Former Executive Who Allegedly Stole $22 Million From Jaguars Was ‘Legendarily Bad’ DFS Bettor
We have all the latest gambling news for Florida during the month of December 2023.
Former Executive Who Allegedly Stole $22 Million From Jaguars Was ‘Legendarily Bad’ DFS Bettor
JACKSONVILLE, FL (Gambling911.com) - On Tuesday we reported on how Amit Patel was fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars last February and only disclosed in legal documents obtained by The Athletic on Tuesday. He was also accused of siphoning team funds for personal travel and a condo purchase as well as luxury automobiles and cryptocurrencies. Most of the funds were allegedly used for gambling....and most of it lost.
Patel was described by a fellow daily fantasy player as “the biggest loser ever on FanDuel” and “legendarily bad” at sports wagering, according to a report from ESPN’s David Purdum.
A second fantasy player told ESPN that Patel would often submit lineups with players who weren’t starting the game, and, at times, wouldn’t submit a lineup at all.
Patel is charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of illegal monetary transaction in documents filed in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville.
- Updated December 13, 2023 7:57 pm
Seminoles Usher in 'New Era' in Florida Gaming With Craps, Roulette, Sports Betting
HOLLYWOOD, FL (Gambling911.com) – Leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and major celebrities have ushered in a “New Era” in Florida Gaming with the launch of craps, roulette and sports betting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.
Jon Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, Tiësto, Heather Graham, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Diplo, Cedric Gervais, Mike Tyson, Dwyane Wade, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Sarah Hyland, Willy Chirino, Max Weinberg, Bobbi Althoff, and SI Swimsuit Cover Model Brooks Nader walked the red carpet at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, with many of the celebrities on hand for the first roll of craps dice, the first spin of the roulette wheel and the first retail sports bet.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is hosting a combination of mega-events to celebrate the new games. Among them is a one-time pop-up dining experience of the legendary Carbone restaurant. Created by renowned chef Mario Carbone, the pop-up restaurant pays homage to many of New York’s great Italian-American restaurants.
Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. and other members of the Seminole Tribal Council, plus Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen led a ceremony at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood to commemorate the start of the new games. Similar first roll and first spin ceremonies were held at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood.
The new games were made possible by the Gaming Compact signed and approved by the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida in 2021. They join blackjack, baccarat and other casino card games, plus thousands of the latest slot machines, to round out a full complement of casino games at all six Seminole Casinos in Florida.
“The Seminole Tribe of Florida is proud to point to a new era in Florida gaming with the unveiling of our new casino games,” said Chairman Osceola. “With the addition of craps, roulette and sports betting, we now offer a full complement of casino games and we join the ranks of leading casinos around the world.”
“The entertainment, travel and tourism industries, and many more, will see positive economic impact caused by the new casino games,” said Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen. “They will increase tourism to Florida and boost employment not only at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, but also at businesses in the areas surrounding this casino complex and others operated by Seminole Gaming throughout Florida.”
West Flagler Gets Extension in Florida Sports Betting Matter
MIAMI BEACH, FL (Gambling911.com) - The U.S. Supreme Court has granted West Flagler’s application to extend the deadline for filing its petition for writ of certiorari in the Florida sports betting case from Dec. 11. 2023 to Feb. 8, 2024. The application was granted by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Florida gaming attorney Daniel Wallach offered this assessment:
"Responses to the cert petition (likely from both the DOI and the Seminole Tribe) will be due on March 11th (30 days later + 2 days for the weekend). West Flagler’s reply brief will be due on March 25th. The deadlines may be moved up if West Flagler files its petition early.
"Based on the revised timeline, the decision on whether to grant cert (and take up the case on the merits) will be pushed back to near the end of the #SCOTUS term in late June."
The Seminoles entered into a compact with the state that gives that tribe a gambling monopoly in the sports betting space. For now they are offering sports betting at their casinos and mobile to only those who previously joined the app when the site went live for a hot minute two years ago.
- Updated December 4, 2023 8:40 pm
Florida Senator Rick Scott Demands Answers..... As to Why FSU Not Selected for Playoffs
TALLAHASSEE, FL (Gambling911.com) - Florida Senator Rick Scott demanded answers on why the ACC champion Florida State University was not selected for the College Football Playoff despite being undefeated. The Republican submitted a letter addressed to College Football Playoff Selection Committee Chairman Boo Corrigan, calling the exclusion “shocking” and demanded “total transparency”. FSU became the first undefeated team to be excluded from the Playoff.
"Yesterday, for the first time in its 10 year history, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee (the "Committee") made the shocking decision behind closed doors to exclude an undefeated, Power Five conference champion from the playoffs," Scott wrote in a letter to CFB Playoff Chairman Boo Corrigan after Florida State defeated Louisville 16-6 on Saturday to win the ACC Championship only to fall from 4th place in the playoff standings to 5th thus missing the playoff despite being undefeated.
"The Committee’s decision to drop the 13-0 Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles from its previous 4th-place ranking, and thereby exclude the team from the upcoming playoffs altogether, mere hours after they won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship game has rightly raised questions among millions of Americans about the integrity of the process employed by this 13-member body, which consists of just five (38%) individuals with relevant experience in coaching or playing football at the collegiate level or higher," Scott continued.
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"Today, I write to demand total transparency from the Committee regarding how this decision was reached and what factors may have been at play in reaching this outcome."
- Updated December 4, 2023 8:42 pm
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
