Professional poker player Joshua T. Thatcher, 42, of Gwinn, Michigan, pleaded guilty on December 2 to one felony count of Gambling Operations for his part in running an illegal poker room known as 906 Poker Society in Marquette, Michigan. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation on January 19.
Thatcher, as part of his guilty deal, agreed to turn over to the state of Michigan the six poker tables, $13,050 in cash, and any additional funds recovered in connection with the investigation of 906 Poker Social. According to a combined investigation by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s Criminal Investigative department, the alleged private poker club operated from April 1, 2021, through July 8, 2021.
Henry Williams, executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, has said that “unregulated gaming businesses do not provide the same safeguards given by lawful, regulated gambling” for Michigan citizens. We work with the Michigan Department of Attorney General to investigate and shut down unlawful gaming operations around the state in furtherance of the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s objective of promoting honest and open gambling in Michigan.
Attorney General Dana Nessel of Michigan has said, “My office is dedicated to maintaining corporate rules and regulations, and that includes our state’s gaming laws.” To paraphrase one satisfied customer: “I value the efforts of the Michigan Gaming Control Board to safeguard the state’s citizens and commercial enterprises.”
Thatcher said that the members of 906 Poker Social bet against one another in public reports. Members paid a weekly, monthly, or annual fee plus $10 per hour for chair rental. Live poker and other games were available at the venue.
In May 2022, prosecutors filed further charges against Thatcher, including five felony counts, two of which included the alleged use of computers in the commission of a crime, and one gross misdemeanor allegation, the allowing of a gambling house for financial benefit. The other charges were dropped at a later date.
What we cover
Golden Nuggets to Get the First Operator Privilege
The mayor and his staff are aware of the casino brand that will make its debut in Danville, but they have no say in the predetermined deadlines. Eastgate Industrial Park is the chosen location for the first Danville casino. Already designated as the operational brand, Golden Nugget will provide 14 table games and 500 slot machines upon setup. GNOG is going to put up two restaurants and an online gaming platform in addition to equipping the gaming area.
A saltgrass Steak House is planned to be one of the dining options at the new Golden Nugget casino in Danville. Fertitta Entertainment oversees both the Golden Nugget and Saltgrass Steak House chains. Tillman Fertitta, a millionaire from Houston, is well known in the Illinois gaming business as the driving force behind the entertainment organization. Wilmorite Management, in conjunction with Golden Nugget, will oversee operations at the new casino.
Wilmorite and Golden Nuggets’ track record in the industry will be used to gauge their success in managing the new casino. Wilmore’s credibility as a gaming operator manager is bolstered by the fact that its casinos may be found in three distinct states. But, Golden Nugget is more than simply a management; it is also the casino’s owner, and its involvement in day-to-day business is extensive. As of right now, Golden Nugget is responsible for five casinos spread throughout four different US states.
The current drawings for the Danville casino project show that it will be far less than was originally anticipated. In 2019, the applicant group has filed proposals for a significantly bigger casino than they had originally proposed. Nevertheless, other entities, including Haven Gaming LLC, had submitted the application as a group.
As things stand, Golden Nugget and Wilmorite aim to launch on a modest scale and gradually increase capacity as business needs dictate. So, after a very brief term of operation, the new casino may soon be commissioned for growth. Growing demand for services and amenities will drive the first expansion, but future growth should concentrate on improving the facility.
The Illinois Gaming Board is expected to begin taking bids from prospective casino builders by the end of the second week of March. The competition for the casino license will take place on the scheduled meeting day, which will be a Thursday. Danville’s mayor, Rickey Williams Jr., started making plans for the board hearing at the end of February. In early March, a representative from the gaming board stepped forward to say that the board was prepared to receive the presentations.
Joseph Miller, the board’s director of policy, recently shared that they will be debating the Danville Development LLC’s viability. This group will be in charge of formulating the rules that will regulate the Danville casino. Miller claims that the agenda for the meeting between the board and other casino developers may be seen on the board’s website. The lineup for the preliminary hearing will be available to the public 48 hours before the hearing begins, for anyone who are interested in following the proceedings.
If the casino venture is found to be viable, the following stage is to officially launch the building process. The issuance of gambling licenses, as previously stated by Mayor Williams, has been delayed until a later date. Those businesses who were hoping to begin offering gaming in Illinois may be disappointed by this news, but it’s really simply a reminder to be patient. It’s likely that the mayor is coordinating with his administration to form regulatory organizations to monitor the launch of a sustainable economy.
Final Thoughts
If all goes according to plan, the Danville gaming community should expect major changes in as little as 45-60 days. Williams expects the suitability exercise to provide the outcomes desired by the Illinois Gaming Board’s state executives. A meeting has been planned for before the end of April in case this occurs. By the end of the first quarter of 2023, county authorities anticipate at least one casino to be up and running.
