BorgataPoker (NJ.Partypoker Skin) partners with Jim Ryan (Former UB and Party CEO)

[duped_samaritan]

Not many details, but announced today:

http://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/Ruling...gatapalatw.pdf


From Calvin Ayres Article Last Summer:

"EX-BWIN.PARTY CEO JIM RYAN’S PALA INTERACTIVE JV RAISES EYEBROWS
Bwin.party shed some more legal baggage last December when former co-CEO Jim Ryan (pictured above) agreed to walk the plank rather than complicate Bwin.party’s pursuit of various US gaming licenses. While Ryan said at the time that he was looking forward to spending more time with his family in Canada, he has since resurfaced at the head of Pala Interactive, an online gambling joint venture with California’s Pala Band of Mission Indians. For the moment, the business is entirely speculative, as the Golden State struggles to reach consensus between legislators and stakeholders in order to make online gambling a legal reality."

http://calvinayre.com/2013/07/10/bus...ises-eyebrows/

[haleylh]

Not many details, but announced today:

http://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/docs/Ruling...gatapalatw.pdf


From Calvin Ayres Article Last Summer:

"EX-BWIN.PARTY CEO JIM RYAN’S PALA INTERACTIVE JV RAISES EYEBROWS
Bwin.party shed some more legal baggage last December when former co-CEO Jim Ryan (pictured above) agreed to walk the plank rather than complicate Bwin.party’s pursuit of various US gaming licenses. While Ryan said at the time that he was looking forward to spending more time with his family in Canada, he has since resurfaced at the head of Pala Interactive, an online gambling joint venture with California’s Pala Band of Mission Indians. For the moment, the business is entirely speculative, as the Golden State struggles to reach consensus between legislators and stakeholders in order to make online gambling a legal reality."

http://calvinayre.com/2013/07/10/bus...ises-eyebrows/

Between this and the ruling that shafted the remaining 27 players in the Lusardi counterfeit-chip episode, it's dawning on me that the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement may actually be in the Borgata's hip pocket.

[Dan Druff]

BUMP

Great write-up (and update) on the situation by Haley: http://www.flushdraw.net/news/new-je...ound-research/

In short, the poker community has had some effect on the matter. Apparently Pala Interactive has been approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, but Ryan himself has NOT yet been approved, and is still under investigation.

Specifically, NJDGE director David Rebuck mentions the UB scandal regarding Ryan's possible unsuitability for a license:

Please be advised that I have made the decision to make this correspondence public to provide some clarity with respect to the Division’s actions to date. As Director of the Division, it is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the casino gaming in New Jersey both in its operation and in the suitability of those individuals involved in its management. I take that responsibility seriously. The super user scandal involving Ultimate Bet raised serious issues about the operation and regulation of online gaming and questions have surfaced as to whether certain senior executives at Pala, including yourself, may have been involved in that matter. As you have been advised, additional investigation regarding that and other matters will continue to be examined by the Division before it renders a final licensing decision on Pala and its qualifiers. Consistent with all cases before the Division, its investigation will be comprehensive, impartial and based upon facts, not speculation.

So that's nice to see. I was afraid NJ might sweep this under the rug.

There have been allegations that Ryan participated in the cheating and/or covered it up after-the-fact. He was at the helm as CEO at UB for the entire length of the cheating scandal (2002-2007).

Interestingly, Ryan testified that UB refunded $14.65 million to players. They had previously indicated $22 million, and insiders assume that around $25 million was stolen. This would add even more evidence that people were underpaid, though the Travis Makar tapes that surfaced last year also gave evidence of that, as UB executives were discussing strategies to underpay players. It is assumed that limit holdem players (a group I was part of) were screwed the most, as few received refunds, and those that did got very little. I personally received $2,000, which was a joke given that I played as high as 300-600 there during all of the cheating.

Also it has come out that Phil Ivey is no longer associated with Pala Interactive. The association ended in June, with no further explanation. It was not stated that it was due to Ivey's edge-sorting lawsuits/controversies, but I have to imagine there's a good chance that it was.

[Steve-O]

BUMP

Great write-up (and update) on the situation by Haley: http://www.flushdraw.net/news/new-je...ound-research/

In short, the poker community has had some effect on the matter. Apparently Pala Interactive has been approved by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, but Ryan himself has NOT yet been approved, and is still under investigation.

Specifically, NJDGE director David Rebuck mentions the UB scandal regarding Ryan's possible unsuitability for a license:

Please be advised that I have made the decision to make this correspondence public to provide some clarity with respect to the Division’s actions to date. As Director of the Division, it is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the casino gaming in New Jersey both in its operation and in the suitability of those individuals involved in its management. I take that responsibility seriously. The super user scandal involving Ultimate Bet raised serious issues about the operation and regulation of online gaming and questions have surfaced as to whether certain senior executives at Pala, including yourself, may have been involved in that matter. As you have been advised, additional investigation regarding that and other matters will continue to be examined by the Division before it renders a final licensing decision on Pala and its qualifiers. Consistent with all cases before the Division, its investigation will be comprehensive, impartial and based upon facts, not speculation.

So that's nice to see. I was afraid NJ might sweep this under the rug.

There have been allegations that Ryan participated in the cheating and/or covered it up after-the-fact. He was at the helm as CEO at UB for the entire length of the cheating scandal (2002-2007).

Interestingly, Ryan testified that UB refunded $14.65 million to players. They had previously indicated $22 million, and insiders assume that around $25 million was stolen. This would add even more evidence that people were underpaid, though the Travis Makar tapes that surfaced last year also gave evidence of that, as UB executives were discussing strategies to underpay players. It is assumed that limit holdem players (a group I was part of) were screwed the most, as few received refunds, and those that did got very little. I personally received $2,000, which was a joke given that I played as high as 300-600 there during all of the cheating.

Also it has come out that Phil Ivey is no longer associated with Pala Interactive. The association ended in June, with no further explanation. It was not stated that it was due to Ivey's edge-sorting lawsuits/controversies, but I have to imagine there's a good chance that it was.

The DGE's investigation predates any community backlash (it's dated 10/31), the letter was released to the public in response to the backlash. Also, both Pala and Ryan have only been approved for transactional waivers (which expire in 6 months and can be revoked) while a complete investigation is completed.