casino

http://m.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/divi-casino-handed-1-5m-bill-due-thursday-1.1956982

They didn't bill them but the casino commission members still receives their $100,000 a year salary which is built into their budget
to regulate one single casino.

If it wasn't par for the course for incompetence in VI Gov., it would be mind boggling fiduciary irresponsibility.

alana33-golden has been there since 2009 and 6 years later they decide to do an audit. the stupidity is amazing

AND NOT JUST THAT but because the commission made the mistake-she is acting like the casino should have know a mistake was made. she makes it sound like the casino not paying the " correct" fees was somehow a malicious thing .

and 105,000 salary for only 1 casino and not even doing the job properly all that time. smh

Wonder who their enforcement officer is and what he gets paid.

and not just that-how many more unemployed people would this leave

All that being said, it still is the casino's responsibility to pay what they owe and if they haven't been billed, to find out why they haven't or when they'll be billed. That's what an ethical entity or person in charge would do.

the bills that were paid were what they were told they were required to pay. i am sorry,but the casino is not a psychic and can not figure out that even though they were told to pay x you should have known you had to pay y .

All that being said, it still is the casino's responsibility to pay what they owe and if they haven't been billed, to find out why they haven't or when they'll be billed. That's what an ethical entity or person in charge would do.

I disagree with this completely. Why should a business have to second guess a government entity like the CCC? Its not the Divi's problem if the government and its agencies are inept.

I like Ann Golden but the attitude of the CCC is appalling in this situation. If the CCC is going to play hardball, Divi should threaten to close unless a settlement can be reached.

Then we'll see who blinks first when the only company that funds the CCC decides to walk away completely.

If you read the article in the Daily News, if the casino on St Croix violates local laws, it negatively impacts their Mississippi casino.

The Commission gave Divi a 4-year license at same price as 2-year. Approximately 50% of Divi's employees weren't properly licensed.

Somebody at Divi knew at least something wasn't right, but as long as they benefitted, they kept quiet. That's why enforcement is critical. The VI loses out on so much because very little is enforced.

How many does the Divi employ? What's their occupancy? How much of the gambling revenue is from locals? Casinos aren't the moneymakers they were, so it may be time to re-brand the Divi.

Problem with that is it affects the parent company stateside and the strict rules under which they're allowed to operate.
To me, both are at fault.

It is quite astonishing, however, that the casino commission which only has a single casino in the entire Virgin Islands to supervise, cannot get it right while taking home their unearned salary which unfortunately is indicative of the level of incompetence in VI Government and is pervasive.

how could they have known if they were not told correctly

They can and should ask. Anybody who has ever filed a tax return should know that non compliance will eventually catch up with you. They banked on VI dysfunction, and they finally got caught.

if they were told and billed one thing and then 14 years later they are told they were billed incorrectly all those years-how is it their fault ?

I never understood the reasoning behind the Casino's location.
You would think they'd have a shot at some real profits if they were located within walking distance to the cruise ship pier in Fredricksted. Vacationing cruise ship passengers are the ones with disposable incomes, not the locals.
If you look at New Jersey you'll see the Casino Industry really isn't what it used to be though, and Atlantic City certainly isn't the place it used to be. Casino's are everywhere now, its nothing unique anymore. What we really need on St. Croix are good solid jobs and instead of worrying about Casinos, we should be focusing on a way to get something trully viable going with the old Hess property.
The only real benefit from the Casino that I see is the governments willingness to keep those South Shore roads so nice.

did you know the casino employees close to 200 people. those are good solid jobs

did you also know it is affiliated with the resort across the street from it. which is probably why it is located where it is

...we should be focusing on a way to get something trully viable going with the old Hess property.

I guess we'll find out on or around Nov 10th when those interested in buying the refinery out of the bankruptcy have until to file there bids. Should be very interesting.

Many years ago, there was a territory wide vote to allow casinos associated with hotels. It was defeated. But the people of St Croix asked for a vote just for their island and it passed. The Divi is the only casino-hotel that ever came out of this. Meanwhile they slid the stupid VLT legislation through. It is an unholy mess. I would be interested in seeing the statistics on who supports the casino and the VLT parlors- I bet the number of tourists using the facilities is tiny.

The Divi is the only casino-hotel that ever came out of this. Meanwhile they slid the stupid VLT legislation through. ... I bet the number of tourists using the facilities is tiny.

Yes, it's worth noting that the Casino Commission also does oversee the hundreds of VLTs in the territory, not just the one casino. And yes, approving the VLTs was totally stupid and all it did was put additional tax-free income in the pockets of the usual ne'er-do-wells. It's absolutely common knowledge that those using the VLTs are a combination of locals who can't afford it; government workers who go play before and after their daily routine (if not in between); and a slew of stupid late-night bartenders and waitstaff who go and blow all their money when their shift is over. Tourists/visitors - next to nil in comparison. In my opinion the whole concept of gambling here was ill conceived.

Isn't there a casino opening downtown at the King Christian Hotel?

Looks like Divi paid up.

http://virginislandsdailynews.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx#_articled7110263-8c55-49a9-91b9-e3423583c99d/waarticled7110263-8c55-49a9-91b9-e3423583c99d/d7110263-8c55-49a9-91b9-e3423583c99d//true

vicanuck, thats what i heard. i think there is much more to this story than will ever be reported in any paper.

when a company tells you to pay A, you pay A. when they come back 15 years later and say we should have told you to pay B we totally messed up and now we expect you to pay B right now or you will close-something is fishy. so does this mean that in the 15 years of the CCC no one ever did an audit? no one ever realized they told the casino the incorrect amount?

and they did pay only 1/3 of what was requested. i dont think this is finished by any means.

What a pistarckle:

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2015/10/16/divi-casino-pays-disputed-late-fees-under-threat-closure

And the Casino Commission chairwoman was unavailable for comment as she's in PERU on a job-related mission? Peru, really?

More details on VI Consortium. Daily News' article reported different "facts" the other day. The AG vs Divi! The gloves are off!

Bets on who may be the victor?

http://viconsortium.com/business/divi-casino-ag-walker-casino-control-commission-dispute/

More details on VI Consortium. Daily News' article reported different "facts" the other day. The AG vs Divi! The gloves are off!

Bets on who may be the victor?

http://viconsortium.com/business/divi-casino-ag-walker-casino-control-commission-dispute/

Best laugh I've had all week!