Despite Scandal, Miss America Receives $4M Subsidy From Atlantic City’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority

Miss America is staying in Atlantic City for at least another pageant.

Minus a stint in vegas, Miss America has long called Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall its house. That will continue for the 2019 competition.

Despite a scandal that shook up the organization in December over derogatory emails sent and received by then-CEO Sam Haskell and two board users regarding former Miss America champions, the pageant was approved this week for $4.325 million in state money. The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) voted unanimously on Tuesday in favor of honoring the final installment regarding the three-year, $12.5 million contract.

Dick Clark Productions was quick to drop the broadcast after the scandal emerged, and NJ Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Atlantic) called on the CRDA to annul the funds.

‘we understand the CRDA had to fulfill its obligation that is contractual to Miss America pageant this year and I respect that,’ Mazzeo told The Press of Atlantic City. ‘However, as this contract ends, we would urge the CRDA leadership to better use the over $4 million on endeavors that will bring a better return on the investment to Atlantic City.’

In a brief statement, the CRDA said it had been ‘encouraged’ by the leadership change at Miss America and the 2019 competition’s ‘focus on females’s empowerment.’ No date has been set for the pageant.

The skip America Organization board has been overhauled. Seven of the 10 members are now women, with former Fox News commentator and host Gretchen Carlson its chair and CEO.

Casino Reinvestment?

Founded in 1984, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority is a state agency that gathers taxes from Atlantic City casinos and is to utilize the funds to invest in public and private projects that benefit the town and state.

According to its site, the CRDA ‘uses casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive enhancement in the lives of the latest Jersey residents statewide. In doing so, the CRDA has dramatically and positively changed Atlantic City’s domestic, commercial, cultural, and social landscape, while economically supporting quality-of-life improvement efforts.’

How using more than $4 million to support Miss America in Atlantic City lives up to that mission is questioned by some certain area officials. The 2018 competition telecast on ABC drew just 5.6 million viewers, the cheapest number in five years.

‘The CRDA has to seriously rethink and prioritize how it spends its money, and it will begin with its subsidy to the Miss America Organization,’ Mazzeo declared in January.

CRDA Funding, Projects

The CRDA has a few income sources.

Its primary funding flow has historically been a 1.25 % tax on gross gaming at Atlantic City casinos. However, during the town’s bankruptcy, those funds had been directed away from the CRDA and instead earmarked to help pay down financial obligation.

The CRDA also places a $5 per night hotel room tax, and $3 per day parking fee. The agency also taxes hotel that is total at nine %, alcoholic drinks three percent, and concert seats nine percent.

The CRDA has spent, or as they choose ‘invested,’ $10.4 million in improvements and renovations of Steel Pier. That features $6.4 million to construct a 200-foot ferris wheel.

The Atlantic City Gateway Project has also received a $17 million investment from the CRDA. A residential and educational campus of Stockton University, the project is always to open this fall.

Pennsylvania Casinos Set Monthly Record, Join Maryland, Ohio, and Michigan in Posting Brand New Highs

Pennsylvania casinos generated more than $300 million in gross gaming income (GGR) last month, the first amount of time in state history that the threshold is passed away.

Slot players waited for devices back in 2010 when SugarHouse Casino opened in Philadelphia, but Pennsylvania gambling enterprises never enjoyed a busier monthly than March 2018. (Image: Matt Rourke/Associated Press)

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) released final figures this week that showed table that is gross income at $79.54 million in March, and slots accounting for $221.35 million. Combined, GGR for the Keystone State’s 12 casinos was $300,516,011.

That number easily eclipses last March’s take by four percent. It tops the previous record that is all-time most of $296.7 million, that has been set in March 2013.

Parx http://1xbets-giris.top/ Casino north of Philadelphia led the real way with $54.6 million in March revenue, a 10 percent premium regarding the property’s 2017 March haul.

Sands Bethlehem ended up being next at $46.7 million, but that represents a 3.3 percent year-over-year reduction. Sands Bethlehem is in the act of being sold up to a tribe in Alabama for $1.3 billion.

Rivers Casino had been 3rd however the biggest percentage gain winner. The Pittsburgh casino saw GGR increase 11.1 percent to $33.5 million.

Philly’s two other casinos, SugarHouse and Harrah’s, were next respectively at $28.7 million and $24.7 million.

March Madness

Pennsylvania joins Maryland, Ohio, and Michigan’s Detroit casinos in posting record highs that are monthly March.

• Maryland’s six casinos posted a combined $150 million in GGR, which easily surpassed its previous $141.1 million high set in March 2017.
• Ohio’s four land-based casinos won $81.7 million last month, and their state’s six racinos built-up $96.4 million. Both figures are monthly records.
• Detroit’s three casinos won $138.6 million, more than $3.3 million a lot more than the town’s previous GGR mark that is best.

March was unseasonably warm throughout much of the nation, but additionally damp. Casinos also benefited from A saturday that is extra in 2018 compared to 2017.

In Pennsylvania, March was one of many snowiest periods of this 2017-18 winter, especially in eastern and central portions of the state. But warm temperatures in the days surrounding the snowfall didn’t keep residents housebound long.

No Satellite Bids

Nine of Pennsylvania’s 12 gambling enterprises posted monthly gains in March. Into the coming years, they are able to face additional competition whenever the so-called ‘mini-casinos’ begin popping up.

Under the state’s expanded gaming act signed into legislation year that is last Governor Tom Wolf (D), up to 10 satellite video gaming venues can be built, with up to 750 slots and 30 table games each.

On Wednesday, the PGCB did not get any bids for the venues. Five earlier auctions awarded Category 4 satellite licenses, with Penn National Gaming securing two of this 15-mile regional radiuses.

Headquartered in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Penn National was against the gaming expansion, but said it’s securing the satellite locales to be able to protect its Hollywood Casino nearby the Harrisburg state capital in Grantville.

Unwilling to raise taxes, the General that is GOP-controlled Assembly behind gambling to be able to help bridge a state capital gap.

The legislation authorizes internet gambling and daily fantasy sports, airport terminal gaming lounges, slot machines inside certain truck stops, and creates a regulatory framework for sports betting along with the mini-casinos.

Elaine Wynn Vows Board Shake Up at Wynn Resorts, Expect Minds to Roll

Wynn Resorts’ biggest shareholder, Elaine Wynn ,wants a sudden shake up of this board that once backed an answer, led by her ex-husband, Steve Wynn, to oust her.

Elaine Wynn says the Wynn is believed by her Resorts board requires to be ‘reconstituted instantly’ with new blood that does not have any loyalty to either her or her ex-husband, Steve Wynn. (Image: Associated Press)

The day after Ms. Wynn settled a longstanding legal struggle with the business and her former spouse, she had written to the board demanding it reopen the window for shareholders to schedule new company and nominate new directors.

In a letter filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, she suggested a 60-day reinstatement of the nomination procedure ‘to enable a completely vetted nomination process that occurs’ in time for the business’s forthcoming AGM.

Ms. Wynn stated she does not want to seek a board position herself but believes sweeping changes to the business structure are needed. She would nominate blood that is fresh was separate of her, the business, and Steve Wynn in order to ‘restore the company’s reputation,’ she added.

Steve Wynn Procedures Down

We think that the business’s governance structure needs to be reformed and that the board of directors needs to be reconstituted,’ she published. ‘This must be done immediately and undoubtedly before any product decisions are made that could affect the long-lasting interests associated with the shareholders.’

Ms. Wynn became Wynn Resort’s largest shareholder, with 9.25 %, after her ex-husband sold his equity in the organization last month to safeguard its gaming licenses from an escalating sexual misconduct scandal. Lawsuits from disgruntled shareholders have been mounting, claiming the board must have understood about its former chairman and CEO’s so-called behavior but failed in its duty to protect the company.

‘The nominees could be highly respected and, in most cases, have significant company that is public,’ wrote Ms. Wynn. ‘They would have the requisite expertise and experience to help the company address both its opportunities and challenges. The nominees would help the board adapt to current recommendations with respect to variety and would be chosen with a view to applicable licensing requirements.’