Truck containing 36,000 pounds of Crisco stolen

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A truck containing 18 tons of Crisco sticks headed to a grocery store chain distribution center was stolen in a Florida city.

St. Petersburg Police say that a tractor-trailer containing the 36,000 pounds of vegetable shortening was snatched Sunday morning.

The truck was destined for a Publix distribution center in Lakeland. Authorities said the stolen tractor was a 2005 red Volvo, with a Florida tag and had the business name of "NS Express LLC on both sides of the cab. The trailer was a white Hyundai.

"Crisco can be used for frying or making delicious baked goods," one bystander said.

Nevada gaming win rises in July

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada casinos won more than $931 million from gamblers in July, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The July numbers represent a 0.65 percent increase from July 2013.

Clark County casinos fared better. Clark County casinos won more than $800 million in July - an increase of 2.2 percent from last year. Casinos along the Las Vegas Strip and in Mesquite posted the best results.

Despite the positive numbers, the state collected less money in fees as a result of the July gaming win. Nevada collected more than 52 million in taxable revenue - a decline of 14.7 percent from 2013.

Ohio casinos seek new edge

We as people are great. Smoking kills people. Gambling is harmful. So, after a lengthy fight, Ohio has casinos. So, to accommodate those who are killing themselves smoking, an isolated area is set aside, and now they want slot machines in those areas. What about those poor souls who like to play 21 and smoke while doing so, what can they do? WHY NOT just, build a big casino, put a wall down the middle, one side smoking, the other no smoking? Problem .... NO SMOKING in state buildings, a casino is a BIG revenue source for the state ... almost a state building, now what? 

Many people apparently choose to die from Emphysema and broke, with a glove on their right hand. 

CINCINNATI — Ohio’s casinos are planning to ensure gamblers can still feed the slot machines during their smoke breaks.

Major casinos in Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo want to install slot machines in designated smoking areas while keeping their main gambling floors smoke-free. Ohio’s smoking ban has been seen as a competitive advantage to three riverboat casinos in southeast Indiana, where smoking is allowed.

Cincinnati’s downtown casino proposed plans to install about 150 slot machines and other gambling devices on a nearly 10,000-square-foot smoking deck now under construction, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Officials with the Columbus and Toledo casinos are also working on installing slot machines to their smoking decks. Ohio’s smoking ban has been seen as a competitive advantage to three riverboat casinos in southeast Indiana, where smoking is allowed.

Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for Penn National Gaming Inc., which operates the Columbus and Toledo casinos, said that adding smoking areas for gamblers “is a way to meet customer demand.”

Regulators with the Ohio Casino Control Commission said they are reviewing the Cincinnati casino’s proposal and will approve it as long as it meets requirements.

All five of Ohio’s racinos have at least a few slots in smoking areas, but the scope of the Cincinnati casino’s proposed gambling area for smokers is larger than anything currently in the state.

One-third of Ohio casino gambling revenue goes to the state in taxes. The Cincinnati casino could generate an additional $10 million in annual gambling revenue with the added slot machines if they generate the property’s average $175 daily unit revenue.

I could never explain it to you, or anyone ......

What makes good history? I doubt that there is any mention of Harolds Club in any of the history books in school. At one time, there was advertising for this club, literally, all over the world, "Harold's Club of Bust."

I remember Dave, our bartender at the Primm, told of working there the day they opened on South Virginia Street in Reno. A small club, Dave was on the Wheel, he said the first spin, he was nervous, the ball jumped the track, rolled out the door, into the gutter, and down a drain. They had to hold up the game to find another ball.

I first entered into Harolds World, and that is what it was, in 1956. New to casinos and casino life, I was in awe, it was a world all its own. Western bedecked dealers, gun collection, a bar of silver dollars, awesome. I never worked there, I wish perhaps that I had, but, I worked for Fitz, and that is another whole story.

I have seen an exuberant father and son, one being wheeled around on a "slot cart" ... celebrating, doubling bets on a 21 table, handing out silver dollars. I saw them close a wheel, shut it down, telling a group of young "winners" to keep their hundred thousand and finish their education. I saw signs when I was in Japan for Harolds Club, saw one on Okinawa. I saw L. Ron Hubbard speaking once on the 7th floor, saw Del Ray, a magician, giving some pointers to Harolds 21 dealers, have heard old matinee idol Carl Ravazza, come from the back of the room, singing lilting French songs. I walked through there many times, took it for granted, not fully appreciating the surroundings I was in, and all of its uniqueness.

I could never "explain" Harolds Club to anyone, it and the Nevada Club were truly unique, and are responsible for Nevada being what it is today, and perhaps the industry, which is assisting in the rescue of many states, today. There are no "memorials" to either club, or to Fitz or the Smiths, just memories, some of which is being preserved in the above movie and, in the works of Dwayne Kling.

Get your bets down, Coming out .... with a point, or two.I

I started working in the casinos of Reno in 1956, Reno was a small town, Tahoe was just getting started, Vegas was Vegas, but not like it is today. There was some wagering going on around the state, there were illegal casinos around the country, none of which advertised.

I have observed the growth in the industry, always wondered WHY, an industry that survives due to people losing money. Then growth started, the Indian Casinos, Atlantic City, most states had casinos, I think there are over 1500 or so, today. As "sharp" as gamblers are, why did they not see that there was, in fact, a saturation point. Atlantic City is sinking into the sea, billion dollar casinos are closing. It seems to me that I have heard the figure 30, 30 casinos in close proximity to Atlantic City. Is anyone surprised?

My guess is that many casinos are not doing as well as anticipated. Politics is GREEDY ... they legalize gambling, the casinos open, money rolls in, at first ..... and then, the trickle down happens. Why and how does ANYONE, anyone, not realize WHERE the money comes from to construct, maintain and sustain, a casino. It has always been a source of amazement to me.

We had some come to Reno, as a vacation, they enjoyed "wagering" ......... and ..... could afford to lose what they had set aside to gamble. They were in a MINORITY. I have seen the "look" on a face, when they last of their money, was lost. I have had people, normal rational people, beg me to purchase a ring or a watch or some jewelry because they had "lost it all" and needed money to get home.

In my time there, I personally knew three people, non gamblers, who lost it all, and committed suicide. I knew a man in Reno, the appearance of a "bum" ... who had sold a business and their home on the East coast, were on their way to California, stopped in Reno, "caught the bug" and lost it all. He scrounged and begged for coins, every dime went to the Nevada Club, which, in those days had a dime crap table. I have taken some of those dimes from him, and when the "seven" took his dime from him, our eyes have met. I could never find words, to adequately explain that look. He lost his fortune to Lincoln Fitzgerald at The Nevada Club, where I worked. I was there the day that security, due to his "odor" .... 86'd him, escorted him to the door and told him to never come back. That is the cold mentality of a casino.

"If we build it, they will come." Only if they have money and there is no place closer .... they should have thought of that in Atlantic City.

How do you feel about Obama?

Someone asked me that the other day, as a serious question. He was an ardent Democrat, so I didn't reply right then, I told him to let me think about it a few days and then, read my blog .... this is his reply.

About who, does he really exist, or has all of this just been a bad dream, and when we all wake up, our leader in the White House will be a John Waynelike person, or a Reaanlike person, perhaps even ... Bushlike.

Perhaps someone who draws respect because, a "Dadlike" figure who we look up to, we know we are in good hands, experienced, quiet, unassuming, but Eisenhowerlike, you snap to and stand taller when he enters the room. "Wow, that he is, that is him, Wow."

Colin Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., even Condoleezza Rice, where are people we can respect?

The only respect that I have for obama is that he has been able to accomplish all that he has, with his personality. L. Ron Hubbard, probably Glen Turner, and some "notorious" leaders have done the same. Old Bernie Maddoff had it, as well as some well known "con men" have had that same ability. Con men, doing a con job, on the public. You can the long list of successful "evangelists" and add them to that list also. Rush Limbaugh and all of the other "radio personalities" who have become Political Pied Pipers are in the same catagory.

They have nurtured nothing in to something. They are called "con men" in no uncertain terms, they have that old innate ability to "pull the wool over our eyes."

Obama falls right in that category. He has "conned" the country, and the world, and dazzled the world. He himself has nothing to offer, but his image, so he has surrounded himself with "talent." Look at all those he has put on the payroll, same thing Hubbard and Glen did. They pushed the wheel to the edge and it did the rest on its own.

I remember many years ago, Woolworth's or one of the Ten Cent Stores, that guy at the end of the counter, had that little wax mouse thing, he had it do wonders, up and down his arm .... I would always have my Mom get me one .... got it home, and it did nothing .... he was a con man, same as those guys in the traveling carnivals, they were good, you would win, win, win .... until you lost, and then you knew, you had nothing, and you just shook your head. I remember one here in town years ago, one guy, lost his paycheck, plus more, complained loud enough he got his money back ..... generally ..... if you are gonna be a sucker, be a silent one ...... same thing applies to obama .... we are suckers, so let's just be silent ..... well, "How do I feel about obama," he is a great "Con Man." He is taking our money, our government and then, our country .... what happened?????

He is the epitome of Joe Goss .... you had to be there .................

Mary Ann

Not sure what made me think of her, I guess it was when I was running the vacuum cleaner I thought of her, and I will explain why.

She was one of those who trained me as a deale in Reno. She was a whiz with numbers, as good as a calculator. She was also a 21 dealer at the Nevada Club and through after shift drinks, etc., became a good friend She was a dealer "icon" to me, her ability to deal the cards and her razor sharp mind. She also dealt craps, and was a whiz at that also, payoffs just came to her naturally. When she was on the table, her end was ... neat, arranged well, not sure if there is a word for it, but she was a pleasure to work with. Her stacks of silver dollars, which we used in those days, were all symmetrically perfect, she was very "neat" on the table.

I think it was on a Sunday, after shift, we were all at the bar at Kelley's Nugget, and it ended up, she invited me and another dealer, whose name escapes me, to come out to her place for dinner. Home cooked meals were scarce in those days. She had some errands to run, gave me the key to her door, a rental house on North Virginia, almost across from the Reno Campus.

Anyway, she left, we had a few more drinks, and headed out to her place.

We got there, parked in front, went in, and the place was a mess. She never did laundry, she would buy new (we made a lot of money in those days) and when the pile got too high she would haul them off to the Goodwill Store. The kitchen was a mess. It took us an hour or so to clean the kitchen, do the dishes, and get it workable.

About that time, she came in with a load of groceries, smiling, and, as it worked out, I cooked the dinner.

By the time we left, we had cleaned her place up, cooked dinner, cleaned that up, and left, left a smiling Mary Ann Sterns standing at the door ...... like a .... "It worked again" look.

Shortly after that, she moved to another place, and the other guy, whose name escapes me, rented the place for a few months. There was a bar across the street, not that far from town, nice place. On one occasion, we had a few too many after a shift, I think I had the night off, ...... well, I lost my car, forgot where I parked it, it was no where near our house, took us a few days to find it .... oh yea, that was the day I stole a five-gallon new milk can, from behind one of the clubs, and, well, collected money around town using that can to hold the money ..... collecting for the Cutty Sark and Milk Fund ... that is another whole story. As I understand it, my boss, kept the can as a souvenir in his rec-room at his home ... memories of the old days.

The bad news, as I collected donations, I invited everyone to a "kickoff" party at that house on North Virginia .... I woke up, later that night surrounded by people, on the couch in the living room, in my underwear ... the collections went well, I had enough to feed and quench all of their appetites and thirsts ... that's all I remember ...........................

LeBron James to Sign With Cleveland Cavaliers

Free agent superstar LeBron James will bring his two NBA championships and four NBA MVPs back to Cleveland, almost four years to the day after he decided to bring his talents to Miami.

James made the announcement in an article with Sports Illustrated Friday.

Heat owner Mickey Arison tweeted his disappointment in the decision Friday afternoon.

The heartbreaking news for Heat fans came after a Wednesday full of movement from the Cavaliers. The team cleared out more than $20 million in salary cap space to offer LeBron a full max contract of between $88 million and $118 million, depending on whether the Heat and Cavaliers exchange James on a sign-and-trade or he simply leaves Miami with no compensation from the Cavs.

The loss of LeBron is a devastating blow to a team that went to the NBA Finals for four straight seasons from 2010 to 2014, winning back-to-back championships during that run.

It’s hard to overstate James' value in Miami for the past four seasons. From the court to the tourism industry, James has been one of the biggest draws to South Florida outside of South Beach itself.

James has averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game since joining the Heat. He took over the team's leadership after the Heat lost the first NBA Finals with the Big Three and ran off two straight NBA championships before losing this year to the San Antonio Spurs.

LeBron took on more of the load in Miami, but he also elevated his game. He won MVP awards and NBA Finals MVP awards, and he was arguably the defensive player of the year for at least two of those seasons.

The Heat deployed James all over the court, having him guard any player on the other team’s roster. LeBron also elevated his post play while with the Heat, letting Miami play a smaller, quicker lineup that ended up abusing NBA opponents for two seasons.

Haskell collapses in Texas court as details of Texas murder read

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The man accused of fatally shooting four children aged 4 to 14 and their parents after entering their suburban Houston home while looking for his former wife collapsed when details of the murder scene were read in court on Friday.

Ronald Lee Haskell, 33, who is being held without bond, was in court for a procedural hearing after being charged on Thursday with capital murder and multiple murders. Capital murder can bring the death penalty in Texas.

Haskell said "Yes, sir" after his rights were read and then collapsed as details of the crime were listed in the court. Bailiffs had to pick him up and wheel him out in an office chair.

Haskell is accused of killing two boys ages 4 and 14, two girls ages 7 and 9, and their parents Stephen Stay, 39, and Katie, 33. Five of them were found dead and one of the children died after being flown to a hospital for treatment. A 15-year-old daughter survived the attack, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities said he went to the Stay home looking for his former wife, who is related to the victims, and held the children at gunpoint until their parents returned. He then brought all seven family members into a room and shot them, killing all except the teenage girl, police said.

The suspect's former wife did not live at the house and was not harmed in the incident.

FedEx said in a statement that Haskell was once employed by a contractor used by the shipping company but had not worked for that company since January.

Naturally Seven and Eleven .... Believe it or Not

John Wayne’s family suing university over rights to ‘Duke’ name

With all the problems in the world ..... then this comes up ......

Who is the rightful heir to the “Duke legacy” — a major private university or the descendants of a movie star who want to put his name on bottles of whiskey?

Specifically, the heirs to Marion Robert Morrison, aka John Wayne, have filed suit against Duke University, seeking to claim a trademark to use the “Duke” namesake in liquor sales.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported on the lawsuit, noting that the university and the Wayne family have been in a number of disputes over the past decade contesting the use of the "Duke" moniker on everything from gaming machines to restaurant services.

For its part, Duke University argues that using the “Duke” nickname for different commercial purposes would only confuse the public. “Consistent with its policies and in order to prevent tarnishment of its brand, [Duke University] does not permit use of confusingly similar marks associated with unapproved goods or services, of uncertain quality and/or unregulated by [Duke University]," the university argued in a response to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

In the complaint, members of the Wayne family argue that since Duke University does not actually make alcoholic beverages, the Wayne family should be able to use the “Duke” name in conjunction with bourbon sales. Wayne’s image has become a popular marketing brand for the family, appearing on an assortment of items — even bags of charcoal.

“Duke University does not own the word 'Duke' in all contexts and purposes,” the complaint reads in part. "Duke is a common word that has been in use for centuries in a wide array of commercial and other applications wholly independent of Duke University. Yet by the actions alleged herein, Duke University seems to think it owns the word 'Duke' for all purposes and applications."

Wayne’s son, Ethan Wayne, currently serves as president of John Wayne Enterprises, based in Newport Beach, Calif. In addition to managing the family’s commercial endeavors, Ethan Wayne also heads up the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.

Of course, John Wayne fans might have to laugh at all the drama. After all, the “Duke” nickname wasn’t originally given to Wayne to signify his grandiose stature. It was the name of his childhood dog, but Wayne liked it so much that his neighbors simply transferred it to him, referring to Wayne as “Big Duke” and his dog as “Little Duke.”

“Hell, the truth is that I was named after a dog!” Wayne once famously said.

Friday .... a "natural" Day ...... seven-eleven

Seven-eleven, takes me back to my Reno days ... "Seven a Winner" ... great word to hear in a casino, Winner, Winner, Winner, every roll of the dice. Never say loser, even when you "seven out" there is a winner on the back line and the come ..... "winner, winner, winner, chicken for dinner."

Thanks to Austin Dilts, I think I am rid of "that thing" that infiltrated my laptop .... SupraSale .... I almost even hate to type the name, afraid in might sneak back in. It is gone, but all is new. I am using Foxfire or Firefox, whichever is right, I am like a person in a new city, I don't know where anything is, ....... good example, about four minutes ago, I type that last is ..... then .... flicker, flicker flicker ... screen back to Facebook, a few more flickers .... screen frozen .... then flickers ... I hit the "back" arrow, and I am back here. There is still some unknown entity living in this laptop, I just hope is "shares" well.

Have not checked the news yet, each day is almost a mirror image of the previous day. We are recovering from yesterday, which was great, we had Miss Brooklyn and Miss Emma which Mom, who had a birthday yesterday, was getting her hair done. An apology to Miss Brooklyn, I am old and crochety, and I realize it is tough to be the "big" sister. I yell at Miss Brooklyn much to often, in an attempt to protect Miss Emma. I always feel bad when they leave and wish I could take back some of the things I said and did to Miss Brooklyn. She did not mean to kick the guacamole on the floor, upside down, it was an accident, but I yelled at her, made her sit in a chair ... now I feel bad about that. She, and I, will both live it down.

But, what a delight, to spend time, with Great Grandchildren ..... one of those deep looks, lasts a few seconds ..... electric moments ....

How do you rob a drive-thru?

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — A man who worked at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in northern South Carolina has been accused of robbing a KFC. Fifty-year-old old Jeffrey Coley is accused of taking $516 from the KFC in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Monday.

Police say Coley pulled a gun at the drive-thru at KFC and demanded cash. Coley was arrested Tuesday after a chase. Police say the cash drawer was still in the vehicle.

He's charged with armed robbery, possession of a gun during a violent crime, failure to stop for police and possession of methamphetamine. It wasn't clear whether he has an attorney.

Chick-fil-A spokesman Mark Baldwin tells The Rock Hill Herald Coley was fired June 18 from a restaurant in Indian Land when he failed to show up to work two consecutive days.

I heard of a guy who tried to rob the drive-thru ATM at his bank, pulled a gun on it and the machine blew a fuse ..... and it died.

New Jersey casino cheat sentenced to 17 years in prison

By Joseph Ax

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rolling snake eyes is now the least of Derek Bethea’s concerns.

Bethea, a 57-year-old New Jersey man, is headed to prison for 17 years for placing bets at craps tables after the dice had already been rolled at three Atlantic City casinos during a two-week period last August.

The sentence, imposed on Thursday by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor, came after a jury convicted him in May on charges of swindling and cheating at casino gambling, according to state authorities. Bethea represented himself at trial.

Prosecutors accused Bethea of betting $1,100 at a craps table at the Borgata Hotel & Casino on Aug. 13, 2013, after the dice had come out. He collected the winnings but was detained at a different casino the following day and issued a summons.

Two weeks later, he tried again, placing a late $505 bet at Resorts Hotel & Casino, and the following day, he laid down $240 at Revel Casino, prosecutors said.

In each instance, the gamble failed to pay off, as the casinos refused to honor the bet.

Bethea was previously convicted in 2001 and in 2005 of similar offenses, including placing late bets at roulette tables, and was sentenced to several years in each case.

As many know, I worked in the casinos in Reno in the 50's. THEN, it was up to the boxman and the dealers to catch "late" bets ..... "NO BET" .... and that was the end of it. In calling the dice, I often said, "Get your late bets down early." Often followed by a "Security" ... and the late bettor, was escorted out the door. In my "training" I was taught to keep my eyes on the table, we caught the "thieves" did not prosecute them. It could be also, that a late bettor, might have problems, handling bets, with broken fingers. I must admit I don't understand why they would prosecute someone for doing it and then all of the negative publicity that. followed. 17 years for "late betting" seems VERY severe. It was the ONLY sure bet on the table. If they never paid he off, I don't see how they could convict him, he did nothing wrong but .... "try" ....

A Follow up Post .....

About that guy suing to get his money back from a casino.

I big part of a casino, when I was out there, food and drinks. About the time a customer got comfortable, had bought twenty or so in chips (back in the 50's) .... the drinks started arriving. There was an unwritten law, never let a customer head out the door, especially if he had won any money. We had dinner tickets for a nice FREE dinner for two or whatever necessary.

The environment in most clubs was that of "secluded." No windows, no clocks, nothing to make them aware of "time." "Send them to the bar," "Send them to the dining room." Just don't let them go outside.

During my time, I don't recall ever sending anyone away for excessive drinking. I have seen a customer, who had too much, have his winnings placed in the cashiers cage for safekeeping, and it was suggested to the customer that he "go eat" or some such suggestion. I have also seen a "big winner" offered the services of a security guard to escort him to his car or hotel, or whatever. One hated to see the money leave the club, but it was the prudent thing to do.

"If you're gonna be a sucker, be a silent one." The motto I always heard and played by........

I have know some, who hired someone to accompany them inside a casino, with instructions, "Make me leave when I get 5000 ahead." Sometimes that worked and sometimes not.

I have also seen, on many occasions, a "high roller" come to town, and ask a particular 21 dealer to accompany them on their "rounds" of the clubs. One I knew, always wanted a certain 21 dealer to play "third base" while he was on first. She was paid well for just doing that.

Casinos do not like to lose. That is for certain. I have been out of the business for many years, so I am sure things have changed quite a bit. But, I still find it hard to believe that a casino would, buy drinks, yes, perhaps get a customer to a point where their judgement may be impaired a bit, but not "rob" a customer who is not capable of making rational decisions. Their license is worth much, much more than the amount he lost . We never did anything that could lose us  a license ................

Nevada gambling win down 2.8 percent in January

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Lady luck favored Nevada gamblers in January, as casinos statewide posted a 2.8 percent drop in gambling revenue compared with the same month a year earlier, the state reported Friday.

Casinos raked in $884.2 million from gamblers, down from $909.3 million in January 2013, even though the amount wagered had increased by more than $375 million, the Gaming Control Board said.

"Volumes were up both for slots and tables, but we were impacted by hold issues, mainly table games and baccarat," said Mike Lawton, senior control board analyst.

The "hold percentage" is the portion of money gambled that the casinos win.

In January, the overall hold for card and table games was 11.87 percent, down from 12.17 percent in January 2013. But there was a big swing in the hold for baccarat, a high-roller game favored by Asian players: 8.9 percent in January versus 12 percent a year earlier.

On the Las Vegas Strip, home to the state's largest, posh resorts, casinos won $499.8 million, down 1.4 percent from $507 million. Downtown Las Vegas casinos' winnings of $43 million represented a drop of 3.4 percent.

Casinos in northern Nevada's Washoe County posted a slight uptick of 1 percent, with revenue of $53.3 million, while gambling halls in Reno took in $38 million, representing a 1.3 percent increase. South Lake Tahoe casinos' revenue of $14.7 million was off 12.4 percent.

The "win" is what was left in casino coffers after gamblers wagered $11.2 billion on slots, cards, dice and other games. A breakdown shows $8.5 billion was pumped into slot and video poker machines and $2.7 billion was bet on other casino games.

Who is to blame for the shutdown?

Seven out, line away .......... 

Well, I wanted to get to the bottom of it. So, I asked a Democrat. He said it was the Republicans.

Then, I asked a Republican, he said it was the Democrats. Now, I just don't know.

Who is perhaps the most powerful congressional figure. Old Harry Reid. Who controls him? Well, he's from Nevada, so his strong backing came from the casinos. So, what do the casinos want?  OK, there are millions of people, government employees, laid off with nothing to do, but, go to Vegas and  P   A   R   T   Y   !

There is the answer. When they have lost their money, Harry and the casino's will want everyone to get back to work. It is just that simple, Vegas is slow, they need money, lay off all those workers who are making BIG bucks.

It will be resolved when Vegas slows down, it was just that simple.

Will New York’s Casino Plan Really Work?

By ADAM DAVIDSON

As I walked down the main drag in Ellenville, N.Y., a small town about halfway between Manhattan and Albany, I noticed that if you turn your head at the proper angle, at the right time of day, at just the right intersection, the future doesn’t seem so scary. Right where Hermance Street runs into Canal, there’s the Shadowland Theater, a beautifully restored vaudeville house that abuts Aroma Thyme Bistro, which has four stars on Yelp. Off in the distance is the lush Witch’s Hole State Forest and the valley around Rondout Creek.

But if you lower your gaze a little or look just over your shoulder, another reality sets in fast. Canal Street is littered with abandoned storefronts. One block over, almost all the shops were torn down in a federal urban-renewal project. And because nothing ever replaced them, all you see are a lot of empty parking lots without much worth visiting. “There’s plenty of parking,” Mary Sheeley, the village manager, told me.

Like many small towns in New York’s borscht belt, Ellenville was fairly prosperous throughout the 20th century. The town had a factory for Channel Master, a leader in TV antennas, and the Nevele, a classic Catskills resort. These days, though, nearly half of Ellenville’s adults don’t work. Channel Master closed in the 1980s. Imperial Schrade Cutlery, which took over the factory, closed in 2004. The Nevele also closed that decade. The average income in town is now just over $19,000 a year.

But Ellenville just got some hope. Last month, the New York State Legislature and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo agreed on a deal to give the town a shot at one of the state’s four new proposed casinos. (A referendum is expected to be held in November.) As I was walking up Center Street, I couldn’t help wondering if this town had what it took to host a casino. Or if a casino could really persuade people to spend their money in Ellenville and turn around its moribund economy. But Michael Treanor, the current owner of the Nevele, who runs the company that is hoping to get the state’s gaming license, told me that that wasn’t the right way to look at it. “Our ability to do business is based upon a scarcity of casinos,” he told me. If the state allowed a dozen casinos to break ground, Ellenville would be toast. “We would never be able to build something luxurious enough to draw people,” he said. With only four casinos spread out over the entire state, though, whoever got a license could thrive.

Whatever you think of gambling, its regulations are mesmerizing. Gambling is outlawed in one way or another in all 50 states, but almost all — except Hawaii (surprisingly) and Utah (less so) — have exceptions. Most offer state-run lotteries. Thirty allow Indian casinos. Seventeen have full-scale non-Indian casinos (New York and Massachusetts are poised to join that group.) In each case, government officials limit the number of casinos and determine where they will be located.

As many of you know, I spent a number of years working in casinos in Reno, Nevada. I have seen the "down" side of the industry. What does it say about our economy, our way of life and our people, when a town can only survive as a result of people losing money. Something is wrong. Does it just pry lose hidden assets and get them back in cicrulation? I cannot afford to lose money, perhaps many can. I honestly do not understand it, EVERY dollar spent by a casino comes from someone losing money ..... how is that good?

What is Nevada's BLACK BOOK and who is in it?

Nevada's Black Book (not actually black but silver) is an attempt to keep organized crime out of casinos. Officials add the names of known crime figures to the book, and then any book member commits a crime simply by setting foot in a casino.The casino also commits a crime if it fails to report gambling in its facility by a Black Book member.

The book is only 36 pages long but lists some of the most notorious names in gambling crime since its creation in 1960. It was born out of the fear that if Nevada couldn't keep organized crime out of gambling then Congress would eliminate the industry completely through high taxes.
Eleven names were drawn up in the original list, consisting of individuals defined as having a "notorious and unsavory reputation which would adversely affect public confidence and trust that the gaming industry is free from criminal or corruptible elements."

Current "Black Book" members and the year they entered the list:

Marshall Caifano, Chicago mob leader 1960
Louis Dragna, Mob leader,convicted racketeer 1960
Alvin Kaohu, Hawaiian organized crime member 1975
Wilford Pulawa, Hawaiian organized crime boss 1975
John Vaccaro, Slot cheater 1986
Sandra Vaccaro, Slot cheater 1987
Chris Petti, Mob associate, convicted book maker and card cheater 1987
Michael Rizzitello, Mob associate,convicted kidnapper 1988
William Land,Card cheater 1988
James Tamer,Mob skimmer,bank robber 1988
Frank Masterana, Convicted bookmaker 1988
Frank Rosenthal, Mob associate 1988
Harold Lyons,Slot cheater 1989
Joseph Cusumano, Mob associate, convicted racketeer 1990
Douglas Barr,Slot cheater 1990
Timothy Childs, Slot cheater 1991
Francis Citro, Mob collector, convicted racketeer 1991
Richard Perry,Convicted sports fixer 1992
Anthony St.Laurent, Reputed mob associate, convicted racketeer,bookmaker 1993
Dominic Spinale, Convicted illegal bookmaker 1994
Brent Eli Morris
Douglas William Barr, Convicted slot cheat 1994
William Dominick Cammisano Jr., Reputed mob figure, convicted felon 1997
Ronald Harris, Former Gaming  Control Board computer expert who rigged slot machines 1997
Anthony "Tony Ripe" Civella, Reputed Kansas City, Mo., mob figure 1997
Jerry Dale Criner, Convicted slot cheat 1997
Louis John Olejack, Convicted card cheat  1997
John Joseph Conti, Reputed mob associate 1997
Stephen Cino, Reputed  mob associate 1997
Charles Panarella, Reputed mob associate 1997
Michael DiBari, Slot cheater 1998
Peter Joseph "P.J." Ribaste, Reputed mob associate  1999
Fred Pascente, a former Chicago police detective who served time for his connection to an Illinois mail fraud ring. (1999)
Michael Joseph Balsamo, a six-time convicted slot cheat,who is in the North Las Vegas jail in connection with a nationwide slot cheating scheme.(1999)
Peter Jay Lenz--Convicted on  bookmaking charges three times and on federal charges of making false statements on a passport application.

I knew a few who made this book, it used to be called the Blue Book. Had a good friend who was a "rhythm slot man" which I never understood, but Bob made a considerable amount of money, invested in real estate, and did well. He had every make of slot in his basement and worked long hours to "perfect" his system. 

Gambling - Blessing or a Curse?

Had some conversations recently about the casinos in Ohio, and all over the world. Are they a good thing or not. I have worked in them, seen them. In my opinion, the revenue they bring in is overshadowed by the damage they do, to society as a whole. Nothing good, every came out of a gambling hall. A gaming license is nothing more than a license to steal.
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Gambling + odds = Loss ... I have never known a winner.

A quote from Milos "Sharkey" Begovich. He was asked, "So you're saying that gambling is hurting the United States as a whole?"

His answer, "Oh, absolutely. Anybody that thinks otherwise is kidding himself."

His entire life revolved around gambling, he once won a nice six-figure amount. He has won and lost probably millions.

I knew a man in Reno, who had sold a business on the East coast, he and his wife headed for California, stopped in Reno. They lost everything they had. He looked for nickles, to play the slots, to get a bankroll, to get all his money back. His wife ran a new stand at the Golden Hotel.

I knew a man, a business man, lived in Nevada all his life, only went in the casinos to eat and see shows. He and his wife met with friends, one a week, pot luck dinner, afterwards, the women would play canasta, the men poker. One night he lost a few dollars, they meant nothing to him, I have seen him tip considerably more than he lost. It got him, within a few days he had lost two homes, everything he had, all his money, his cars, his businesses, and committed suicide.

You can lose "everything" but you can never win "enough." You can lose all sense of reason and responsibility when you gamble ......... and just one ..... hot streak .... can get you even, and, there is an unlimited amount of money that can be won.

When calling the dice on a crap table, you never mention the word, "loser" ..... always WINNERS .. there is a winner every roll of the dice, no one ever hears the word "loser." "They" have it down to a fine art.

"You gotta send out winners, to get players, I think it was Jim Kelly who advertised that slogan. His slots payed off all the time, small payoffs, but winners. You would invest $10 to win $3, and all you remembered was that winning jackpot, didn't realize you had just lost $7. .......... "I hit a jackpot."

Something for nothing, people are used to that. Casinos can tell you the exact date and time, that Welfare Checks are received. Wonder why that is?