A sheriff in South Florida wants to retain more than $1.2 million in cash, along with other items. The bounty was seized earlier this year during searches tied to an illegal bookmaking investigation that has yet to produce any criminal charges.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Thursday that the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor has told four men they are under investigation. While none currently have been indicted, court records show Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony first sought to seize the money on May 7, three weeks after searches at four locations. The haul included nine $1,000 poker chips and 25 gold coins with an estimated value of more than $44,000.

Tony then filed an amended petition on Aug. 23.

According to an Orlando Sentinel article, Florida law enforcement officials seized more than $265 million in cash and personal property in 2018. That was more than any other state in the country.

According to the Institute for Justice, state and federal law enforcement agencies have used civil forfeiture laws to claim more than $68.8 billion, according to the Institute for Justice.

Investigation Started Three Years Ago

According to Tony’s petition, his office’s Organized Crime Unit got a tip from a Crime Stoppers call in December 2018. The message was that a man named William Cascioli was part of a group running an illegal gambling and money laundering ring in South Florida.

“The tipster further advised that members of the organization operate an illegal sports betting operation comprised of multiple partners and that the organization receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds weekly,” the complaint stated.

After the call, sheriff’s officers began to track Cascioli. During that time, the officers noted Cascioli held several meetings in Davie, a Broward County community. He was also found picking up an unidentified white male with a backpack from Terminal 3 of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The two drove off, but returned minutes later to the Terminal 1 departure building. There, the unknown male exited the car with the backpack.

From the airport, the civil forfeiture petition says officers saw Cascioli go to a CVS Pharmacy, where he purchased two Yahtzee board games. Less than an hour later, he went to a FedEx location to ship the Yahtzee games. One went to Texas and the other to California.

While in line with the clerk, Cascioli was overheard utilizing his cellular device communicating with an individual he referred to as ‘Stevie Boy’ and discussing the point spreads, odds on the Super Bowl, and horse racing,” the complaint states.

FedEx officials would open the boxes as part of the company’s policies against shipping illegal contraband. They found more than $200,000 in cash in both Yahtzee boxes.

That money was eventually seized, and further investigation found that the illegal bookmaking ring was allegedly prevalent in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Collier, and Martin counties.

Civil Forfeiture Attempt Fought

The Broward County Sheriff’s Office also alleges the ring used a website, betbigcity.ag, to run its operation, with an account established by Cascioli. The complaint states that 23 agents of the ring had accounts, with 115 clients using the site.

This past April, the sheriff’s office filed for search warrants for Cascioli’s Palm Beach County home and for residences of three other people, Todd Schettino, Harris Steinhart, and Martin Zarcadoolas. Warrants were also filed for accounts connected to Zarcadoolas, Cascioli, and Voehringer Realty LLC.

The sheriff’s petition alleges that Zarcadoolas was a high-ranking member of the organization, and accounts in his name were used to “conceal the proceeds of their illegal bookmaking activity.”

Among the property seized from Zarcadoolas included the gold coins and poker chips, as well as more than $183,000 from a closet safe at his residence. Law enforcement also confiscated several electronic devices, such as a MacBook, a Chromebook, iPads, and cell phones, and men’s Breitling, Cartier, and Rolex watches.

Bank seizures from Zarcadoolas included nearly $600,000 from an account at Chase Bank, and more than $165,000 from a Bank of America account.

Zarcadoolas has denied his involvement in the illegal gambling ring. Court documents show he has fought efforts to have his possessions seized through civil forfeiture.

“The seizing law enforcement agency effectuated an unconstitutional search of Zarcadoolas’ home in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Florida Constitution and the United States Constitution,” Zarcadoolas’ response to the amended complaint states.

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Boyd Gaming has agreed to pay a $150,000 fine to the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC). That’s after the regulatory agency determined the Las Vegas-based gaming company did not reveal a former executive and license holder was the subject of an internal investigation.

The former executive had a sexual relationship with another executive within the company, which went against Boyd’s anti-fraternization rules. That’s according to an order approved at Tuesday’s commission meeting,

The issue came to light on June 23. That’s when Boyd notified the IGC that it entered into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) for failing to notify the PGCB about the incident.

The PGCB fined Boyd $150,000 at its June meeting.

In Indiana, Boyd operates the Belterra Casino Resort in Florence and the Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City.

Boyd Punished Retiring Exec for Violating Policy

Indiana law requires casino licensees to notify the IGC when they face criminal, civil or administrative action. The law also requires notification when such actions are threatened.

The demand letter led to Boyd’s board forming a special committee to investigate the claims.

Two months later, in September 2019, the male executive discussed his possible retirement with the company’s CEO. Eventually, that male executive became a subject of the special committee’s review.

By early October 2019, the male executive admitted a consensual relationship with the female executive. The relationship happened about a decade before the investigation started, the IGC order said.

A report from the special investigation was discussed at Boyd’s Dec. 5, 2019, board meeting. That report concluded that the male executive violated company policy against fraternization. However, it was unable to determine if the female executive to coerced into the relationship.

Boyd considered the matter an internal issue, and the male executive retired on Dec. 9, effective six days later. The IGC order said the company denied the male executive his yearly cash bonus. He also did not receive his career restricted stock shares.

Disclosure was Necessary, According to IGC

While the IGC order did not name either the male or female executive, it stated that the male executive served as the executive vice president, secretary, and general counsel to Boyd. A search of the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission disclosures found that Boyd reported Brian Larson retired from that position on the same date.

Boyd reported Larson’s retirement to the IGC on Dec. 16, 2019, as he held a Level 1 license in Indiana. However, that report did not include Larson was part of a special investigation, nor did it disclose any of the findings from that review.

Therefore, Licensee failed to report material information on a Level 1 licensee with the Commission that could question his suitability for licensure in Indiana,” the IGC order stated. “Even though the male executive was surrendering his license due to retirement, this material information should have been provided to the Commission, giving the Commission the opportunity to conduct a suitability review.”

A spokesperson for Boyd told Casino.org that the company had nothing further to add on the matter.

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On Tuesday, December 21^st, 2021 the National Hockey League has decided to once again skip out on the 2022 Winter Olympic Games from Beijing, China due to health and safety issues related to the COVID – 19 virus.

This is not surprising as the National Hockey League has paused the 2021 – 2022 NHL season domestically due to the surge in positive testing for COVID – 19 widespread across the league in the United States of America and Canada.

The NHL usually remains mostly neutral out of the major North American sports leagues, so unlike the diplomats who boycotted these upcoming 2022 Olympic Winter Games, that was not the case for the NHL who is not trying to make any sort of a political statement about China’s horrible civil rights situation as well as ongoing human rights abuses there. It is strictly revolving around the coronavirus safety issues.

Similar to the IOC, the league’s foremost interest is and has always been its own internal bottom line over other competitions. That’s why the league also skipped out on the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and this is not an option available to all the lugers, curlers, ski jumpers, and even figure skaters who need the attention the Olympics brings to finance their sport during the 3 – years off in between each Winter Olympic Games.

This was always going to be a no – brainer for the commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman, as well as the NHL player’s union. The Olympics don’t pay them a dime for showing up, and if for some reason NHL players got stranded there to quarantine or a travel restriction prohibited them from returning back to the U. S. and Canada on schedule it could jeopardize the entire 2021 – 2022 NHL season which is already a complete mess at the moment.

Fifty NHL games have recently been postponed through the upcoming Tuesday night, and there’s a league – wide pause or break in NHL action in effect until at least next week. Presuming the presently tightened up protocols return some measure of control to the National Hockey League the 3 – week window which normally would be the Olympic break can be utilized in order to make up those recently and upcoming postponed NHL hockey games.

It will be interesting to see if the National Hockey League decides to go ahead with the NHL All – Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada which would fall on the first two days (February 4^th – 5^th, 2021) of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Only time will tell.

Media Statements

“We understand the decision,” the Olympic broadcaster, NBC, proclaimed via a recently released statement on Tuesday, December 21^st, 2021. “But the Olympics remain the greatest hockey tournament in the world regardless of whether the players are from the NHL or other elite leagues around the world.”

“Watching a team being beaten, 15 – 0, is not good for anyone, not for China or for ice hockey,” the new IIHF president, Luc Tardif, expressed last September.

“I’m still a guy that’s wanting to go play in the Olympics,” says the NHL superstar center for the Edmonton Oilers and the Canadian national team, Connor McDavid. “But we also want to make sure it’s safe for everybody. For all the athletes, not just for hockey players.”

The Las Vegas Golden Knights’ goal – tender, Robin Lehner, had previously declined the chance to play for and represent his home country of Sweden for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games from Beijing, China. He explained that having this possibility hanging over his head, “Is not ideal for my mental health.”

Sources:

Litke, Jim. “Column: NHL skips Olympics again, cites COVID-19 uncertainty”. The Associated Press. December 22, 2021.

“Beijing 2022”. Olympics.com December 22, 2021

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Armadillo Studios is an American-facing online game creator in the EveryMatrix family of companies. On Monday they announced a new collaboration with Brazilian mixed martial arts legend, Amanda Nunes to create a branded game for players in the USA and beyond.

The studio team is intent on capturing the Lioness’s storybook career in an online slot game that is engaging and fun. Among Amanda’s accomplishments to date are the honor of becoming the first female champion of two UFC divisions, and only the third competitor in UFC history to hold the title in two weight classes at the same time. Nunes is the current Featherweight and Bantamweight Champion of the world. She fights out of Coral Springs, Florida, in the US.

Operating on the RGS Matrix

EveryMatrix launched Armadillo Studios in Miami this summer as a brand positioned to focus on and capture US markets, but their content is not limited to US online casinos. Armadillo joins Spearhead Studios, Wild Boars, FunFair, FlipLuck, JVL, and Lady Luck Games as the 7th client on RGS Matrix, the remote gaming server that allows studios to develop and distribute games over the entire EM network.

Razvan Haiduc, CEO of Armadillo Studios, said: “As a fan of MMA myself, I’m very excited to be working with Amanda. Her global presence is huge, and we are ready to use it to provide some well-needed gender balance to the Casino vertical.

“Armadillo Studios has ambitious plans for 2022, and our tie with Amanda is the first step in the right direction. This branded game is set to hit the market in the second half of 2022 and we are confident it will be a massive success.”

Armadillo is managed in Miami by Haiduc and COO David Stoveld. Haiduc spent several years with iSoftBet before coming on to manage EveryMatrix’s payments division in 2019. Stoveld has been involved in game production at companies such as Scientific Games, Kalamba, Yggdrasil, and NetEnt after his first few years in the business working for IGT in Reno, Nevada.

Exciting Adventure and Rare Opportunity

Professional MMA Fighter, Amanda Nunes, added to the excitement when she said: “I’m thrilled to be involved in this awesome project. Having a brand-new slot title made from scratch in my image by a U.S. game studio is an exciting adventure and rare opportunity. I hope that sports fans all over the world will be just as excited as I am and curious enough to take it for a spin.”

Armadillo Studios currently has three other games listed as “Coming Soon” on its website, but the collaboration on this one must not have made it across the creative room floor yet. Look for the first release, 15 Armadillos to come out early next month, followed by Queen of Egypt Exotic Wilds, Armadillo Goes West, and Amanda’s title before the end of 2022.

Launched in mid-2021 in Miami, Florida, Armadillo Studios was established with the aim to develop U.S.-first casino games.

EveryMatrix Employs about 650 people in nine countries and serves over 120 customers globally, including those in the regulated U.S. market.

Source: Armadillo Studios and Amanda Nunes enter new branded games partnership, Armadillo Studios, December 20, 2021

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Sisal continues its charge for dominance in some markets and continued expansion in others. Last week saw the Italian firm ink a deal with NeoGames S.A. to provide even more premium lottery games for online Milli Piyango players via Sisal ?ans.

The addition of NeoGames content to the Turkish Lottery is expected to add value for players and increase profits for the operators.

NeoGames was launched in 2005 as a scratchcard provider and eventually created scratchcard based slots still seen in some markets. The company stayed focused on iLottery products and was well-positioned to provide content in newer markets as the iGaming sphere expanded.

Milli Piyango was Sisal’s biggest revenue gainer in the first nine months of this year, eclipsing even their Loterie Maroc partnership in Morocco which saw gains of 95% year on year.

NeoGames International Reach

NeoGames services over 42 million customer accounts worldwide with access to their premium titles. Their gaming labs are licensed by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain and compliant with regulatory regimes in 15 jurisdictions. The company services the Michigan iLottery in the US.

The debut on the Turkish online lottery site is expected to include titles like Enchanted Winnings, VIP Platinum, Fruity Cubes, and Treetop Treasures with additional instant game titles to augment the selection in the coming months.

Selim Ergun, Chief Executive Officer of Sisal Sans, said: “NeoGames has a wide portfolio of exciting and innovative games and extensive industry experience, which is a perfect fit for our commitment to providing our customers with quality and award-winning experiences. Sisal has enjoyed a long-term strategic partnership with NeoGames for more than 10 years, and they’ve helped us to create a successful instant games category in Italy. We are looking forward to collaborating even further with NeoGames as we enrich our gaming site and our systems in Turkey with NeoGames’ games and technology.”

Quick Win Games an Important Part of the Sisal Offering

Earlier, Marco Tiso, head of BU Online Gaming at Sisal noted that the introduction of a “quick win games” category with NeoGames had added more than 400% in iLottery player value as well as longer retention time for iLottery players.

Moti Malul, Chief Executive Officer of NeoGames, said: “This is a superb opportunity to enrich our footprint within the European market and to continue building a long-term relationship with Sisal ?ans, a market leader in Turkey. We share a common goal to create unique and exciting online gaming experiences and we hope that the addition of our titles to the Lottery’s offerings will help draw in new audiences and support their customer acquisition strategy”.

Sisal was founded in 1945 and has created many world-renowned games such as Superenalotto and others. Sisal operates online casinos in Italy and Spain and owns the second-largest share of the Italian iGaming market less than a percentage point behind PokerStars, according to recent data from Statista in cooperation with AGIMEG, the Italian national regulator.

Source: NeoGames Signs Deal with Sisal ?ans, European Gaming News, December 17, 2021

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