Voters in Massachusetts rejected a question repealing a 2011 law that will bring three regional resort casinos and a slots parlor to the state.

Over the past few months, all eyes were on Massachusetts as local voters prepared for a referendum to repeal local gambling laws, which brought casino games and slot parlors to the state back in 2011. Newspapers said the vote would be “historic”, as it could have opened the door for a series of similar reactions, in other states with legal gambling.

Opponents argued that three casinos and a slots parlor would create thousands of jobs, boost the local economy and increase tax revenue. On the other hand, supporters of the repeal doubted that gambling companies would deliver their promises, but were convinced that allowing casinos would lead to more crime, addiction and other social ills.

Now that the referendum is over, casino developers got the green light to continue their projects. A slots parlor is already being built in Plainville, while MGM Resorts has planned a casino in Springfield and Wynn Resorts will build one in Everett.

Reuters: Law clearing way for Massachusetts casinos survives repeal vote

In a referendum held this Tuesday, Massachusetts voters upheld the 2011 law which allowed legal casino gambling in the state by voting down a referendum which aimed to repeal those regulations.

The battle was fought between anti-gambling activists, who argued that casinos would cause harm by increasing the number of problem gamblers. Crimes rates would also go up, they added, and the bad would outweigh the benefits of having new job openings.

On the other hand, pro-casino activists pointed out that neighboring Connecticut was already home to several large casinos, where Massachusetts gamblers play. Seeing how they spend their money there anyway, opening casinos in the state would mean all profits stay in Massachusetts, where they eventually return to the local community.

The state’s gaming commission has already handed out two of the three available casino licenses. One went to MGM Resorts International for a gambling venue in Springfield, and the other one was won by Wynn Resorts for a casino just outside Boston. The regulating body will soon rule on a third license, giving permission for a casino in the Cape Cod beach resort area.

Penn National Gaming hold the fourth license, but this one is for a slot machines-only facility on the Rhode Island border.

Boston.com: Mass. Voters Reject Casino Repeal; Expanded Gambling Will Stand

Casinos should still be allowed in Massachusetts, voters decided this week. The result was called by The Associated Press shortly before 10:20 p.m., when the counted ballots showed a 59.5% to 40.5% lead in favor of gambling in the state.

MGM’s Springfield proposal and Wynn Resort’s Everett plans were approved earlier this year. The gambling commission held off on the third license due to the referendum. The two casino developers will now have to pay an $85 million licensing fee, officially receive their licenses, and start building the venues.

Penn National Gaming had already received its license for the slot parlor, and then began construction without even slowing down when news got out that the law could be repealed. The venue is scheduled to open in mid-2015.

Once the venues open, state authorities get 49% of gambling revenues from the slots parlor and 25% of whatever profits casinos make. The third license has been delayed until next summer, but with the ballot issue now settled, the state regulator will probably pick off where it left and award it sooner.

The repeal was surrounded by controversy over the past few months, with anti-casino campaigners claiming the other side was trying to manipulate voters. But recent polls consistently showed locals did not plan to repeal the law.

Mass Live: Wording of ballot question repealing Massachusetts casino law could prove confusing in November

On the referendum held in Massachusetts in November, “no” means “yes” and “yes means “no”. Some fear the ballot question could confuse voters and cause them to approve the exact opposite of what they really want.

After Secretary of State William Galvin’s office released the official wording of the question regarding casino gambling in Massachusetts, campaigners noticed that a “no” vote would actually approve of the law which will bring three resort-style casinos to the state.

According to online gambling news, anti-casino activists first voiced their complaints in 2011, shortly after Gov. Deval Patrick signed the new gambling bill into law. But it wasn’t until 2013 that they managed to collect enough signatures to support their efforts with a ballot proposal.

Now the referendum is over and casino developers received the green light to start building their projects.

Voters in Massachusetts rejected a question repealing a 2011 law that will bring three regional resort casinos and a slots parlor to the state.

Over the past few months, all eyes were on Massachusetts as local voters prepared for a referendum to repeal local gambling laws, which brought casino games and slot parlors to the state back in 2011. Newspapers said the vote would be “historic”, as it could have opened the door for a series of similar reactions, in other states with legal gambling.

Opponents argued that three casinos and a slots parlor would create thousands of jobs, boost the local economy and increase tax revenue. On the other hand, supporters of the repeal doubted that gambling companies would deliver their promises, but were convinced that allowing casinos would lead to more crime, addiction and other social ills.

Now that the referendum is over, casino developers got the green light to continue their projects. A slots parlor is already being built in Plainville, while MGM Resorts has planned a casino in Springfield and Wynn Resorts will build one in Everett.

Reuters: Law clearing way for Massachusetts casinos survives repeal vote

In a referendum held this Tuesday, Massachusetts voters upheld the 2011 law which allowed legal casino gambling in the state by voting down a referendum which aimed to repeal those regulations.

The battle was fought between anti-gambling activists, who argued that casinos would cause harm by increasing the number of problem gamblers. Crimes rates would also go up, they added, and the bad would outweigh the benefits of having new job openings.

On the other hand, pro-casino activists pointed out that neighboring Connecticut was already home to several large casinos, where Massachusetts gamblers play. Seeing how they spend their money there anyway, opening casinos in the state would mean all profits stay in Massachusetts, where they eventually return to the local community.

The state’s gaming commission has already handed out two of the three available casino licenses. One went to MGM Resorts International for a gambling venue in Springfield, and the other one was won by Wynn Resorts for a casino just outside Boston. The regulating body will soon rule on a third license, giving permission for a casino in the Cape Cod beach resort area.

Penn National Gaming hold the fourth license, but this one is for a slot machines-only facility on the Rhode Island border.

Boston.com: Mass. Voters Reject Casino Repeal; Expanded Gambling Will Stand

Casinos should still be allowed in Massachusetts, voters decided this week. The result was called by The Associated Press shortly before 10:20 p.m., when the counted ballots showed a 59.5% to 40.5% lead in favor of gambling in the state.

MGM’s Springfield proposal and Wynn Resort’s Everett plans were approved earlier this year. The gambling commission held off on the third license due to the referendum. The two casino developers will now have to pay an $85 million licensing fee, officially receive their licenses, and start building the venues.

Penn National Gaming had already received its license for the slot parlor, and then began construction without even slowing down when news got out that the law could be repealed. The venue is scheduled to open in mid-2015.

Once the venues open, state authorities get 49% of gambling revenues from the slots parlor and 25% of whatever profits casinos make. The third license has been delayed until next summer, but with the ballot issue now settled, the state regulator will probably pick off where it left and award it sooner.

The repeal was surrounded by controversy over the past few months, with anti-casino campaigners claiming the other side was trying to manipulate voters. But recent polls consistently showed locals did not plan to repeal the law.

Mass Live: Wording of ballot question repealing Massachusetts casino law could prove confusing in November

On the referendum held in Massachusetts in November, “no” means “yes” and “yes means “no”. Some fear the ballot question could confuse voters and cause them to approve the exact opposite of what they really want.

After Secretary of State William Galvin’s office released the official wording of the question regarding casino gambling in Massachusetts, campaigners noticed that a “no” vote would actually approve of the law which will bring three resort-style casinos to the state.

According to online gambling news, anti-casino activists first voiced their complaints in 2011, shortly after Gov. Deval Patrick signed the new gambling bill into law. But it wasn’t until 2013 that they managed to collect enough signatures to support their efforts with a ballot proposal.

Now the referendum is over and casino developers received the green light to start building their projects.

Belgian Gambling Laws

Gambling legislation is a point of contention all over the world today, specifically the new Belgian gambling laws which restrict online casino games. Many countries are changing their policies on the subject and organization, such as the European Union, are making very influential decisions with regards to all member states.

Despite wishes on behalf of the European Union that its mandates be acknowledged and followed, some countries still insist on going against the grain. A few such countries are France, Poland and most recently Belgium. Speculations indicate that these countries have crossed the line intentionally in order to test Michel Barnier, the new European Commissioner.

Belgium has stirred the subject to the brink of boiling by recently passing a law regulating online gambling that did not address several points of contention with EU rules, as found by the European Commission.

The European Commission gave an official Detailed Opinion to Belgian legislators which pointed out which parts of Belgian gambling laws needed to be amended in order to comply with EU law. Some of the points pointed out by the European Commission include: an unjustified limit on licenses, requirements of servers being located in Belgium, and forbidding citizens to participate in EU licensed and regulated internet gambling in Belgium.

Belgian gambling laws: Sigrid Ligne angry

Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association, Sigrid Ligne, condemned Belgium’s action saying that, “The law is not only highly questionable from a legal point of view, a high level of consumer protection can be achieved by specific and targeted legislation, not by protecting the operators with a vested interest in the current situation.”

On December 3rd, lawmakers passed Belgian gambling laws without taking into considerations concerns that were voiced by the European Commission. In doing so, the Belgian Government has subjected itself to infringement proceedings that may be held by the EC which believes Belgian gambling laws are illegal within the EU framework.

Belgian Gambling Laws

Gambling legislation is a point of contention all over the world today, specifically the new Belgian gambling laws which restrict online casino games. Many countries are changing their policies on the subject and organization, such as the European Union, are making very influential decisions with regards to all member states.

Despite wishes on behalf of the European Union that its mandates be acknowledged and followed, some countries still insist on going against the grain. A few such countries are France, Poland and most recently Belgium. Speculations indicate that these countries have crossed the line intentionally in order to test Michel Barnier, the new European Commissioner.

Belgium has stirred the subject to the brink of boiling by recently passing a law regulating online gambling that did not address several points of contention with EU rules, as found by the European Commission.

The European Commission gave an official Detailed Opinion to Belgian legislators which pointed out which parts of Belgian gambling laws needed to be amended in order to comply with EU law. Some of the points pointed out by the European Commission include: an unjustified limit on licenses, requirements of servers being located in Belgium, and forbidding citizens to participate in EU licensed and regulated internet gambling in Belgium.

Belgian gambling laws: Sigrid Ligne angry

Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association, Sigrid Ligne, condemned Belgium’s action saying that, “The law is not only highly questionable from a legal point of view, a high level of consumer protection can be achieved by specific and targeted legislation, not by protecting the operators with a vested interest in the current situation.”

On December 3rd, lawmakers passed Belgian gambling laws without taking into considerations concerns that were voiced by the European Commission. In doing so, the Belgian Government has subjected itself to infringement proceedings that may be held by the EC which believes Belgian gambling laws are illegal within the EU framework.

David Carruthers, the former head of the online sportsbook Bet on Sports Online, has just been sentenced to 33 months in jail.

He was arrested three years ago by FBI agents for running a company that let US players wager on sports over the internet. Carruthers was charged with racketeering and conspiracy.

Telegraph: Bet on Sports Online executive jailed 

David Carruthers, the former head of an online sportsbook company called Bet on Sports Online, has plead guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy, and has been sentenced to 33 months in jail.

The charges are connected to the company’s operations in the US, where online gambling is restricted. The fiasco follows the government’s crackdown on offshore online gambling sites that illegally accept wagers from American players. Bet on Sports Online saw profits of $3.5bn (£2.2bn) between 2002 and 2004, and most of that revenue came from players in the US.

Carruthers has been living under house arrest in a hotel in Missouri for the last three years, ever since he was detained by the FBI at Dallas Airport while on his way to Costa Rica, where Bet on Sports Online is headquartered.

Assistant US Attorney Steven Holtshouser said: “Previously, executives, owners and investors believed that they were immune from the reach of US law enforcement. Both the conviction of, and sentence handed down against Mr Carruthers should send a message to any foreign business conducting illegal activities in the United States, that geography does not render it untouchable.”

Last year, founder of Bet on Sports Online, Gary Kaplan was sentenced to more than four years in prison after agreeing to forfeit more than £43m.

Bet on Sports Online Boss Jailed

A SCOTS gambling executive has been sentenced to almost three years in the US after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering. David Carruthers has spent the last three years under house arrest at a hotel in Missouri for violating American gambling laws.

Edinburgh-born Carruthers was chief executive of the massive internet sporstsbook BetOnSports. Carruthers appeared in court on Friday, where he was sentenced to 33 months after striking a deal with prosecutors.

Carruthers read a prepared statement at the hearing, apologizing for breaking US gambling regulations in a prepared statement to the hearing. He said: “I understand now that the business was operating outside the laws of the United States. I realize I made the biggest mistake of my life. I am sorry for the actions of BetOnSports and the trouble it caused.”

He was arrested by the FBI agents in July 2006 as he passed through Dallas Airport on his way to the company headquarters in Costa Rica. His wife Carol was with him at the time, and was also detained.

Carruthers is accused of breaking US law by presiding over a company that accepted illegal sports bets on the internet from American bettors.

Gambling Executive Sentenced to Prison

David Carruthers, the former chief executive of the online sports betting company Bet on Sports Online, has just been sentenced to 33 months in prison.

On Friday, Carruthers pleaded guilty racketeering conspiracy. Carruthers and 10 other individuals, including the company’s founder Gary S. Kaplan were indicted in 2006. Each was accused of violating an old federal law that forbids the placement of wagers by wire.

“I understand now that the business was operating outside the laws of the United States,” said Carruthers in a statement he read to the judge Carol during his trial.

Bet on Sports Online saw $1.25 billion in profits in 2004, with 98% of that revenue coming from bets made across the internet by players in United States.

David Carruthers, the former head of the online sportsbook Bet on Sports Online, has just been sentenced to 33 months in jail.

He was arrested three years ago by FBI agents for running a company that let US players wager on sports over the internet. Carruthers was charged with racketeering and conspiracy.

Telegraph: Bet on Sports Online executive jailed 

David Carruthers, the former head of an online sportsbook company called Bet on Sports Online, has plead guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy, and has been sentenced to 33 months in jail.

The charges are connected to the company’s operations in the US, where online gambling is restricted. The fiasco follows the government’s crackdown on offshore online gambling sites that illegally accept wagers from American players. Bet on Sports Online saw profits of $3.5bn (£2.2bn) between 2002 and 2004, and most of that revenue came from players in the US.

Carruthers has been living under house arrest in a hotel in Missouri for the last three years, ever since he was detained by the FBI at Dallas Airport while on his way to Costa Rica, where Bet on Sports Online is headquartered.

Assistant US Attorney Steven Holtshouser said: “Previously, executives, owners and investors believed that they were immune from the reach of US law enforcement. Both the conviction of, and sentence handed down against Mr Carruthers should send a message to any foreign business conducting illegal activities in the United States, that geography does not render it untouchable.”

Last year, founder of Bet on Sports Online, Gary Kaplan was sentenced to more than four years in prison after agreeing to forfeit more than £43m.

Bet on Sports Online Boss Jailed

A SCOTS gambling executive has been sentenced to almost three years in the US after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering. David Carruthers has spent the last three years under house arrest at a hotel in Missouri for violating American gambling laws.

Edinburgh-born Carruthers was chief executive of the massive internet sporstsbook BetOnSports. Carruthers appeared in court on Friday, where he was sentenced to 33 months after striking a deal with prosecutors.

Carruthers read a prepared statement at the hearing, apologizing for breaking US gambling regulations in a prepared statement to the hearing. He said: “I understand now that the business was operating outside the laws of the United States. I realize I made the biggest mistake of my life. I am sorry for the actions of BetOnSports and the trouble it caused.”

He was arrested by the FBI agents in July 2006 as he passed through Dallas Airport on his way to the company headquarters in Costa Rica. His wife Carol was with him at the time, and was also detained.

Carruthers is accused of breaking US law by presiding over a company that accepted illegal sports bets on the internet from American bettors.

Gambling Executive Sentenced to Prison

David Carruthers, the former chief executive of the online sports betting company Bet on Sports Online, has just been sentenced to 33 months in prison.

On Friday, Carruthers pleaded guilty racketeering conspiracy. Carruthers and 10 other individuals, including the company’s founder Gary S. Kaplan were indicted in 2006. Each was accused of violating an old federal law that forbids the placement of wagers by wire.

“I understand now that the business was operating outside the laws of the United States,” said Carruthers in a statement he read to the judge Carol during his trial.

Bet on Sports Online saw $1.25 billion in profits in 2004, with 98% of that revenue coming from bets made across the internet by players in United States.