SCHENECTADY — Schenectady police are investigating a report of a sexual assault at the Rivers Casino and Resort's Landing Hotel this week. Matt Dearing said Friday that no one has been. It's Springtime at Mohawk Harbor and Rivers Casino, and once again, a young gang's fancy turns to fisticuffs: Yesterday afternoon online (May 1, 2018), but NOT in print today or the past three days, the Gazette reported 'Five arrested after Schenectady casino brawl' (by Andrew Beam).
PUBLISHED June 29, 2016 @9:00 AM
DES PLAINES, IL. — During New York's casino debate and selection process, two common criticisms often arose. People in potential host communities made it no secret that they feared rampant gambling addictions, as well as a dramatic rise in crime rates connected to casinos. Time Warner Cable News addressed both of those issues in Des Plaines, Illinois, a city near the size of Schenectady.
PROBLEM GAMBLING
By the time he was a young adult in the 1970s, Bob Olsen was addicted to gambling, but his problem began much earlier in life.
'My gambling really started when I was six or seven years old, playing marbles,' said Olsen, a lifelong resident of Illinois.
By adulthood, Olsen had descended into crushing debt and family troubles, because of his gambling addiction. It is a story mirrored by thousands of Illinoisans.
'Once we get that feeling, of getting something for nothing,' said Olsen, 'we think we're invincible.'
More than three decades since he last bet money on anything, Olsen is working as a problem gambling counselor. He is affiliated with Illinois Gamblers Anonymous, and in 2000 he also began an independent group with fellow addicts, called The Outreach Foundation.
It is not easy work, and only a fraction of problem gamblers admit they are in too deep.
'The problem gambler doesn't really want to hear it. They struggle in the beginning,' said Olsen. 'Then they find out there's a problem, and that's when they self-exclude.'
Illinois' self-exclusion program was introduced in 2001. Under state gaming law, gamblers who feel they have a problem can register their name with the state and effectively ban themselves from all 10 of Illinois' licensed casinos. If they are found entering or gambling at a casino, police may arrest the gamblers for criminal trespass – a misdemeanor charge – and any money they win is donated three gambling addiction treatment centers, including Bob Olsen's foundation.
More than 10,000 Illinoisans have registered for the program, but even that does not slow some people's addiction.
'It's quite humiliating if they get caught, but it's really amazing how many people still go back. and try to sneak in and gamble,' said Olsen, whose foundation receives thousands of dollars in self-exclusion funding each year.
Wild goose chase slot machines. That number, he says, has ticked ever higher since 2011, when Rivers Casino opened.
The Casino is CLOSED. If you are on a cruise and do not have a planned excursion, do yourself a favor and stay on the boat. This was one of my favorite ports when the casino was open. Cannot figure out why they did not repair it and the hotel. Cannot understand why the cruise ships still come to this port. The only way I'll come back is if they. Gambling on the Nautical Mile started back in 1998 right around the time Freeport begin reconstruction on Woodcleft Avenue. At that time the town was divided on the idea of gambling in Freeport, but the casino boats brought a welcome increase in revenue to the surrounding businesses and operated successfully through the summer of 2011. Considering this boat is berthed at Freeport,long Island,NY,I would only consider it as a day trip to do something diifferent. The food was prepared some where else and reheated,think Lunch truck. The casino was so tight,that on our return part of the voyage to nowhere,the casino decks were virtually empty. Staff was great, and really tried to.
'The majority of the self-excluded persons who go back to gamble are from Rivers,' Olsen insists. 'The increase in their self-exclusion donations to The Outreach Foundation, I can't speak for the other organizations, but we see a lot more coming from Rivers Casino.'
Olsen is quick to point out that he does not fault Rivers Casino for the problem. As a matter of policy, The Outreach Foundation does not take a negative position towards gambling itself, nor against particular casinos.
'It's great entertainment. There's a lot of people who do it normally,' said Olsen, who says however that he wishes the casinos did more to help his cause.
'Setting up treatment centers, educating the public,' he said. 'The only thing I'm aware of is the self-exclusion program.'
Rivers Casino disputed Olsen's remarks. In a statement, the casino said that its:
'efforts to combat problem gaming go well beyond participation in the state's self-exclusion program. Rivers has a 'bounty' program that offers team members cash rewards for identifying persons who should not be on the casino floor.
'Additionally, Rivers Casino requires team members to participate in a mandatory training and re-training program on responsible gaming,' the statement said. 'Rivers also participates in the American Gaming Association Responsible Gaming Education Week by providing special educational programming for team members. Rivers also imposes restrictions on check cashing, credit and marketing promotions; and makes available prominent postings and flyers with responsible gaming information throughout the property and on marketing materials. Promoting a responsible gaming environment is a top priority for Rivers Casino.'
The Illinois Gaming Association, a private trade group supporting the casinos, also maintains a compulsive gambling hotline which gives callers information about Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Gaming Association director Tom Swoik insists Rivers Casino and others work hard to support the self-exclusion program.
'All the casinos have a program that gives a reward to employees, if they find someone on that self-exclusion list,' Swoik said.
At Rivers Casino, managers confirmed it is a cash reward, though they declined to say how much.
'If we don't catch them (self-excluded gamblers), and a state gaming board agent catches them later, we get a significant fine or penalty,' Swoik said.
In an extensive interview, Swoik also noted that Rivers Casino has shown integrity and responsibility when it twice violated state regulations. In both cases, the infractions were unintentional, and Rivers self-reported them. One of those violations was for marketing to self-excluded gamblers.
'There was a slip-up in one of the computer systems. It cross-referenced emails or something,' Swoik said. 'Now, it's a double or triple-check for those things.'
While Rivers Casino does what it can to prevent known problem gamblers from playing, counselor Bob Olsen says no amount of prevention can ever truly stop addicted gamblers.
Rivers Casino Schenectady Arrested
'Unlike the other big addictions: we don't have alcohol on our breath, and we don't have track marks on our arm,' Olsen said. 'So who really knows when we're gambling?
Rivers Casino Schenectady Storm
'We have glamorized gambling. We have taken Las Vegas and put it in the state of Illinois,' Olsen said. 'And it does attract a lot of people.'
CRIME
It should be noted up front: Des Plaines, Illinois does not have a crime rate like Schenectady, New York. It's not even close.
'We have an almost negligible violent crime rate,' said Des Plaines Police Chief Bill Kushner, who before coming to Des Plaines was a 29-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. 'Our biggest crime tends to be burglary of a motor vehicle.'
The Des Plaines Police Department does not publish annual statistics on crime, as many police agencies do in New York, but Kushner has analyzed the number of emergency calls his department has taken, before and after Rivers Casino opened.
'Our call volume increased by 1,300 calls per year once the casino opened,' said the chief. 'It breaks out to about three calls per day.'
In an ordinary year, Des Plaines police respond to as many as 150,000 calls.
'If it rose to 5,000 calls a year, where we're constantly being called to the casino for something, then I would say it's significant,' says Kushner. 'But it's really not.'
Most of the calls, Kushner says, are for bar fights or domestic scuffles. The most common offense is a self-excluded problem gambler being arrested for criminal trespass (see 'PROBLEM GAMBLING,' above).
The relatively low call numbers have allowed Des Plaines police to maintain their normal patrols, and Kushner has not needed to add police officers to his staff.
'They've got their own security, they have Illinois gaming board agents on-site, and they work with the state troopers,' Kushner notes. 'There's a partnership there. We've never had an issue with their personnel. They're very professional and above-board.'
Having worked in Chicago, historically known for organized crime, Kushner says even the 'mob' element has been absent.
'If it's there, it is so incredibly well-hidden that even the FBI can't find them,' Kushner said. 'Even gang activity: there's a lot of it in the city of Chicago, but it has not spilled over to the casino at all.'
The same account was echoed by every local and state official who spoke with Time Warner Cable News: Rivers Casino has not even been a factor in the crime rate.
'The casino is like any business. They have a need to be responsible,' said Kushner. 'They do their best to maintain their house in its best condition, to make sure that they're a viable enterprise.'
In Part Four of 'All In: A Future with Rivers Casino,' we look at the jobs provided by Rivers Casino, and speak with longtime employees of the company. Plus: how does Rivers Casino train its workforce? Look for more Thursday on Time Warner Cable News.
Categories: News, Schenectady County
SCHENECTADY — A Scotia man found another man's dropped wallet at Rivers Casino and Resort in October and made off with its contents — about $3,000, authorities said Wednesday.
Derek R. Adair, 32, now faces two counts of felony fourth-degree grand larceny in connection with the Oct. 9 incident, according to court documents. Police arrested him Tuesday.
The incident happened just after midnight that morning. The patron reported that he had lost his wallet at the casino with a credit/debit card inside, along with about $3,000 in cash and the victim's personal identification, and that it may have been taken, according to court documents and prosecutor William Sanderson.
The casino reviewed its surveillance cameras and soon found the patron. The video showed the patron accidentially dropping the wallet, Sanderson said.
'The majority of the self-excluded persons who go back to gamble are from Rivers,' Olsen insists. 'The increase in their self-exclusion donations to The Outreach Foundation, I can't speak for the other organizations, but we see a lot more coming from Rivers Casino.'
Olsen is quick to point out that he does not fault Rivers Casino for the problem. As a matter of policy, The Outreach Foundation does not take a negative position towards gambling itself, nor against particular casinos.
'It's great entertainment. There's a lot of people who do it normally,' said Olsen, who says however that he wishes the casinos did more to help his cause.
'Setting up treatment centers, educating the public,' he said. 'The only thing I'm aware of is the self-exclusion program.'
Rivers Casino disputed Olsen's remarks. In a statement, the casino said that its:
'efforts to combat problem gaming go well beyond participation in the state's self-exclusion program. Rivers has a 'bounty' program that offers team members cash rewards for identifying persons who should not be on the casino floor.
'Additionally, Rivers Casino requires team members to participate in a mandatory training and re-training program on responsible gaming,' the statement said. 'Rivers also participates in the American Gaming Association Responsible Gaming Education Week by providing special educational programming for team members. Rivers also imposes restrictions on check cashing, credit and marketing promotions; and makes available prominent postings and flyers with responsible gaming information throughout the property and on marketing materials. Promoting a responsible gaming environment is a top priority for Rivers Casino.'
The Illinois Gaming Association, a private trade group supporting the casinos, also maintains a compulsive gambling hotline which gives callers information about Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Gaming Association director Tom Swoik insists Rivers Casino and others work hard to support the self-exclusion program.
'All the casinos have a program that gives a reward to employees, if they find someone on that self-exclusion list,' Swoik said.
At Rivers Casino, managers confirmed it is a cash reward, though they declined to say how much.
'If we don't catch them (self-excluded gamblers), and a state gaming board agent catches them later, we get a significant fine or penalty,' Swoik said.
In an extensive interview, Swoik also noted that Rivers Casino has shown integrity and responsibility when it twice violated state regulations. In both cases, the infractions were unintentional, and Rivers self-reported them. One of those violations was for marketing to self-excluded gamblers.
'There was a slip-up in one of the computer systems. It cross-referenced emails or something,' Swoik said. 'Now, it's a double or triple-check for those things.'
While Rivers Casino does what it can to prevent known problem gamblers from playing, counselor Bob Olsen says no amount of prevention can ever truly stop addicted gamblers.
Rivers Casino Schenectady Arrested
'Unlike the other big addictions: we don't have alcohol on our breath, and we don't have track marks on our arm,' Olsen said. 'So who really knows when we're gambling?
Rivers Casino Schenectady Storm
'We have glamorized gambling. We have taken Las Vegas and put it in the state of Illinois,' Olsen said. 'And it does attract a lot of people.'
CRIME
It should be noted up front: Des Plaines, Illinois does not have a crime rate like Schenectady, New York. It's not even close.
'We have an almost negligible violent crime rate,' said Des Plaines Police Chief Bill Kushner, who before coming to Des Plaines was a 29-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. 'Our biggest crime tends to be burglary of a motor vehicle.'
The Des Plaines Police Department does not publish annual statistics on crime, as many police agencies do in New York, but Kushner has analyzed the number of emergency calls his department has taken, before and after Rivers Casino opened.
'Our call volume increased by 1,300 calls per year once the casino opened,' said the chief. 'It breaks out to about three calls per day.'
In an ordinary year, Des Plaines police respond to as many as 150,000 calls.
'If it rose to 5,000 calls a year, where we're constantly being called to the casino for something, then I would say it's significant,' says Kushner. 'But it's really not.'
Most of the calls, Kushner says, are for bar fights or domestic scuffles. The most common offense is a self-excluded problem gambler being arrested for criminal trespass (see 'PROBLEM GAMBLING,' above).
The relatively low call numbers have allowed Des Plaines police to maintain their normal patrols, and Kushner has not needed to add police officers to his staff.
'They've got their own security, they have Illinois gaming board agents on-site, and they work with the state troopers,' Kushner notes. 'There's a partnership there. We've never had an issue with their personnel. They're very professional and above-board.'
Having worked in Chicago, historically known for organized crime, Kushner says even the 'mob' element has been absent.
'If it's there, it is so incredibly well-hidden that even the FBI can't find them,' Kushner said. 'Even gang activity: there's a lot of it in the city of Chicago, but it has not spilled over to the casino at all.'
The same account was echoed by every local and state official who spoke with Time Warner Cable News: Rivers Casino has not even been a factor in the crime rate.
'The casino is like any business. They have a need to be responsible,' said Kushner. 'They do their best to maintain their house in its best condition, to make sure that they're a viable enterprise.'
In Part Four of 'All In: A Future with Rivers Casino,' we look at the jobs provided by Rivers Casino, and speak with longtime employees of the company. Plus: how does Rivers Casino train its workforce? Look for more Thursday on Time Warner Cable News.
Categories: News, Schenectady County
SCHENECTADY — A Scotia man found another man's dropped wallet at Rivers Casino and Resort in October and made off with its contents — about $3,000, authorities said Wednesday.
Derek R. Adair, 32, now faces two counts of felony fourth-degree grand larceny in connection with the Oct. 9 incident, according to court documents. Police arrested him Tuesday.
The incident happened just after midnight that morning. The patron reported that he had lost his wallet at the casino with a credit/debit card inside, along with about $3,000 in cash and the victim's personal identification, and that it may have been taken, according to court documents and prosecutor William Sanderson.
The casino reviewed its surveillance cameras and soon found the patron. The video showed the patron accidentially dropping the wallet, Sanderson said.
About 15 minutes later, a man later identified as Adair is seen on the footage as spotting the wallet, picking it up and then going to a bathroom. The man then left the bathroom and the casino, Sanderson said.
By using the surveillance video and casino records, the casino was able to identify the man who picked up the wallet as Adair, Sanderson said.
Police went to one address listed for him, but were told he no longer lived there, Sanderson said.
Police then encountered Adair early Tuesday, just after 3 a.m., during a traffic stop on Brandywine Avenue, records show.
Police arrested him in the October wallet case, as well as a misdemeanor aggravated unlicensed operation count related to the traffic stop.
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