A project seeking to reduce the lanes of Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is subject to a lawsuit filed by casino operators along with AtlantiCare. The legal claim was filed last year and recently gained traction with the city’s claims in support of the project labeled as “road diet.” The project proposes to reduce the lanes from four to two along Atlantic Avenue between New Hampshire and Boston Avenues.

Opponents of the road diet claimed that the city needs to secure approval from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), a non-profit organization that focuses on tourism in Atlantic City. Besides AtlantiCare, plaintiffs include Tropicana, Resorts, Bally’s, Hard Rock and Caesars. Considering that the CRDA oversees tourism in the city, the plaintiffs argued that they need to approve the proposed project as well.

Another major concern of the plaintiffs is that the road diet will result in traffic congestion. This, in turn, may obstruct emergency vehicles down Atlantic Avenue from reaching AtlantiCare’s emergency, putting lives in jeopardy.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that a comprehensive study about the impact on traffic of the project wasn’t conducted. Ultimately, the casinos along with AtlantiCare asked the court to enforce an injunction, temporarily stopping the road diet.

The City’s Defense Fights Back

The opposing side, the city, rejected the claims that the project needs the approval of the CRDA, as announced by the Press of Atlantic City. Last week, Richard Trenk, an attorney defending the city in the lawsuit, filed a brief, claiming that the plaintiffs misinterpreted the responsibilities of the CRDA outlining: “Thus, because no statute or regulation requires approval from CRDA, the City had no obligation to seek approval from CRDA.” What’s more, in its brief, the city’s defense argued that the project was accompanied by a traffic study that examined its impact on traffic.

Trenk also addressed the concerns related to the claim about delays of emergency vehicles caused by the reduction of the traffic lanes. He explained that experts in Atlantic City, in collaboration with the state and transportation agency examined the proposed project, confirming it wouldn’t impact the flow of emergency vehicles. “Thus, Plaintiff cannot demonstrate any genuine irreparable harm at stake,” explained the city’s brief.

The city’s defense asked the court to deny the requests listed within the lawsuit filed by AtlantiCare and the casino operators. The case is set to return to court on January 26, 2024, when each of the parties will present their arguments in front of Judge Michael Blee.

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Nassau County officials have leveled accusations against Hofstra University, alleging that the institution is colluding with a competitor to sabotage the Nassau Coliseum casino bid. 

Nassau County Executive Reveals Troubling Evidence of Hofstra’s Role in Casino Project Controversy

Nassau County Executive, Bruce Blakeman, held a press conference on January 17, revealing that there is evidence suggesting Hofstra’s collaboration with Hard Rock International, a key player in the bid to establish a casino in the Citi Field parking lots. 

Blakeman cited a Newsday column, highlighting an email from a consultant to Steve Cohen’s bid office, indicating potential communication with Hofstra.

Blakeman expressed his deep concern, stating that they found the situation very troubling and hypocritical. He went on to suggest that there might be collusion or coordination on the part of Hofstra with another entity against the Nassau Coliseum bid, thus exacerbating the already contentious conflict.

To reinforce their allegations, Nassau County issued subpoenas to Hofstra, demanding documents related to any communication with Hard Rock Seminole regarding the casino project. The subpoenas, served by the county sheriff’s office, underscore the seriousness of the allegations.

Hofstra President Summoned as Nassau Coliseum Bid Hangs in the Balance

Hofstra University President, Susan Poser, has been summoned to testify before the county Legislature on Monday. In a statement, the university mentioned that they would adhere to the law in responding to the subpoena, while also dismissing it as another attempt to divert attention and hinder a fair and open process concerning the transfer of Nassau County land.

The Nassau Coliseum bid, potentially facing demolition to make way for the casino, has been entangled in legal battles, with Hofstra filing a lawsuit last April to block the project. A judge sided with Hofstra, nullifying the 99-year lease agreement, leaving the casino bid in limbo. Nassau County has since appealed the decision.

Amidst the allegations, Hard Rock International swiftly denied any communication with Hofstra related to Nassau. Jonathan Goldman, a spokesperson for Hard Rock, emphasized the company’s commitment to “integrity, honesty, and transparency.”

The casino competition in New York has intensified, with developers vying for three $500 million downstate casino licenses. The Nassau and Queens bids are seen as strong contenders, benefitting from less congested locations compared to proposals targeting Manhattan.Last week S&P Global Ratings warned operators of significant financial risks, citing potential licensing fees as high as $1 billion each. Major players like MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts are vying for the licenses, with proposed projects ranging from $2 billion to over $5 billion. Despite the financial challenges, experts see a strategic long-term gain for victorious operators, although the timeline for developments may extend into 2025.

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Blandino, a well-recognized figure in NFL officiating, recently offered intriguing revelations about the league’s stringent measures to protect the integrity of games. While sanctions against players guilty of gambling violations have helped reduce such cases, NFL officials face even stricter checks. Blandino revealed that some referees had received offers to influence games. However, he remained confident in the league’s integrity safeguards.

Referees Undergo Frequent and Comprehensive Checks

Speaking on the “Awful Announcing” podcast, Dean Blandino delved into how the rising prominence of legalized sports betting has necessitated enhanced vetting processes for current and prospective NFL referees. He was adamant that the league had delegated massive resources to prevent match-fixing, adding that evolving policies helped the NFL keep up with new developments.

Blandino shed light on the vigilance exercised during the season, emphasizing the strict monitoring of officials’ bank accounts for suspicious spikes in funds coinciding with game days. He stressed the significance of closely tracking betting lines to analyze the correlation between calls made by individual officials and their potential impact on those lines.

If a game official has $10 in their bank account on Friday, and then they work a game, and now there’s $100,000, that’s a red flag, right?

Dean Blandino

The former NFL VP of Officiating highlighted the meticulous protocols employed in examining referees’ business associations, potential conflicts of interest, and even their financial transactions. Blandino underscored how the NFL has faced instances where individuals approached referees with offers to influence games. The league has implemented stringent guidelines, including restrictions on officials wearing NFL-branded gear to avoid compromising situations.

Frequent Policy Updates Set an Example for Other Leagues

The NFL’s growing association with sportsbooks and official partnerships with leading betting platforms has prompted a steadfast commitment to stringent gambling regulations. In September, the league reinforced its gambling policy, imposing harsher penalties against players betting on their teams. This proactive approach is paying substantial dividends, significantly reducing the frequency of high-profile scandals.

Despite the league’s ongoing efforts and genuine commitment to integrity, some athletes still test existing safeguards by engaging in illegal wagering. June saw the NFL issue indefinite suspensions to three offending players, hoping the harsh penalties would deter new offenses. The strategy, combined with evolving policies and education efforts, appears successful, as fewer such cases have made the news.

Blandino’s insight was instrumental in highlighting the NFL’s incredible 2023 progress toward mitigating the downsides of its close relationship with sports betting. Nevada congresswoman Dina Titus recently praised the league for its consistent and efficient approach, noting it would provide fans with confidence in the fairness of the games they wager on.

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The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors gave the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians approval on March 1 to construct a $300 million luxury tribal casino resort on the current River Rock Casino near Geyserville.

The gaming venue will replace the tribe-owned River Rock Casino and be built on the property located in the Alexandria Valley.

Since the Graton Casino Resort in Rohnert Park was launched in 2013, River Rock casino has suffered financially. The casino is owned by Federated Band of Graton Rancheria and is the largest gaming venue in Northern California. It cuts down on visits to River Rock via the Bay Area.

Graton Rancheria is also making plans to expand its gaming section significantly and build another hotel tower. The already troubled River Rock casino will face even more issues once these new additions are completed. However, the new casino could seriously threaten Graton’s grasp on the local gaming market after completion.

In a statement to the board, Dry Creek Rancheria president Chris Wright revealed that the tribe looked forward to working with the government in the future.

“I think we’ve come up with an MOA (memorandum of agreement) that is fair to the tribe and fair to the county. I look forward to a government to government relationship going forward,” Wright said.

River Rock Casino consists of a 60,000-square-foot gaming hall with 1,200 slot machines. The new casino resort will have a gaming hall of approximately the same size but with 300 more slot machines. It will also have a 300-room hotel, a spa, a wedding chapel, and several other amenities.

Per the terms of the agreement, the Dry Creek Rancheria tribe was expected to pay $750,000 to the county annually for at least four years after the project was completed. When the time elapses, a 2% annual increase will be required. However, no matter the revenue reeled in, the amounts paid each year will not exceed $1.5 million.

The current plans for the casino project are a compromise between Sonoma County and the tribe. Several parties are against the casino expansion, including the Alexander Valley Association, which represents the county’s families, businesses, and farmers.

Karin Warnelius-Miller, the association’s president, revealed that they were incensed by the expansion and had no intentions of standing down. The association has been part of some previous negotiations.

In 2008 the Dry Creeks tribe proposed to build an 88,000-square-foot casino with around 3,000 poker machines and a hotel with 600 rooms but altered its plans. They also decided to forestall the building of another gaming venue on the property located in Petaluma, at least until 2032.

According to an earlier agreement with the state, the tribe was permitted to construct another casino in Sonoma County. They agreed to push back the project for around 10 years, and in return, the Sonoma County officials would forgo the 2020 and 2021 annual $750,000 revenue payment required from the tribe.

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