Jake’s 58 is the first and only New York casino to be slapped with 26 violations for allegedly employing people without the proper gaming license, including top political appointees.
Jake’s 58 casino is fighting more than two dozen state violations for allegedly employing people without the proper gambling license after a first-of-its- kind enforcement action by the state Gaming Commission.
The Gaming Commission in a Dec. 15 email to Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. CEO Phil Boyle listed nine employees without a license and 25 who had either an expired or incorrect type of license, according to records obtained by Newsday through a Freedom of Information Law request.
Employees must have a gambling license to work at a casino to help maintain the integrity of the gambling operation, and those convicted of felonies and gambling-related misdemeanors may be denied one, according to the Gaming Commission. None of the Jake's 58 employees was accused of any further wrongdoing by the Gaming Commission, but critics say the alleged errors underscore problems that can arise when a public entity rather than a commercial operation runs a casino.
As of April 1, 26 employees remained out of compliance, and Jake’s 58, which is owned by Suffolk OTB, was issued a $26,000 fine, or $1,000 per employee, according to Gaming Commission spokesman Brad Maione.
One of those employees in violation has left, but the others are still employed by Suffolk OTB, Boyle said. Jake's 58 is reviewing candidates for a new full-time staff position focused on licensing compliance, he said.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Jake’s 58 casino is fighting more than two dozen state violations for allegedly employing people without the proper gambling license after a first-of-its-kind enforcement action by the state Gaming Commission.
- The state Gaming Commission in a Dec. 15 email to Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. CEO Phil Boyle listed nine employees without a license and 25 who had either an expired or incorrect type of license, according to records obtained by Newsday through a Freedom of Information Law request.
- As of April 1, 26 employees remained out of compliance, and Jake’s 58, which is owned by Suffolk OTB, was issued a $26,000 fine, or $1,000 per employee, according to Gaming Commission spokesman Brad Maione.
Boyle, in a statement, said the OTB had believed all its employees were complying until the state undertook its audit last year and that some of the issues originated under the casino's original operator, Delaware North.
Jake’s 58 management has appealed the decision, and the fine has been stayed until the matter is settled, Maione said. The casino operators since have submitted all the required license application materials as they work to bring the employees back to compliance, he said. It is not clear when the Gaming Commission will rule on the matter.
