CR59-p50&52-Comment:SJC-Casino Review 19/8/07 14:28 Page 1
casinoreview
“Instead of prohibiting internet gambling, which is futile, the government
should regulate and tax internet gambling to ensure proven and effective
security controls are implemented to protect consumers and capture billions in
revenue that is needed for critical government programs. If the US continues
to prohibit internet gambling, our country could wind up being forced to pay
billions in trade compensation.”
Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling
Initiative, following an internet gambling hearing before the US congress
COMMENT
Quote/Unquote
Steve Forte, a casino cheat turned
surveillance consultant to the industry,
has just been arrested for his alleged
part in a poker scam taking part away
from the gaming floor but in the hotel of
the Borgata in Atlantic City. Where does
this leave the industry on trusting those
consultants who learned their trade by
taking the casinos on? Will they ever be
allowed into the backrooms again?
“It’s a risk-based proposition to hire people who are
known cheaters. You probably gain knowledge of
how they have done things and what to look for. But
they (the casinos) have to ask themselves, ‘Are the
risks worth it?’”
Jerry Markling, enforcement chief for the Nevada Gaming
Commission
“It completely destroys whatever consulting career
he had. For Steve himself, it is terrible.”
Richard Marcus, former casino cheat turned consultant
“Virtually everybody in the industry has used him.
He’s never been in to touch the equipment or tell us
Will new personal licenses
how to operate our equipment. He has not been
allowed into secure areas.”
Alberto Lopez Harrah’s Entertainment spokesman change the face of British
“In the big money world of casino security, Steve
Forte played like a high roller. Harrah’s casino recruitment?
Entertainment, the world’s largest gaming company,
bought copies of his books and videos to give to
employees. But Forte’s reputation took a heavy hit
With all the press
Staff will require a PFL to
with his June 7 arrest in Atlantic City. This is not his
first run-in with the law in New Jersey - or Nevada.
coverage and
work in a casino in any capac-
ity and a PML if you are
The arrest is a big blow to the consulting industry,
controversy over the
responsible for management
which has a long history of struggling to gain
planned location of
functions, such as overall strat-
acceptance with large gaming companies.”
Arnold Knightly, Las Vegas Gaming Wire
the UK’s first super
egy and delivery of gambling
operations; financial plan-
casino, an exciting
ning, control and budgeting;
“This is a huge blow to the industry in regards to
and important
marketing and commercial
hiring anybody with a sketchy past. It’s confirmed to
element of the 2005
development; regulatory com-
the casinos what they have been saying for years,
which is, ‘We don’t want to take the risk with these
Gaming Act seems
pliance; and gambling-related
IT provision.
consultants and end up with a similar incident.'” to have slipped by At the moment all people
Jeff Voyles, gaming professor University of Nevada.
unnoticed. Yet the
going forward for their Grey
“The rest of us are small change compared to him.
new system of
Licences must be tested by
the Gambling Commission
There is nobody out there in the industry right now Personal Licences licensetothrill tration for these people. and usually have worked their
that you can put on the same level. I’m hoping this is
could potentially
VIEWPOINT From September any new way up through the ranks of
a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong
time. He has nothing to gain from doing this.
have just as great an
licence applications or appli- the casino. In effect, done their
Currently, under the auspices cations from staff moving apprenticeship. The Gambling
Absolutely nothing.” impact upon the of the 1968 Gaming Act, all from one casino to another Commission have said that
Bill Zender, a gaming consultant for Last Resort
industry as the new
gaming staff need to be will now be governed under this interview process will
Consulting
regional casino
licensed to be able to work the 2005 Act and therefore still continue if in a slightly
within our industry and only will need to apply for a new revised form for the new indi-
licences themselves. Casino operators can apply Personal Licence. So the old vidual licences.
Steven Jackson of
for licences for their staff. Tra- Red, Grey and White Gaming The major cause of change
The Sports
ditionally, to gain a role in Licences will be gradually dis- is that now anyone can apply
management one had to continued and the system for a licence. Even people who
Recruitment
obtain and earn a Grey replaced with two licence do not have any casino expe-
Company gives his
Licence. Thus, the only way applications: PML - Personal rience. What does this mean
view.
to get a Grey Licence and Managers licence, and PFL - and is it a good thing? At an
work in casino management Personal Functional Licence. operational level will
was to have worked in casino Now, individuals, as someone who has merely read
management! Something of opposed to Casino opera- the 2005 Gaming Act be
a Catch 22. Consequently the tors, can apply for these capable of running a casino
UK has, in effect, been a licences on their own behalf. operation or gaming floor?
closed shop to foreign man- The manager’s licence costs Will they be able to compe-
agers and returning ex-pats, a £330 and non managerial tently manage the casino
cause of considerable frus- licences cost £165. Continued on p52>
50 September 2007 comment
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