
Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, whose bill aims to classify DFS as a game of skill. He accuses the state of ‘overregulation.’
A new nyc gambling bill introduced this week by Senator Michael Ranzenhofer (R-Erie County) seeks to classify daily fantasy recreations as a game of skill, thus exempting the activity through the state’s prohibition of gambling.
The bill, filed on Monday, appears to be in direct response to the cease and desist freeslotsnodownload-ca.com letters delivered to DFS market leaders DraftKings and FanDuel the other day by New York AG Eric Schneiderman.
The AG has said that the two companies’ operations in the state constitute ‘illegal gambling.’
DraftKings and FanDuel quickly launched separate lawsuits against Schneiderman wanting to protect their brand New York business.
DraftKing’s filed a ‘petition and complaint’ contrary to the AG, which aimed to end him from, according to the filing, ‘carrying out his threat to banish with this State a lawful industry beloved by thousands and thousands of New Yorkers.’
A New York judge on Monday denied DraftKings and FanDuel’s joint request a temporary restraining purchase that would have avoided any action being taken against them ahead of the matter could be settled in the courts.
The AG acted swiftly as well as on filed for an injunction to shut down the two operators tuesday.
DFS Carve-out
Into this appropriate maelstrom steps Senator Ranzenhofer, whom believes DFS must be given a legal carve out from New York’s gambling prohibition, just as the racetracks and brand new casino operators are.
‘Time and time once again, New York has stood in the way, whether by over-regulation or banning that is outright of activities that are legal and enjoyed in many states across the country,’ complained Ranzenhofer. ‘ This bill further protects the rights of businesses and individuals who wish to engage in this type of commerce in the continuing state of New York.’
His bill seeks to amend nyc’s concept of a ‘contest of chance’ as one which:
…shall perhaps not include participation in just about any fantasy or simulation in any fantasy or simulation sports game or educational game or competition in which (if the game or competition involves a group or teams) no dream or simulation sports team is dependant on the current membership of an actual team that is an associate of an amateur or professional activities organizations…
Casino Lobby
The AG’s office dismissed the bill as a bit more compared to a lobbyist’s stunt. ‘DraftKings and FanDuel have actually hired a fleet of lobbyists to convince the Legislature to legalize their gambling operations,’ said AG spokesman Damien LaVera. ‘ How exactly does that square with your businesses’ insistence that their web sites are presently legal?’
Nevertheless, articles in the brand new York Post implies that Schneiderman, himself, may not be resistant to the influence of lobbyists.
According towards the Post, ny’s casino interests have actually contributed over $150,000 to his campaign funds since 2010.
The casinos themselves are unable to offer sports betting and tend to be incensed that DFS companies are permitted to run within the state with, so far, complete impunity.
Daily Fantasy Sports Players File Lawsuit Against Credit Card Industry
Day-to-day fantasy sports will be attacked along with credit card companies in a new lawsuit that alleges DraftKings and FanDuel operate unlawful online gambling products. (Image: wkyt.com)
The legality of daily fantasy sports (DFS) has progressed into a debate that is national the final 6 months, numerous teams petitioning for its very own individual interpretation regarding the law to be considered correct.
Nevada’s Gaming Control Board ordered market leaders DraftKings and FanDuel to leave city, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued cease and desist letters, and a handful of other jurisdictions including federal lawmakers are currently mulling their steps that are next.
DFS is becoming enflamed with litigation and debate.
However, the latest lawsuit isn’t inclined to the operators alone but also the credit card companies that have prepared the millions of dollars in transactions.
In a class action suit filed in a Manhattan court, lawyer Hunter Shkolnik argues players ‘think they are just sports that are playing, but it turns out to be a gambling situation.’
Charge Cards Named
Several payment processors are identified with DraftKings and FanDuel in the lawsuit including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Capital One for facilitating and participating in what they allegedly must have known was a gambling operation that is illegal.
Shkolnik says his client Yehuda Guttman lost between $5,000 and $10,000 playing day-to-day fantasy competitions. Guttman claims he relied on credit cards to allow his DFS participation and often played on credit.
The claim seeks the restitution of monies lost by all DFS players, a goal that would theoretically put DraftKings and FanDuel on the hook for millions of dollars and send that is likely into bankruptcy.
‘Defendants knew, or should have known, that the loans made to individuals in FanDuel and DraftKings’ DFS schemes were for unlawful gambling and in violation of this UIGEA (illegal Web Gambling Enforcement Act), federal and brand New York State rules,’ the accusation reads.
FanDuel and DraftKings of program disagree, the former saying that Schneiderman is attacking its services to ‘get himself some press coverage.’ DraftKings called it a ‘hasty decision,’ arguing the attorney general did not just take the time to discover why DFS contests are skill challenges.
Tough Case to Follow
Shkolnik does his best to pinpoint their belief that daily fantasy is gambling in their 45-page criminal suit.
Predominantly going off Schneiderman’s ruling that DFS isn’t protected through the UIGEA loophole that allowed for fantasy sports games with regards to was passed in 2006, Shkolnik opines that clients are unknowingly gambling when being told it’s skill-based.
The lawsuit appears to hint at holding DFS operators and re payment merchants accountable for one’s own lack of self-responsibility. Perhaps frivolous in nature, that does not mean Shkolnik’s costs are without merit.
Nevada and the latest York attorney general appear to be on the medial side of the plaintiffs, and extra opinions that are forthcoming states and lawmakers could additionally help fuel the situation against FanDuel and DraftKings.
That does not mean the lawsuit won’t get its fair share of scrutiny from the average man or woman. ‘Guy loses thousands gambling and it is not their fault,’ observer Peter Flagler commented on the New York Daily News internet site.
Poker Player Travell Thomas Charged With Operating Fraudulent $31 Million Debt Collection Racket
East Coast poker player Travell Thomas is accused to be the mind of ‘the largest fraudulent debt collection scheme ever to be prosecuted.’ (Image: borgataspringpokeropen2012.blogspot.com)
Travell Thomas, a two-time WSOP Circuit ring that is gold, has been accused of running the largest fraudulent debt-collecting scheme ever prosecuted.
Borrowing and lending may be part associated with the culture associated with real time poker scene, but we are perhaps not sure we’d want to borrow money from Thomas, if the allegations folks Attorney for the Southern District of nyc are true.
He stands accused to be the co-owner and president of the ongoing company that allegedly coerced more than $31 million in consumer debts from thousands of Americans by ‘making false threats and telling a host of lies,’ based on a statement from the AG’s office.
Thomas himself paid himself in $750,000 in cash from the scheme, while he and his fellow director withdrew approximately $1.4 million from banks and ATMs.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of dollars were used to pay for Thomas’ gambling expenses, since well seats for recreations games, his wedding cosmetic and reception surgery for his wife, according to the allegation.
Juicing Balances
It is alleged that the organization’s MO was to claim it was affiliated with municipality and law enforcement agencies and to suggest falsely that victims had committed criminal acts such as cable or check fraud, threatening them with false warrants when they did not pay up.
It claimed that victims’ driving licenses would be revoked for failure to pay debts.
It is further accused of inflating victims’ debt balances so that they’d ultimately spend significantly more than they owed, a practice referred to by employees as ‘juicing balances.’
‘As alleged, the defendants engaged in what is thought to be the biggest debt that is fraudulent scheme ever to be prosecuted, falsely threatening arrest and prosecution of countless Americans, including those who suffered from disabilities,’ Attorney General Preet Bhahara, who just happens to be the man that brought down online poker in the usa on Ebony Friday.
‘The defendants charged today allegedly took ruthless advantageous asset of the situation that is desperate which their victims found themselves, using threats and lies to coerce payment as well as trying to collect more income compared to victims ever owed.’
Facing 20 Years
Thomas is a fixture on the East Coast poker scene since the belated noughties.
He won his first WSOP Circuit ring in 2011, at a WSOP Circuit Caesars Atlantic City event, and their second during the same venue in 2013.
He could be charged, along side co-owner Maurice Sessum and nine other members for the ongoing company, with wire fraudulence and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted he could face a sentence that is maximum of years in prison.
Sports Betting Could come online in soon Nj-new Jersey
New Jersey Assemblyman Ralph Caputo is adamant that the survival of Atlantic City depends on sports gaining legalization that is betting. (Image: meettheleaders.com)
Sports betting in brand New Jersey may have its day in court sometime in February when the United States Court of Appeals for the Third District holds an en banc hearing to ascertain whether or not the state has the right to authorize the industry.
The Professional and recreational Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) outlawed recreations betting nationwide except in a few of states that today is predominantly restricted to Nevada.
New Jersey opted to change that, residents voting in favor of sports gambling last year.
The state’s legislature passed a bill with Governor Chris Christie authorizing the law in October of 2012, but since then the measure has sat idle into the courts as the NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL filed a collective lawsuit against the Garden State.
Two federal rulings have sided aided by the sports leagues, however nj-new Jersey received a much-needed lifeline final month as soon as the Third District agreed to reexamine the actual situation.
Verdict Implications
The en banc hearing will bring most of the Third Circuit to listen to arguments on nj-new Jersey authorizing sports wagering. The proceedings will most likely happen in February, because of the panel expected to release its verdict in the weeks after.
Should it came ultimately back and only hawaii, nj-new Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Rebuck claims the next thing would be to bring the practice online.
‘ We were advised a while back that the Third Circuit will hear the case en banc,’ Rebuck told Gambling Insider this week. ‘That is most likely the time that is first we had a small victory in our efforts to date.’
‘ Whenever we win that … change the sports wagering prohibition allowing for sports wagering to be performed on the Internet,’ Rebuck said.
Providing New Jerseyans the ability to place bets on sporting events online would certainly bring substantial new revenues towards the Internet casino operators and deliver the subsequent tax profits to Trenton.
Saving Atlantic City
Lawmakers are banking on sports gambling as Atlantic City’s savior. The east coast casino destination has been hurt by nearby states legalizing land-based gambling within the last ten years leading to a long and slow death of the resort town.
‘We have been in desperate need of revolutionary ideas to combat the continued downturn in New Jersey’s gaming industry in both Atlantic City and at our racetracks,’ Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-District 28) said this past year. ‘This is an chance to kick-start this industry in a fashion that is unprecedented across the East Coast… Sports betting has the prospective to be an economic game-changer.’
In the meantime, local politicians in Atlantic City are seeking ways to fund the town as vacant and bankrupt casinos continue steadily to fail on spending their obligated home taxes. Casino companies are in favor of payment-in-lieu-of-taxes dancing to help them offset their properties’ continued devaluation as gaming revenues unrelentingly decline.