certain the casino is wrong. In the three cases in which Gaming ruled against me, I believe the field agent was mistaken in his interpretation of regulations or the facts, but I did not pursue any of cases through the administrative appeals process. Had I done so, I might be fifteen for fifteen.
In the Vegas Club cheating attempt, I think Gaming will rule in the patron’s favor, and he will be paid, or given the opportunity to play the free play that is due him. But I doubt if any of the dishonest Vegas Club executives will be punished in any way, and I doubt if the casino itself will be punished in any way. Again, this is Gaming’s glaring weakness. If it becomes clear that the apparent attempt to cheat Mr. Peterson came from personal dislike of him, or because he was identified as a brain-using patron, there should be a large fine against the casino as well as firing, banning from the gaming industry, and criminal prosecution of the executives involved in the cheating attempt. When proper punishment starts happening, this bad behavior by casino people will be curtailed, and the industry might respect Gaming, instead of treating it like a drinking buddy. Until then, in Nevada it continues to be open season on casino patrons, and Gaming’s enforcement continues to be a laughingstock.
Topics: Eldorado Reno, Government Corruption, Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, MindPlay, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Nevada Judicial Cases, Nevada Supreme Court, Vegas Club | 1 Comment »
The Bear Growls: Vegas Club — Cheaters, Idiots or Both?
By LVBear | November 5, 2009
My friend Bradley Peterson posted the below at Las Vegas Advisor.com
It is reprinted here with permission:
For the first time in my life, I have had to contact the Nevada Gaming Board. The following is what occurred that prompted my call and subsequent filed complaint.
On Wednesday, October 28th, I went to the Vegas Club at about 8:45PM and signed up for their slot player card, which I had never done before. I did this as they have a new player reward program that could reward a new player with a maximum of $280 in free play if one obtained a certain number of player points. A friend of mine signed up and played as well. We started playing at about 9PM. The Vegas Club has one of those virtual blackjack machines that have been popping up around town. The house edge with the rules offered and perfect play is about .60% so it is slightly more in the house’s favor than full pay 9-6 jacks or better video poker. The machine had a minimum bet of $2 and a maximum bet of $25. (Note: I was told that the machine had a maximum wager of $40 just a few days before but somebody experienced positive standard deviation and won about $3,000 on it, so I assume that was why the limits were lowered). I played two hands on the five player machine and my friend played two hands. Other casino players that I didn’t know would occasionally drift in and out on the one unoccupied hand in seat #1. We were drinking, playing and having a good time. Just like one is supposed to have in a casino experience. I even made some operator button input errors. For example, one time I accidentally hit a hard 19 and, of course, busted. My friend got lucky and was winning while I was losing. He earned enough points to qualify for the highest initial free play reward bonus and quit sometime after midnight ahead $385. During this same time, I found myself down about $400 so I stubbornly kept playing. Before I knew it, I was down $650 and was wishing that I had just quit but I kept playing (might have been the wine) and got lucky and was ahead for the session a whopping $40. Since it was now 1AM and I had many more points than I needed to get the maximum new player bonus reward, I also quit playing at that time. The slot club booth at the Vegas Club closes at midnight so I did not get my free play arranged at that time but I knew, according to the rules posted on the Vegas Club promotional flyer, that I had 24 hours to get all of that arranged.
My friend and I returned the following evening, Thursday, October 28th, at about 9PM to complete the transactions in order to get the $280 in free play that the Vegas Club had advertised. I was also entitled to an additional $60 in free play for the base points that I had earned while playing the night before, so I was expecting a total of $340 in free play. I handed my card and ID to the players’ club representative. She went into the computer after a bit of a delay then said that a supervisor had to handle the transaction. The clerk switched positions with the supervisor who was occupying another window with customers. After tinkering a bit, she said that she was having problems with the computer and had to go to another computer, which was located behind a desk in the players’ club booth. Time was passing and she was still there, as well as on the telephone. I went off to use the bathroom and returned to find no service still. I then went to check out one of the bars. It had already been a good 20 minutes or more since we arrived at the slot club booth. When I returned from the bar, there were three suits and a security guard around my friend. When I arrived, the head suit said that our play was not welcome in the casino and that we would not be getting the free play that we had earned. How could this be? How can they make an offer, I comply and complete their offered program, risking my money and bankroll while doing so, and then they say that they will not honor the contract that they wrote! I was very upset and left to make a phone call and while I was gone, my friend was read the trespass act!
Feeling cheated, I called the Nevada Gaming Control Board the next day. I told the agent what had happened and he advised that I go back into the property, find the highest ranking official on property and, if the situation could not be resolved, call him back and put said casino official on the phone with the agent directly. I did so. The slot booth clerk was the slot club supervisor from the night before so she recognized me and knew me by name. I told her what I wanted. She said that I should go to The Plaza (sister property to the Vegas Club) to find this person. I called the gaming agent again and he suggested that I stay on Vegas Club property and again stated that I should get whomever was the highest ranking official. More waiting. For maybe 45 minutes to an hour. (Note that waiting is the way of the world with the people and management at the Vegas Club, see below). Finally, three guys show up with a security guard and escort me into the office adjacent to the slot club booth. Only one of the four attendees actually spoke to me. He was rude. He was crass. He was trying to be intimidating. He spoke harshly and loudly. He refused to give me his name or a business card. He wanted to know what I wanted and I told him. He said that I wasn’t entitled to anything. He knew that I had already had been in touch with gaming as I had made that clear at the slot club booth. He kept saying to me that I knew what I had done. That he had tapes and that if I wanted to contact gaming, that I should go ahead. He kept bashing me asking me to admit to what I had done? I was perplexed. I was flabbergasted. What had I done? I only played their machine that the casino has an edge on that I cannot possibly beat in the long run in order to participate in the program. Was that supposed to be wrong? He kept insisting that I knew what I had done and he said that all I was getting was my points cashed out, that would have been $60 in free play, at their cash value of $30 and that he was being generous at that and that I was precluded from the property. Since I had done nothing wrong, I did indeed try to call the agent at gaming again from the room where I was being insulted. Unfortunately, my phone had a bad connection from the internal confines of that room and the agent kept saying that I was breaking up. I told the rude man that I was not going to sign for the measly $30 and I got up to leave to go outside to call Nevada Gaming Control Board. He said that I was to go to a back room and be “processed”. Right. No way, Mr. Manure for Brains. I just calmly walked out the closest door; all the while all the suits were yelling at the security guard to, “Read it to him” (the trespass act), but he engaged on a previously started call while I started walking and he didn’t get started until I was at the at the door and I was in and across the street before he got through even one sentence. I called the Nevada Gaming Control Board again. Unfortunately, the agent who had been advising me had left for the day so I explained the entire situation to another agent who said that he would be sending a field agent out to meet me.
The field agent called me back and we arranged a time to meet in front of the Vegas Club. When I arrived, he was there with a second agent. I told both of them all that had happened to me. They asked if I had any idea what the rude, “I won’t even give you my name,” guy was talking about. I told them that I had no idea, and between that, and being cheated, was why I called Gaming to begin with. The main agent said to come inside the casino with him. Once inside, he asked for whoever was in authority. In the meantime, I was asked to complete a complaint, which I did. However, just as I had to wait so long on a couple of different occasions, nobody arrived for the Nevada Gaming Control Board agents for quite some time. Quite some time enough that he commented about their tardiness on more than one occasion. Finally Mr. Congeniality arrives with his friends and the main agent goes off to conference with them while I sit and wait with agent number two. By the way, both agents were pleasant, professional and personable. When agent number one returns, he tells me that he was basically told the same thing, that they didn’t want my play on the property so I would not be getting my free play that the Vegas Club had advertised even though I had completed their program successfully and in good faith. Also that they would cash out my points at the 1/2 free play level and pay me $30. I asked him what they had accused me of doing, as I was still perplexed and had no idea what could possibly cause such a reaction, other than the Vegas Club trying to cheat me by not allowing me to have or play my free play.
What he told me astonished me! He said that the Vegas Club representatives had accused me of playing as a team and pushing combinations of buttons on the machine in order to make the game pay off! WTF!!!??? You have to be kidding me? How ignorant and or stupid could the management of this place possibly be? Really? That is what they believed? I can’t think that the Gaming agent really believed this either because if this was even possible (and I doubt that it is possible with not, at least, inside programming help on the machines), I am certain that I would have committed something illegal and I would guess that I should have been arrested immediately! This was obviously not the case. And if I had done something so horrible, why would they even bother to pay me the $30 for my points? I was so stunned and shocked at this out of left field nonsensical excuse to not pay me that all I could do was laugh! These machines are all over town. Why would I bother playing at one with the lowest maximum in town of $25? And if I had actually done this, why was it that I was losing during my entire session until my last hand and that I only won $40? Does that sound like the results of somebody who had insider programming information? What stupid fools!
So I can only conclude at this point that the management at the Vegas Club is amongst the least informed and least intelligent in the entire state. Or that their ridiculous excuse is merely that, and is really a smoke screen to avoid fulfilling their own written-out offered promotion. Or that both of the above are true and accurate!
I am also attaching a follow-up letter that I sent to the main investigating Nevada Gaming Control Board agent. Out of respect for him and his privacy, I have omitted his name.
In a message dated 10/31/2009 8:02:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, XXXXXX writes:
Dear Mr. XXXXX,
Thank you for your assistance yesterday regarding the incident and events at Vegas Club. I appreciate, expect and respect the courtesy and professionalism extended by both you and your assistant yesterday.
After departing, I realized that I did not obtain a copy of my statement. How can I obtain a copy of the statement, report or any associated paperwork on the case?
Also, since departing, I have had more time to consider the comments made by the Vegas Club representatives and I am 100% certain that they are using fabricated stories to avoid paying me the proceeds that I fairly earned. When you told me that they claimed that I was using magical mechanical abilities to manipulate and control the machine, of course all I could do was laugh. Please consider the following.
1) If I were doing something like this — and I’d assume this wouldn’t even be possible without there being some sort of illegal inside-help arrangement — I certainly wouldn’t have gotten GCB involved.
2) If I really was capable of doing this, then why was it that after all of this time playing would I be satisfied with a $40 profit, and not $400 or $4,000?
3) Along the same lines as above, why would I play the Vegas Club machine that has a maximum bet of $25 when across the street, at the Horseshoe, I could play the exact same machine with a $200 maximum bet?
Of course the answer to all of the questions above is that I don’t have the ability to do what Vegas Club is claiming in an attempt to avoid fulfilling their end of the contract that we entered into when I signed up for their player card program. And specifically relating to question #3, the reason I was playing on the machine in their casino was because I was simply trying to complete the requirements they set forth so that I could obtain the maximum value of $280 in free play that they offered in their new-player sign up program.
In the final analysis, the management at the Vegas Club has to be either highly misinformed, or are using deceitful measures and methods to avoid paying me the advertised bonuses.
I am a well known and well respected gambler. I have been on television a dozen times playing in major tournaments, as well as in documentaries. I have written for and contributed to several gambling publications. In addition to my given name, I also write and sometimes appear on television under my pen name of Bradley Peterson. I understand the rules and abided by them at Vegas Club.
Thank you again for your kind attention and most appreciated cooperation and I will look forward to the findings and resolution that your Board will research and adjudicate in approximately 29 days. If I can add anything, answer any further questions or provide anything else to be of assistance to you or the Board, please do not hesitate to ask me.
===============================
It certainly appears that this is a case of a casino trying to take advantage of the Gaming Control Board and take a free shot at a patron it does not like. In the absence of any circumstances that Mr. Peterson is unaware of, the appropriate resolution would seem to be that the Board orders Vegas Club to pay him, and brings an unsuitable practices complaint against Vegas Club. This is plainly an attempt to cheat a patron. Let’s hope the Gaming Control Board makes an example of Vegas Club, so casino managers might think harder before welshing on promotions.
Topics: Casino Executives, Downtown LV, Las Vegas, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Vegas Club | 1 Comment »
The Bear Growls: Steve Wynn stoops to new low — Concert attendees have to show identification
By LVBear | October 27, 2009
Garth Brooks and Steve Wynn
Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com
From its beginning, Wynn Las Vegas has been the worst casino at privacy invasion and abuse of its patrons’ personal information. Wynn’s casino management has no respect for the privacy of its patrons. The casino harasses patrons for identification at every possible opportunity. It has the despicable policy of demanding to scan personal documents into its computer system in order for a patron to get a player’s card, leaving patrons more vulnerable to identity theft. It demands Social Security numbers at the lowest buy-in and payout amounts of any casino, with no legitimate reason to do so. The sportsbook is run in an equally tyrannical manner. Perhaps one day there will be an identify theft scandal originating at Wynn that will result in so many lawsuits that it puts this horrible man out of business.
Now, under the guise of “protecting” patrons from paying whatever they wish for tickets, Mr. Wynn has instituted a policy of demanding identification from concert attendees. No, this is not a joke. Interfering with the long-standing, effective free market system of ticket sales, Wynn is forcing patrons to show ID if they want to see Garth Brooks perform. This policy is so absurd and abusive as to leave me nearly speechless, which doesn’t often happen.
Mr. Brooks is a popular performer. I doubt if it will happen, but I would be delighted to see a boycott of the performances because of Mr. Wynn’s latest assault on patrons’ privacy.
What is Mr. Wynn’s problem with legitimate ticket brokers? In cities where I have attended events to which casinos did not give me free tickets, I have several times used the services of ticket brokers. I have always gotten better tickets than I could have obtained directly from the venue, with little or no hassle. I am happy to pay extra to get excellent tickets without standing in line or other waste of time.
I find it ironic that a cretin like Steve Wynn, who has done and/or directed/encouraged/tolerated so many bad things to so many people, claims to suddenly care about saving the average person some money. There is undoubtedly more to this phony burst of “kindness” by Mr. Wynn than we know. I would say shame on Mr. Wynn, but the man appears to absolutely shameless.
Mr. Wynn should go back to grappling with hookers on his property, and leave ticket sales to people who understand what they are doing.
Subsequently, a response from the National Association of Ticket Brokers:
“As a top travel destination, Las Vegas is one of the largest markets for secondary ticket sales. The average visitor can’t always plan their trips around the most popular shows, or track down the best seats as soon as they go on sale.
“Fans hire brokers to help them find the tickets they want, for the price they can pay, or to resell the tickets they can’t use. Wynn has no right to tell these fans ‘hey, tough luck – unless you bought them at our box office within two hours of going on sale then you can’t go to the show.’
Mr. Wynn, the ultimate predator, has become wealthy by exploiting suckers and sick, addicted gamblers. He then stuck his foot more deeply in his mouth: “…we’re going to stop these predators, believe me.”
- Steve Wynn calling someone else a predator. Priceless!
Topics: Casino Executives, Las Vegas, Wynn Las Vegas | No Comments »
The Bear Growls: Planet Hollywood and other casinos think false imprisonment and extortion “make good sense”
By LVBear | September 17, 2009
This complaint filed today with the Nevada Gaming Control Board speaks for itself:
—————————————————————————————
Jerry Markling, Chief of Enforcement
Randall Sayre, Board Member
Nevada Gaming Control Board
Unsuitable practices complaint against Planet Hollywood — False imprisonment and extortion
Please accept this for the purpose of filing an unsuitable practices complaint against Planet Hollywood, for its admitted conduct in detaining patrons for purposes other than making a citizen’s arrest or other purposes permitted by statute. I know you normally would not take a complaint based on a newspaper article, but this one quotes the security director by name. He essentially admits these crimes were committed.
It would appear that there are at least sixty-five cases of false imprisonment, as well as numerous other felonies committed by Planet Hollywood employees. I understand that Metro and/or the District Attorney should be the primary agencies investigating and prosecuting the criminal matters, but a licensee blatantly committing such crimes surely is also an unsuitable method of operation that should be addressed by the Board. I respectfully suggest that if this security director is a key employee, consideration be given to revoking that status; indeed, revoking his privilege to work in the industry at all.
From the article:
(Calvin) Abercrombie (Planet Hollywood security chief) told detectives that 65 people Planet Hollywood detained had enrolled in the program, but that the resort had received notification from the company that only two had completed the program. The casino received two $100 checks from United States Justice Associates for those cases, the affidavit says. …
They allegedly pitched a program to casinos to do an end run around law enforcement and the courts. It was to have worked like this, authorities allege: When the casinos’ security forces detained people on trespassing and other minor criminal charges, the casinos were to route those people into United States Justice Associates’ program rather than calling police to make the arrests. Once enrolled in the program,
the detainees would be charged $500 and the company would kick back $100 to the casinos for each person who completed the program
the affidavit says. (emphasis added)
Receiving such kickbacks is unsavory, and certainly does “…reflect or tend to reflect discredit upon the State of Nevada or the gaming industry…” (Regulation 5.011). With the ongoing incidents of false imprisonment by casino security employees, this appears to be a perfect case for the Board to address the issue. The basic facts of the multiple instances of wrongdoing do not appear to be in dispute; in fact are admitted by the head of security of the licensee. Undeniably, the conduct is egregious.
The article mentions that other licensees may be involved in these crimes:
The attorney added that United States Justice Associates had agreements with a “number of casinos,” all of which thought the program made good sense.
It “made good sense” to commit false imprisonment and extortion? If you are able to determine which licensees they are, please extend the unsuitable practices complaint to them as well.
————————————————————————————
Topics: Casino Executives, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Law Enforcement, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Planet Hollywood, Police | 1 Comment »
Bear Praise: A different look at the Nevada Gaming Control Board
By LVBear | September 16, 2009
The Nevada Gaming Control Board today put on an informational seminar for casino licensees and “interested parties.” Needless to say, I am an interested party. The seminar was the brainchild of Board Member Randall E. Sayre, of whom I have been critical in the past.
Mr. Sayre put on an excellent presentation, and did not dodge tough questions. Though he and I have disagreements on certain issues, I came away from the seminar with new respect for Mr. Sayre and for Jerry Markling, the Chief of Enforcement, who was also polite and gracious to a growling old bear who has frequently criticized him and his Enforcement Division.
If the fair-minded, no-nonsense approach Mr. Sayre took in a room of casino folks would trickle down to lower-level enforcement employees, the Board could be much more forthright and effective in properly controlling the industry it is charged with regulating, and reducing the disrespect for the law routinely demonstrated by many casino employees. Congratulations to Mr. Sayre on an outstanding presentation. I hope that what he said didn’t fall on deaf casino ears. I look forward to future seminars.
The seminar is being repeated in Carson City on September 21. I urge everyone with an interest in the industry to attend. You are almost certain to learn something. Mr. Sayre possesses a wealth of knowledge and ideas. In the Las Vegas seminar, one could be as anonymous as he or she wanted. Entry was open with no questions asked, a truly “open meeting.” Well done.
Topics: Bear Praise, Nevada Gaming Control Board | No Comments »
The Bear Growls: Saving our country
By LVBear | August 22, 2009
This is not a political blog, but it seems that some ideas need to be put forth. It becomes more obvious by the day that our current “leaders” from either major political party are unable to solve our country’s problems. The following ideas are offered as food for thought. As a Libertarian, some of my suggestions go against my own long-held beliefs. But these are extraordinary times, and some extraordinary measures must be taken. Reasoned responses and opposing views are welcome.
1. Build the southern border wall as quickly as possible. I have not heard a convincing argument against it. Also, it will create jobs for the soon to be unemployed DEA agents and prison guards (see below).
2. Aggressively ferret out and deport illegal aliens. Provide an amnesty program and “path to citizenship” for illegals that have been in the U.S. and gainfully, legally employed for at least the immediately preceding one year, have no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, pass drug screening (even though drugs would not be illegal, drug usage is still an undesirable trait, so we should be able to exclude drug users who are here illegally from the amnesty program), and pass a test demonstrating competence speaking and writing in English. Spouses/consorts of such illegals would have the same requirements. Their children would be permitted to stay as well, subject to the criminal, drug, and English requirements.
3. Compel employers, health care providers, landlords, and mortgage companies to use the existing Social Security number verification process. Improve the process by issuing confirmation numbers that must be included in employers’ quarterly payroll tax returns and appropriate government reports filed by the other types of entities mentioned above. Non-matching applicants must be immediately reported to immigration officials. Enact significant monetary penalties against entities that do not comply, as well as criminal penalties for the individuals within those entitles who do not comply. Enact a strong whistleblower protection clause, and/or rewards for employees who report non-compliant entities.
4. Declare a moratorium on legal immigration, except for those with needed special skills, who would have to agree to remain employed in their fields of specialty for at least five years, or face deportation.
5. Amend the Constitution or enact appropriate legislation so that a child born on U.S. soil to a mother who is not a legal permanent resident does not automatically become a U.S. citizen. If the mother is here illegally, the child would be here illegally and subject to deportation along with the illegal mother. Illegal alien fathers of such children would receive no consideration or benefit because of having fathered such children, even if the mother is here legally.
6. An absolute three-year, once per lifetime limit on receiving welfare, except for those who have legitimate disabilities. Implement a system for requesting exemptions on a case-by-case basis, but set a high threshold for obtaining exemptions.
7. Disband the DEA. Transfer prescription and medicinal drug monitoring to the FDA. Transfer DEA employees to the Border Patrol or other immigration-related departments, or pay them to clean the streets, remove graffiti, etc.
8. Repeal most “recreational” drug laws, except as they relate to minors, and open the market to legitimate manufacturers and distributors. Tobacco and liquor companies will probably be the first to want in. Restrict advertising similar to the present restrictions on tobacco advertising. Obviously we will tax the earnings of these companies. (NOTE: I do not use any recreational drugs, and never have. I do not drink or smoke, and never have except for a very rare “social drink.”)
9. Release prison inmates who are there for non-violent offenses related to their drug addictions.
10. Inmates released under Item 9 would have to go into rehabilitation and addiction treatment. Experiment with government-run medicine in his setting, with prisoner/ drug addicts as patients. Perhaps there are other medicines such as methadone for heroin addicts?
11. Lay off an appropriate number of prison guards, police officers, prosecutors, etc., because there will be no more drug-related prosecutions, and less petty crime that is caused by the presently high illegal drug prices. Lay off everyone directly involved in the failed “War on Drugs.” Offer these folks the same work as the former DEA agents (see Item 7 above), and/or offer them jobs in the drug rehabilitation clinics.
12. Revamp TSA’s rules, so all it is concerned about are items that are a threat to aircraft safety. TSA employees would be prohibited from inquiring about cash, etc.
13. Eliminate the income tax, and replace it with a universal sales tax, with exemptions for basic life necessities such as food (but not at restaurants), housing up to a certain dollar amount, and medical care.
14. Legalize, regulate, and tax all forms of Internet gambling, including sports betting.
15. Mandate that those receiving unemployment “benefits” accept any offered job for which they are physically capable, and make a good faith effort to perform satisfactorily at such job. The refusal of any offered work, or the termination from such work for reasonable cause without immediately beginning other work, would result in the loss of “benefits” double the amount the offered job pays.
16. Create an “assigned risk ” system for health care insurance similar to what is presently in effect in most states for automobile insurance. If an insurance carrier wants the cream-of-the-crop business, it must also take its share of undesirable customers, just like auto insurers are forced to do. This coverage can be high deductible bare-bones catastrophic coverage, but must be available to all who request it, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions — indeed, no medical questions permitted to be asked.
17. Eliminate “tribal sovereignty” for Native Americans. Existing tribal casinos should be “grandfathered” in, but no new ones should be permitted except as otherwise compliant with state laws. Present “Indian reservations” can be restructured as counties (parishes in Louisiana), subject to state law. “Tribal governments” and tribal courts should be disbanded. Tribes can remain in existence, but they would be treated as any other business entity.
18. Item that would be of concern primarily to advantage players: Increase the CTR threshold to $50,000, and the $3,000 “harassment” threshold to $25,000. With less drug money floating around because of the expected decrease in drug prices for addicts, the government has less need to intrude into people’s private business.
Topics: Government Corruption, Libertarian Party, Online Gaming, Sports Betting, Tribal Gaming, US Congress, US Government | 1 Comment »
The Bear Growls: Palms, Rampart, Cannery, South Point conspire to fix prices in sportsbooks
By LVBear | August 12, 2009
Competitors Palms, Rampart/Cannery, and South Point have conspired to attempt to fix prices at their sports books, to the detriment of the public. Though the books will remain independent in their operations, they will have the same lines (i.e, prices) at all locations. It is worth noting that these are competitors, not several locations under unified ownership, such as Harrah’s, MGM, Leroy’s, Cal-Neva, et al.
In this article, the books brag about how they will be able to handle heavier action. But what good are higher limits when the prices are fixed?
Bert Osbourne, South Point’s sports book director, will set the lines for the eight properties, but each book will continue to be owned and operated by its current owners.
Price Fixing, Bid Rigging, and Market Allocation Schemes: What They Are and What to Look For
This is no different than the managers of Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Target getting together and agreeing to charge the identical price on every item they sell. There used to be anti-trust laws; do they still exist? Crooked businesspeople used to be prosecuted for scams like this; but these casino folks are doing it in the open and bragging about it.
Here is a chance for the Nevada Gaming Control Board to show it is at least a little bit more than a puppet for the casino industry. It showed a little backbone in the recent nightclub scandals, though it stopped woefully short by declining to recommend criminal prosecution. Will it meet the challenge and stop this despicable price-fixing scam, or will it roll over as usual? Sad to say, my money is on the Board rolling over. The casino patron gets the short end of the stick again. Shame, shame, shame. These characters wonder why Nevada had its biggest decrease in gaming win in history this year. Lack of meaningful patron protection against casino wrongdoing, and the Nevada casino industry’s “screw the public” mentality are surely among the reasons.
If the Gaming Control Board refuses to stop this, perhaps it’s time for the U.S. Department of Justice to take action.
Topics: Cannery, Casino Executives, Government Corruption, Las Vegas, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Palms, Rampart, South Point, Sports Betting | 1 Comment »