A man from Indiana could land in prison for trying to hide his casino winnings and avoid paying back child support. The player, Lance Halderman, tried to collect his winnings via another person to avoid having the sum seized.

According to reports, the 44-year-old had previously had his winnings seized for back child support. This happened in June 2023 when his child support balance stood at over $2,200.

For context, local law allows authorities to garnish gambling winnings and other revenue from parents who are falling behind schedule in terms of child support. Once a garnishment order has been issued by a country’s prosecutor’s office or a court, it would appear during an ID check.

Halderman learned from his past experience and decided to try and hide his latest winnings. After winning over $2,000 on a slot machine at the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, the man asked another person to collect his winnings on his behalf to avoid having his ID scanned. In return, Halerman agreed to pay his accomplice $100 for the trouble in addition to covering the taxes on the income.

However, Halderman’s fraud was eventually discovered. The man is now charged with Level 6 felony cheating at gaming at La Porte Superior Court 4 and faces up to 30 months in prison.

Halderman’s accomplice, on the other hand, avoided charges after admitting that he was unaware of the illegality of the arrangement. The other man claimed that he was just trying to help someone in need.

Man Could Lose His Chance for Office Because of Felony

Speaking of gambling-related felonies, an Indiana man risks losing his shot at becoming Vigo County’s new treasurer because of a past gambling offense. Billy Joy of Terre Haute hopes to become Vigo County’s next treasurer but may turn out to be ineligible for the position because of his past involvement in illegal poker.

While Joy believes that he was just “playing cards with a bunch of his buddies,” and didn’t do anything illegal, he acknowledged the fact that the incident could spell the end of his bid for office. According to him, if the legal system tells him to take his name off, then “that’s the way it will have to be.”

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The Macau Judiciary Police have arrested five Chinese nationals suspected to be related to a cross-border criminal syndicate. The criminal organization, according to the authorities, uses counterfeit chips in casinos in Macau.

The arrests followed a recent report from a casino in the Cotai area where a customer exchanged fake chips for money. After the staff realized that they had been scammed they referred the matter to the police.

Local authorities immediately launched an investigation into the matter and quickly arrested five men from mainland China at the casino. Aged between 21 and 28, the five arrestees were suspected of being a part of a criminal organization that imports fake chips into Macau. The police are currently on the lookout for three other suspects who might be related to the case.

In addition to arresting the five men, the police were able to seize a whopping 585 fake chips worth approximately $750,000. More than 130 of those were discovered in toilets and taxi compartments near the border and might have been abandoned by other participants in the criminal scheme.

Upon careful inspection, the police concluded that the fake chips were extremely realistic and difficult to differentiate from real ones at first glance.

The Macau authorities believe that they are dealing with a fairly new criminal organization. According to the police, the group is believed to have started its illegal scheme in March.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Macau Seeks to Crack Down on Gambling Crime

Speaking of gambling crime in Macau, the country recently proposed a law that would exempt minor gambling offenders from prosecution, or at least reduce their penalties, if they provide evidence against others.

In addition to exempting whistleblowers from penalties, the new law would allow the police to search the property of potential witnesses or suspects during the night.

Additionally, Macau lawmakers proposed an amendment to the region’s Criminal Procedure Code that would allow it to implement an extension of detention measure. This matter was raised after Alvin Chau, the chairman of the controversial Suncity junket, argued that the detention period of certain individuals in the Suncity case had already expired.

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Bally’s Corporation, which just posted its Q1 results, commented on its plans for the future. According to the company, its permanent Chicago casino should welcome its first guests by Q3 2026, despite the struggles. In the meantime, Bally’s will not rush the redevelopment of the Tropicana site.

The gambling company addressed these issues during its Q1 earnings conference call. According to Robeson Reaves, Bally’s chief executive officer, the company has “absolutely no urgency whatsoever” when it comes to the Tropicana redevelopment. Still, the signature Vegas property is set to be imploded in October, as per the earlier plans.

The site in question is currently owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties. Following the end of the Tropicana, nine of the acres will be redeveloped into an MLB stadium. In the meantime, Bally’s is still considering its options.

According to Charles Diao, Bally’s treasurer, his team is in no rush to redevelop the site and is waiting for its option to increase in value. In any case, the strategic location and flexibility of the site is something that Bally’s intends to capitalize on.

In the meantime, Bally’s continues to struggle to raise the funds needed to complete its permanent casino in Chicago. Despite that, the company remains convinced that it will be able to open the property with no delays.

Bally’s has been struggling to raise the $800 million needed to develop the Chicago property for some time now. Despite that, the company’s temporary property at Medinah Temple continues to make strides and attract new customers.

While skeptics believe that the temporary venue’s positive performance is due to Bally’s intense promotional spending, the property has still been able to post GGR gains for six months in a row. The Medinah Temple temporary casino, according to Bally’s, is now the second-most visited gambling venue in the state of Illinois.

Marcus Glover, Bally’s chief financial officer, admitted that the profitability of the property is still “pretty light” but noted that this is “intentional.”

In addition to discussing Bally’s ongoing efforts in Illinois and Nevada, executives also commented on the company’s bid for a New York casino. According to them, the delays in the licensing process might actually benefit Bally’s, providing it with ample time to address its struggles in other states.

In other news, a Bally’s stakeholder recently urged other investors to reject indoor smoking.

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The Nevada Gaming Control Board has lodged a formal complaint against Scott Sibella, a former high-ranking executive in the casino industry. This action, coming four months after Sibella’s admission of guilt for breaching anti-money laundering protocols, adds another layer to the ongoing saga of regulatory scrutiny.

Legal Troubles Mount for Former President of Resorts World Las Vegas

Sibella, who was ousted from his role as president of Resorts World Las Vegas last September, following the opening of the extravagant $4.3 billion property, now faces potential penalties and fines as a consequence of the filed complaint, reported The Nevada Independent. The Nevada Gaming Control Board’s complaint specifically targets events dating back to 2018, during Sibella’s tenure as president of the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

Earlier this year, Sibella confessed to violating federal anti-money laundering statutes by permitting Wayne Nix, an alleged illegal bookmaker, to engage in substantial gambling activities at the MGM Grand. The complaint asserts that Sibella neglected to adhere to MGM Resorts International’s anti-money laundering policy, failing to flag Nix’s suspicious transactions, including his hefty gambling debts settled in cash.

Notably, this recent filing follows a series of investigations into Sibella’s conduct and Resorts World’s operations. The Board’s decision to pursue formal action underscores the gravity of the situation, especially in light of the casino’s association with a restaurant partly owned by a convicted felon, a matter previously under regulatory scrutiny.

Lawsuits and Investigations Shake Resorts World Las Vegas and Ex-President Sibella

Back in November Resorts World Las Vegas and its former president, Scott Sibella, contested the federal lawsuit filed by Robert “RJ” Cipriani, who accused them of negligence and conspiracy regarding illegal gambling activities. 

Sibella’s legal team argued for dismissal, claiming Cipriani’s claims lack substance and are driven by personal motives. Cipriani sought compensatory and punitive damages, while Resorts World’s attorney dismissed the allegations as frivolous. 

The Nevada Gaming Control Board launched an investigation into Resorts World Las Vegas in April 2022 following allegations made by gambler Brandon Sattler against the company’s president, Scott Sibella. Sattler claimed to be a former friend of Sibella and alleged past drug issues associated with him, while also implicating Sibella in a connection with a convicted felon who partially owned a restaurant within the resort.

Sibella’s sentencing is set for May 8, where he could potentially receive a maximum prison term of five years. However, reports suggest that Sibella may instead be granted a one-year probation period along with a fine.

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A harrowing tale of violence and tragedy unfolded earlier this month, culminating in a fatal wrong-way crash that claimed the life of an 83-year-old woman following a kidnapping from a casino. 

Authorities Arrest 37-Year-Old Suspect Linked to Disturbing Casino Kidnapping

The suspect, a 37-year-old individual, whose name is being withheld pending formal charges, has been discharged from the hospital and is now in custody at the Snohomish County jail, reported KOMO News.

The charges against the suspect include first-degree aggravated murder, kidnapping, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm, among others, according to a probable cause statement released April 24.

Reports suggest a disturbing sequence of events leading up to the tragic crash. Allegedly, the suspect assaulted and kidnapped his girlfriend from Tulalip Casino, making chilling threats against her life. 

Describing a moment of explosive rage, the victim recounted how the suspect threw a metal canister at her, causing severe injury to her arm. Subsequent text messages sent from her phone, seemingly under duress, conveyed ominous threats of violence, including intentions to “skin her alive.”

Following these distressing messages, law enforcement initiated a search for both the suspect and the victim. Their pursuit led them to the suspect’s residence in Everett, where a tense encounter ensued. The victim, in fear for her life, provided crucial information to the authorities before the suspect managed to evade capture.

Tulalip Casino Abduction Culminates in Fatal Crash

The next day, a horrifying turn of events unfolded at the Tulalip Casino, where the suspect forcibly abducted the victim, accompanied by physical violence. Task force officers swiftly responded to a distress call from the casino, sparking a high-speed chase through the streets of Everett and Lynnwood.

The pursuit, fueled by the gravity of the suspect’s threats, reached a devastating climax on State Route 525. Driving recklessly against oncoming traffic, the suspect’s vehicle collided head-on with a GMC Yukon, resulting in the tragic death of Trudy Slanger, the driver of the Yukon. Both the suspect and the abducted woman sustained injuries in the collision and were transported to Harborview Medical Center.

This appalling incident underscores the urgent need for effective intervention in cases of domestic violence and abduction. As the suspect awaits formal charges, the community mourns the loss of Trudy Slanger and rallies behind efforts to prevent such senseless tragedies in the future.

Law enforcement agencies continue their investigation into this case, seeking justice for the victims and their families amidst the aftermath of this heartbreaking event.

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Atlantic City casino workers have voiced their discontent with Gov. Phil Murphy‘s stance on the smoking ban proposal. The governor’s comments during News 12’s “Ask Gov. Murphy” program stirred controversy among members of the Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) group, who vehemently oppose his assertion that there are valid arguments on both sides of the issue. [Read more…] about Atlantic City Casino Workers Clash with Gov. Murphy Over Smoking Ban