Police in Ontario have charged two individuals from Toronto in connection with fraudulent activities related to online iGaming sites regulated by the province. The arrests come after an extensive investigation into allegations of identity theft and fraud on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) iGaming platform.

Ontario Police Collaboration Uncovers Online Gaming Fraud Ring

The investigation, led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in collaboration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), began in July 2022 when reports of identity theft surfaced regarding the OLG’s online gaming site, olg.ca. 

Subsequent allegations of fraudulent activity on the platform’s sports betting section were reported to AGCO in August of the same year.

Following months of investigation, on July 13, 2023, law enforcement executed a warranted search at a residence in North York. The operation resulted in the seizure of multiple electronic devices and fraudulent documents linked to non-gaming criminal activities, according to an OPP release.

On December 21, 2023, the police formally charged two individuals in connection with the case. Ernesto Rasing, aged 38 and a resident of Toronto, faces a slew of charges including fraud, identity theft, and possession of forged documents. 

Similarly, Elaiza Mae Paculanan, aged 20 and also from North York, has been charged with various offenses related to fraud and identity theft, along with an additional charge for violating probation.

Both accused individuals were subsequently released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto to answer the charges.

Ontario Authorities Encourage Reporting of Cybercrime Amid iGaming Fraud Crackdown

Ontario authorities urge anyone who suspects they may have fallen victim to cybercrime or fraud to report it promptly to their local police department. Additionally, individuals can utilize the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system.

The arrests underscore the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat fraudulent activities within the online gaming sector. As the popularity of online gaming continues to rise, authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to ensure the integrity and security of these platforms.

At the same time, Ontario’s iGaming market has seen a resurgence, with significant increases in metrics reported in the third quarter of the 2023-24 fiscal year. This includes a notable rise in total wagers, reaching $17.2 million, and total gaming revenue of $658 million, indicating a 22% increase over the previous quarter. 

These figures account for the operations of 49 legal operators and 72 gaming websites in the province, with approximately 1.2 million active player accounts recorded during this period.

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Amidst growing concerns over Comstock Companies‘ push to establish a casino on Metro’s Silver Line outside the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County, residents of Reston are urging state lawmakers to reject any legislation supporting the controversial project.

Activists Challenge Casino Plans, Cite Deviation from Reston’s Planning Principles

On January 6, activists from NoRestonCasino.org, a group opposing the casino plans, placed signs outside the Fairfax County Government Center, calling attention to what they believe is a deviation from Reston’s planning principles, reported local media outlet Patch. 

The opposition argues that the Reston Comprehensive Plan, as well as the stance of Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn, does not align with the proposed casino development.

Lynne Mulston, president of the Reston Citizens Association, emphasized that, under current Virginia law, no legislation permits such development in Reston. 

Mulston stated that the recent endeavors of a major developer to garner favor with Virginia State Senators Surovell and Marsden, along with other elected representatives, to influence legislative action, suggest a disregard for the social, economic, infrastructure, and other impacts on the Reston community.

During the Public Hearing for Fairfax Delegation to the General Assembly, Jennifer Jushchuk, representing Save Our Sunrise, voiced concerns about the proximity of the proposed casino to residential areas, emphasizing the family-oriented nature of the Sunrise Valley Neighborhood in Reston. 

She mentioned that there is a single developer, Comstock, aiming to establish a casino and that they have significant investments in the properties surrounding the Wiehle Reston-East metro station, rather than in Tysons Corner.

Activists Highlight Environmental and Socio-Economic Concerns

Activists argue that the proposed casino contradicts the recently approved Reston Master Plan, which aimed to promote growth in key market sectors such as technology and higher education. 

Mac Cummins, the CEO of RA, expressed that a casino would go against and be incompatible with the goals outlined in the recently adopted plan, putting at risk the extensive community planning efforts made in Reston over the years.

Health concerns were also raised during the public hearing, with Michelle Widmann Kimmel of Healthy Reston highlighting potential environmental toxicity and socio-economic problems associated with casino developments. Kimmel urged legislators to consider the lack of empirical research supporting claims of economic benefits from casinos.

State Senator Dave Marsden and Delegate Wren Williams introduced bills in 2023, which were later withdrawn, and now plan to reintroduce an expanded referendum bill in the upcoming legislative session.

Residents hope that their collective voice echoed through various community groups and elected officials, will deter the state legislature from endorsing a casino that they deem unwanted and unnecessary for the vibrant community of Reston.

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South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos do not sit well with many of the local residents. According to a recent report, roughly half of the residents of Jeju Island believe that these properties have led to a drastic increase in crime. According to these locals, stricter regulations are needed.

The survey was conducted by representatives of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and inquired about the opinions of 1,000 local adults. A whopping 49.9% said that they believe the properties have led to a spike in the region’s criminal activities. In the meantime, 14.2% disagreed with that statement. The rest were neutral and did not have strong opinions on the matter.

The survey also inquired about islanders’ feelings about the casinos’ effects on the environment. More than half of the respondents (52%) said that the island’s foreigner-only casinos have a negative impact, pollute the environment and increase traffic problems. In the meantime, 13.7% disagreed with that statement.

Furthermore, 55.1% agreed that the casinos have a harmful effect on the local youth and the educational sector as a whole. However, 13.7% do not believe in a link between the educational system and the casino properties.  

The Island’s Eight Casinos Provide a Boost to the Economy

Jeju Island houses eight foreigner-only casinos. These are managed and supervised by the provincial government and have been the subject of controversies for some time. For reference, South Korea prohibits gambling but allows foreign tourists to gamble in specific areas.

In addition to the aforementioned concerns, the casinos also bring some benefits. Roughly 40% of the survey respondents admitted that the island’s eight casinos do bring in more foreigners and lead to increased tourist spending. In addition, 33.7% agreed that the casinos have created many new jobs.

Speaking of jobs, 34.2% believe that operators should create more jobs for young people, while 32.8% would like casinos to provide more financial support to the local tourism sector.

Despite the casinos’ positive effects on the local economy, 51.4% believe that stricter regulations are needed. On the contrary, 27.3% of the respondents believe that the casinos could do with some more support from the government.

For reference, this survey was the first of its kind on the island. The Jeju Island government plans to conduct it every year in order to measure public opinion on the casinos and casino regulations.  

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A majority of Queens residents would favor a casino near Citi Field in Queens according to a survey conducted on behalf of the group pushing for the casino.

Residents Open to the Casino Idea

The survey was conducted by Schoen Cooperman Research on behalf of New Green Willets, the firm lobbying for the casino plan near Citi Field, from April 7 to April 14 among 600 Queens residents, according to the memo sent by the research agency to the lobbying firm on Monday.

The survey revealed that 78% of the borough residents supported the casino project upon receiving further details of the plan, while 65% of the respondents became more supportive as soon as they had been told that the casino hotel would also feature a live music venue and conference spaces, besides casino gaming.

The memo depicting an overall public openness to a casino in the area did not provide details about residents from which neighborhoods had participated in the survey or a geographical breakdown of the results.

The casino in northern Queens is competing with Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Long Island for one of three $500 downstate casino licenses but two of the licenses are expected to be awarded to existing racinos in Yonkers and southeast Queens, intensifying the competition for the final permit.

The New York State launched the bidding process in January and bids are centered on community input, requiring a two-third approval from a panel of representatives, including the mayor, governor, local Assembly member, state Senator, local City Council member, and the local borough president.

The northern Queens casino project is pushed by New Green Willets, a lobbying company with close ties to the owner of the New York Mets, Steve Cohen, which is working behind the scenes to gather the required public support for the casino planned to be built on 50 blocks of asphalt by the ballpark.

The idea of a casino near Citi Field is not met without resistance: in March, its opponents gathered at a library in Flushing and held a press conference during which they urged the local authorities to reject the plan.

A survey conducted by Siena College in January revealed that support and opposition to a casino in Manhattan was balanced as 38% showed support of the idea and 38% opposed it.

Other candidates for one of the downstate casino licenses are seeking to build a casino in the Bronx and at Coney Island in Brooklyn, but an early favorite is seen in the project seeking to put a casino at the Nassau Coliseum site on Long Island.

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