Poker superstar Phil Ivey has received approval that is preliminary A las vegas medical marijuana dispensary license in Nevada.
Phil Ivey isn’t smoking something, but their future clients may be: Ivey received one of 26 license that is preliminary for the medical cannabis dispensary through the Las Vegas City Council earlier this week, potentially making the poker superstar one of the first operators within the town to provide pot to consumers.
You will find still further steps necessary before Ivey gets approval that is final start such a business, but his approval does suggest that the town found him qualified to go on in the licensing procedure.
About 50 prospective operators went before the City Council this week to plead their instances for medical marijuana licenses. Those that got approval that is preliminary the city will now have to be approved by the state health division.
The City Council will fundamentally hold a last suitability meeting for all those approved by the state before awarding a limited number of licenses which have been set aside for Las Vegas.
This means that Ivey still has a way that is long go before obtaining a final go-ahead to dispense medical marijuana in Sin City. But if he could make his way through the various licensing stages, Ivey might end up slinging weed just as prolifically as he makes pot-sized bets at the poker table.
Council Separate on Licensing Process
There has been a whole lot of debate over the way nevada has handled the pot licensing procedure, though who has more regarding procedural questions than such a thing Ivey or some other licensee that is potential done.
Councilman Bob Coffin introduced a motion to delay the proceedings until after Nevada regulators weigh in on the suitability of each of the candidates week that is next. He worried that making public opinions on applicants before the state made its own recommendations could potentially lead to legal actions, and that waiting could allow the city to approach the issue with an ‘unbiased eye.’
But that motion ultimately failed, as a vote regarding the issue completed in a tie that is 3-3. Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian and councilman Ricki Barlow also voted to wait the procedures, while Mayor Carolyn Goodman, spouse of infamous ex-mayor Oscar and mother of a applicatant by herself, abstained from the vote.
Among the many candidates that had been approved were developer James Hammer, restaurant owner Michael Morton, and political consultant David Thomas. Nuleaf, a Las Vegas-based company that is owned by a team that operates dispensaries in California, was denied for a permit.
‘we believe waiting might have made a difference,’ Nuleaf spokesman Bradley Mayer said. ‘We feel confident that the state will find our company is a very qualified applicant.’
Ivey Headliner for the 12 Months
This is just the latest in a series of headlines made by Ivey which have nothing in connection with his skills that are prodigious the poker table.
Probably the biggest headlines have been made in his various cases that are edge-sorting Crockfords therefore the Borgata. Ivey currently destroyed the Crockfords case in the UK’s High Court of Justice, costing him over $12 million in winnings. a case that is similar the Atlantic City casino is nevertheless pending, although in that case, it is the casino that is pursuing recourse to have its payouts came back. Ivey contends that the tactics he found in the games don’t represent cheating, while the gambling enterprises, perhaps not surprisingly, disagree.
Last Saturday, Ivey also shut straight down the Ivey Poker website, closing operations just 18 months after the Facebook poker program launched. However, the poker legend said that the shut down ended up being simply a change for the product.
Southern Africa Online Gambling Ban Stirs Debate
South Africa is considering a ban on online gambling, also stronger laws for land-based betting, such as electronic bingo terminals like these. (Image: OnlineCasinoArchives.co.za)
South Africa’s government is proposing a ban on a wide variety of gambling activities, including all forms of online gambling and other activities such as dog racing. That proposal is being discussed by the nationwide Gambling Policy Council, which features users from both the national and governments that are provincial as well as the Department of Trade and Industry.
According to department officials, the federal government believes it has the capability to enforce regulations on gambling, and that it’s unclear how jobs that are many created by the online gambling industry. It could also hardly be a move that is unprecedented as many other jurisdictions around the globe have outlawed Internet gambling in the past.
Democratic Alliance Favors Regulation Over Ban
But while many government officials were enthusiastic in regards to the prospect, the notion of an outright ban was highly denounced by the opposition Democratic Alliance.
‘That is a very, very decision that is bad’ stated DA trade and industry spokesperson Geordin Hill-Lewis. ‘we fiercely disagree with that view. It really is completely shortsighted to say that it is better for South Africans not to ever be permitted to gamble online if you have patently significant need in the country to accomplish this. It is for government to facilitate that in the way that is safest possible.’
In other words, the DA place is the fact that online gambling is better managed through regulation, instead than an outright ban. a ban that is full Hill-Lewis said, would cost far too much in resources to enforce.
But Department of Trade and Industry Deputy Director-General Zodwa Ntuli said that the specific circumstances in South Africa meant that a ban is good general public policy. She pointed away that the department’s proposal was made after recognizing that South Africa had a level that is relatively high of gambling and debt compared with numerous nations.
Electronic Bingo Terminals Could Be Limited
If the department’s tips were to be law, it wouldn’t trigger a extensive ban of all gambling activities in the country, but would rather restrict just what will be allowed associated with old-fashioned kinds of gaming that are already contained in South Africa. There would be further controls put on electronic bingo terminals, which are currently allowed by provincial governments, even though there is certainly no nationwide policy on the machines.
That conflict caused Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies to issue a moratorium on any further licenses for the devices. The new guidelines would see a cap on the range machines allowed nationwide. It would also you will need to control the ease of access to these machines, with officials saying that gambling really should not be allowed in departmental stores, for instance.
The newest regulations would have a framework for allowing the government to raised oversee the horse industry that is racing. While few details were available, it appeared that probably the most significant changes here would come in the issuing of licenses, a process through which the us government could impact modification on the market.
Gambling legislation in South Africa resembles that associated with the United States and Canada, at least in terms of the interplay between federal and local governments. While the government that is federal national policy, it is as much as individual provinces to determine how each will issue licenses and collect revenues from gambling tasks.
Tuesday Massachusetts Casino Repeal Vote Takes Place
Despite long odds, anti-casino forces continue to be hoping for a success in Massachusetts. A ‘yes’ vote means ‘no casinos’. (Image: Repeal the Casino Deal)
A vote that will either lead to Massachusetts casino repeal or towards the matter being put to bed for good is coming on Tuesday, though it would just take a major upset for anti-casino advocates to get their way on Election Day. Those seeking to defeat casinos are confusingly searching for voters to vote ‘Yes’ on Question 3, an idea that would put a final end to the 2012 legislation that is allowing the state to license video gaming houses across the state.
In line with the latest study by the Western New England University Polling Institute, 59 % of likely voters within the state plan to vote ‘No’ in the ballot question, meaning ‘yes’ to legal casinos. Only 35 percent plan to vote ‘yes,’ in benefit of the repeal. Those figures represent a gain that is major pro-casino forces, since a September poll showed just an 11 percent advantage for ‘no’ voters.
Of course, that’s assuming voters don’t get completely bewildered by the unintuitive ‘yes/no’ phrasing of the ballot effort itself.
Religious Voters Support Repeal
The numbers reveal that there is some success in efforts by spiritual leaders to get parishioners to oppose the casino law, with regular churchgoers being more inclined to vote ‘yes’ than their counterparts that are non-attending. But also Catholics whom attend mass every are opposed to repeal by a 17 percent margin week. In fact, Protestant voters who worship regularly make up about the sole demographic that favor repeal, doing so by way of a 55-45 margin.
Meanwhile, the advertising efforts by casinos and their allies seem to have been very effective. Support for the repeal in Western Massachusetts has been reduced notably compared to in prior polls, possibly due to advertising that touted some great benefits of the planned MGM casino in Springfield.
Battle Over Pros and Consequences
But while anti-casino advocates may be facing odds that are long Tuesday, they’re still fighting in the final moments to get their message out. Groups like Repeal the Casino Deal believe that the casinos will offer you very little benefit that is economic the people of Massachusetts, while increasing criminal activity and gambling addiction.
‘ The money isn’t coming to the social people of Massachusetts,’ said Al Cabot, an anti-casino advocate. ‘This is definitely cash that’s going from one or two casinos in Connecticut to three casinos in Massachusetts.’
Unsurprisingly, those into the casino industry see things just a bit that is little. According to MGM Springfield President Mike Mathis, his business’s casino will create several thousand jobs and bring tens of millions of dollars in economic stimulus to town.
‘We’ve seen exactly what 25 years of no casino may do,’ Mathis stated. ‘We’d like an opportunity.’
Mathis also disputes the concept that casinos would simply be taking money that is already spent in Massachusetts and moving it to spending at his business’s resort.
‘A third slotsforfun-ca.com of our customers are coming from Connecticut,’ Mathis said. ‘This concept that money is dropping through the sky or we’re cannibalizing the market that is local just inaccurate.’
Gambling enterprises in Massachusetts: Pre-Election Status
Therefore far, three licenses have already been granted to build gambling venues in Massachusetts. Combined with MGM casino in Springfield, Wynn Resorts had been the winner of the higher Boston license, beating out a competing plan by Mohegan Sun at Suffolk Downs in Revere. A license ended up being additionally granted to Penn National to develop a slots parlor in Plainridge.
While casino opponents may come up short at the polls, simply getting the question on the ballot was one thing of a victory. Although campaigners collected plenty of signatures to put the casino concern up to a referendum, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley originally rejected the question, forcing a showdown in the state’s Supreme Court over whether it might ultimately show up on this year’s ballot.