Known in the UK’s tabloid media as the ‘body in a suitcase’ killer, gambler Ming Jiang ended up being sentenced to life imprisonment by A british judge on Tuesday. Jiang murdered his high-rolling buddy Yiang Lui last fall in order to assume his identification and steal his money to further fund their very own gambling play.
Ex-Lufthansa flight attendant Ming Jiang, left, savagely dismembered and murdered their friend Yiang Lui, right, to fund his out-of-control gambling habits.
Jiang, 43, killed and dismembered fellow Chinese national and successful financial investor Lui, 36, last October, before stuffing his torso as a suitcase, which then he set burning.
Judge John Potter described the previous Lufthansa air steward as ‘highly dangerous,’ informing Jiang as he handed down a minimum of 33 years before parole could even be considered that he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
‘You killed a gentle and nice child with … cunning for your very own selfish aspire to feed your gambling practices,’ stated Potter. ‘You befriended this man and moved in the same circles that are social him.
‘You were given status that is special some casinos, despite being prohibited from others for what is reported as your erratic behavior,’ the judge included at Jiang’s sentencing. ‘ you came up with an agenda which was chilling and which had been a murder committed by you for personal gain.’
$230,000 Gambling Spree
That plan involved leaving a smoldering suitcase, into which Jiang had stuffed his former friend’s areas of the body, in a remote drivers’ remainder area, before stealing Lui’s credit cards and passport to be able to gain access to their banking account. Then within times of the killing, the murderer started making arrangements for a ‘quick sale’ of Lui’s Manchester apartment.
Jiang, who had been described by prosecutors being an ‘insatiable gambler,’ had debts of £273,000 ($340,000) at two casinos at the right period of the killing, and was broke. Two weeks later on, he bought £178,000 ($230,000) in potato chips with Lui’s money and went for a gambling bender.
Judge Potter felt no sympathy for the killer’s situation.
‘Your high-spending, high-rolling behavior was in fact a selfish and self-centered veneer, behind that you simply hid a life of increasing dependency on debt, that was rapidly spinning out of control,’ noted the judge.
Buddies and Lovers
Police used license plate recognition technology to place Jiang’s car nearby the scene of this crime on the night regarding the murder. They subsequently found Liu’s DNA matched bloodstains into the trunk of Jiang’s car.
Jiang told detectives that he and Liu were homosexual lovers about to enter right into a civil partnership and that Liu was also a paid escort for older Chinese men, an assertion dismissed by the prosecution as an ‘elaborate smokescreen of slurs.’
‘Given the nature of this murder, I anticipate the [parole] authorities, at the time that is appropriate should it ever be reached, will have to think about with extremely great care the risk you provide to the public,’ summarized the judge.
State and Seminoles at Impasse, Efforts to Expand Florida Gambling Collapse
Legislation in Florida that appeared to be moving swiftly toward a comprehensive overhaul regarding the state’s gambling landscape stumbled on a screeching halt on Tuesday.
The Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood is certainly one of seven tribal casinos that could’ve been permitted to provide more games if they were willing to surrender a few of their dominance in the state’s gambling spaces. (Image: Broward/Palm Beach New Times)
With differences between your house and Senate video gaming bills too great to get common ground before the Legislature’s close May 5, gambling in the state will discover no changes, at least for another 12 months.
Had legislators found a path ahead, the state could’ve seen a new casino resort in Miami, horse and dog songs (and jai alai frontons) abandoning races to operate slots, and their state’s seven Seminole casinos permitted to offer craps and roulette.
Two Paths Forward
Their state government in Florida has been incentivized to come up with comprehensive gambling legislation ever considering that the state’s lightweight with all the politically powerful Seminole tribe expired in 2015. Courts have actually allowed the present agreement — determining games permitted and income sharing utilizing the state — in which to stay effect through 2030.
While the Seminoles have proceeded giving payments of about $20 million per month in good faith, the state has been wanting to renegotiate these payments to address state budget shortfalls.
The Florida Senate bill would have allowed slots at dog and horse tracks across the continuing state, and could have permitted racetracks in South Florida to offer blackjack. The Seminoles would have been authorized to build two new casinos in South Florida in exchange for giving up their current blackjack monopoly.
A residence Bill took an approach that is different aided by the Seminoles guaranteeing $3 billion to hawaii over seven years if they could maintain their monopoly on blackjack, with no new slot parlors or casinos in South Florida. This option would’ve resulted in the richest Native gaming that is american in US history. But alas, with so interests that are many to reshape the Florida landscape, none could get done.
One Big Step Back
One disappointed stakeholder is Genting Group, the Malaysian casino giant that purchased the old Miami Herald property in 2011 with designs on transforming it into an extra destination resort.
This all could be moot, however. The Florida Supreme Court is deciding a case in July which has racetracks in the north of their state challenging a prohibition against slots after local voters approved them.
If the court rules in favor of slot interests in the panhandle, the decision would invalidate key elements of the Seminoles’ current compact granting exclusive rights for offering specific games outside of South Florida.
Regardless of how this instance turns out, with therefore much money on the line, Florida residents and tourists can be certain that gambling will again be at issue when state lawmakers reconvene in per year.
Pennsylvania Gaming Expansion Drive Comes Sponsored by Amish County Rep
The latest Pennsylvania gaming expansion measure would allow bars, taverns, bowling alleys, fire halls, social clubs, truck stops, off-track betting parlors, and even strip malls to supply slot-like video gaming machines of their establishments.
On their way to market, or gamble at the casino? Lancaster County State Rep. Mike Strula is pushing for Pennsylvania gaming expansion, and that likely won’t sit well with the constituents that are amish represents. Fortunately for Sturla, the Amish typically don’t vote as a result of church directives, not to mention, nor do they gamble. (Image: Wikipedia)
It’s a brand new week, and that means new gaming talks in Harrisburg. The state takes on, what may seem like for an very nearly weekly basis, extra gambling bills to grow income.
The state has considered online video gaming and lottery admission sales, slot machines in airport terminals, daily fantasy sports, sports wagering, and now video gaming terminals (VGTs) at watering holes. The VGT measure, first introduced in March, received a hearing that is public the House Gaming Committee this week.
One of the prime backers of the VGT bill is State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-District 96). The Lancaster County representative is a resident that is lifelong of Dutch Country, famously house to a big populace of Amish.
Needless to say, Sturla is not banking on his horse and buggy-riding constituents on opting to try gaming. Instead, the Lancaster native wants the general population to be able to play real money video gaming devices during their delighted hours, and regulate the VGTs already operating illegally into the state.
‘How do we legalize this activity while making it beneficial to everyone involved?’ Sturla asked Monday. ‘People have turned an eye that is blind the very fact that there’s unlawful gambling already going on in Pennsylvania.’
Moral Opposition
HB 1010 has generated plenty of backlash for motioning to allow up to 35,000 betting machines in organizations that would potentially expose kids and teens to gambling. Though Sturla and the bill’s prime sponsor, State Rep. Mark Mustio (R-District 44), say the legislation could generate $500 million annually for hawaii once fully implemented, opponents are voicing ethical issues.
‘ The center that is shopping kids visit GameStop in could have 45 machines,’ State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-District 169) critiqued.
Pennsylvania’s General Assembly approved a spending plan year that is last thought $100 million in extra revenue from new gaming. But the state hasn’t selected where especially that cash is planning to come from, hence the continued gambling talks in Harrisburg.
Mustio and Sturla’s bill would mandate that the state receive 29 % of daily gross terminal revenue generated by VGTs.
Gambling enterprises Oppose VGTs, Too
Pennsylvania is presently home to 12 land-based casinos that are commercial with a 13th potentially along the way in Gettysburg. But apart from Penn National Gaming, which has Hollywood Casino near Harrisburg, the gaming operators largely oppose HB 1010.
The state’s 11 other casinos believe the measure would poach from their gaming floors while Penn National has embraced VGTs in other states where it operates, most notably Illinois. Mustio states the state isn’t responsible for safeguarding the gambling enterprises.
‘Some have stated over the years that we’re partners utilizing the casinos,’ Mustio explained this week. ‘ i disagree with that. Within my opinion, we’re partners with this constituents.’
The Pennsylvania home Gaming Oversight hasn’t announced whenever its meeting that is next might, and whether a vote on HB 1010 would be on the agenda.
Hope for Crown Resorts Employees Caged in Asia, Charges Could be ‘Low degree’
Fourteen Crown Resorts employees arrested in China, who have languished since October without charges in a detention that is grim in Shanghai, have actually at last been given a glimmer of hope.
Crown Resorts’ VP of VIP Jason O’Connor, the only executive member associated with business’s employees detained in China on suspicion of gambling-related crimes. (Image: Crown Resorts)
According to the Australian Financial Review, the authorities investigation to the ‘gambling-related crimes,’ of that the 14 are suspected, happens to be complete and the full case has been handed to Shanghai’s Baoshan District People’s Procurator.
This means charges could be forthcoming soon, moving the process that is legal and at last offering some clarity regarding the fate of the detainees.
Furthermore, AFR notes that the fact the way it is has been passed to a district as opposed to town procurator causes it to be more likely that authorities are pursuing lower-level charges against the 14, instead than serious offenses such as money laundering, which carry much harsher sentences.
Case for Lenient Sentences
It is prompted hope that their plight could be addressed in a way that is similar of the group employees of Southern Korea’s of Grand Korea Leisure and Paradise Co, have been detained in 2015 for marketing casino gambling to Chinese residents and released after around 18 months.
A Shanghai criminal lawyer, who spoke to AFR if the Crown staff are charged simply with ‘gambling-related crimes,’ they could face anything up to three years in prison, according to Si Weijiang. But should costs be expanded to include money laundering they are often facing many, many times that amount, he said.
The detainees, who consist of three Australians, among them the business’s VP of VIP Operations Jason O’Connor, were detained by authorities in least four cities across the country on October 13 and 14.
Oblique to Opaque
Since that time, their situation that is legal has from oblique to opaque, as several official due dates for filing charges having come and gone without action.
‘ The consular officials who see, only address the prisoners’ welfare, not legal issues,’ The Australian’s China correspondent reported in February. ‘Their lawyers aren’t saying anything, though they could not know any single thing substantive either.’
The arrests were damaging to Crown Resorts, whose VIP revenues dropped by 45 percent in its first report that is financial the incident. It prompted Crown to cut its investment exposure to China through the sale to of $1.5 billion worth of shares in its Melco Crown operations in Macau, arguably at the very moment the region bottomed out and began a sustainable economic data recovery.
The depletion of VIP revenue dragged Crown’s overall adjusted profits down by 9.1 percent in the half a year since the arrests, caused a major reshuffle to the board of directors, and prompted talk of a ‘efficiency drive,’ which will ultimately translate into job cuts.
Crown additionally plans to offer three private jets, which it bought for a total of $100 million in 2014, and a fleet of luxury yachts.
Sports Bettor whom Placed $50,000 Wager on Golden State Stands to Win $500
An enthusiastic sports bettor in Las Vegas place $50,000 on the Golden State Warriors besting the Utah Jazz in their Western Conference NBA Playoffs semifinals series.
Can the Utah Jazz stop Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and also the Golden State Warriors? One activities bettor says no, and he’s put $50,000 on the relative line to show his point. (Image: Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Recreations)
Should the Bay region team prevail in the best-of-seven matchup, the gambler stands to receive just $500. That is the truth of taking the favorite that is huge and oddsmakers in Las Vegas have little doubt the Warriors will easily be mindful of the Jazz.
The Westgate SuperBook took the $50,000 wager on likelihood of -10000. In contrast, a $50,000 bet on the Jazz, that comes to an unlikely fruition on the SuperBook’s +2000 odds, would reward the risk-taker a whopping $1 million.
Sportsbooks feel the Warriors are a thing that is sure advance to the Western Conference Finals, but the games nevertheless must certanly be played, and $50,000, is well, still $50,000. ESPN’s ‘Chalk’ first reported the NBA betting action.
In terms of the odds on winning it all, the at 5-12, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-2), San Antonio Spurs (8-1), and Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets at 20-1.
Warriors Simply Take Game One
The reality is it’s rather unimaginable for basketball experts that are most to see the Jazz somehow outlasting the Warriors in seven games. They’re already down one game after Golden State’s 106-94 winnings yesterday.
Last night had been news that is great one sports bettor whom reportedly placed a staggering $576,000 on Golden State upright on the Jazz. The bet paid off, with the gambler netting $36,000.
She had taken the Warriors on the points spread, the gamble would have lost if he or. The SuperBook had Golden State giving Utah 13 points in game one, meaning their 12-point win would not have covered.
The win that is one-point the Jazz contrary to the spread shows just how good vegas oddsmakers are at establishing lines. The sportsbooks and casinos will be hoping for the Warriors to prevail needlessly to say, as many bettors are taking the long odds and taking an opportunity, albeit a huge one, on Utah.
William Hill says 90 percent of its tickets on the Warriors-Jazz series have been on the underdog.
With all the Warriors up 1-0, the SuperBook line has swollen to Utah at +3000, and the Warriors now at -20000.
No Erasing Chalk
ESPN’s ‘Chalk’ is a sports that are special section of the website devoted to Las Vegas. A week ago, the Connecticut-headquartered sports news group announced it was firing over 100 television personalities and journalists from the network.
‘A necessary component of managing change involves constantly evaluating how we best utilize all of our resources,’ ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement.
Many well-known ‘front-facing’ employees were let go, but ‘Chalk’ journalist David Purdum apparently wasn’t on the chopping block. That could signal that ESPN 21 dukes casino sign up understands the need for covering the activities wagering market as a growing movement to legalize the industry continues throughout the US.
Many gambling observers think the right time is directly to repeal the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that banned sports betting in 1992. United states Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman recently opined, ‘We’re closer than at any point within the past decades that are several making that a reality.’
BGO.com Fined Six Figures for Ad Violations in Landmark UKGC Ruling
BGO Entertainment became the first online gambling company to be sanctioned and fined under the UK Gambling Commission’s new responsibility that is social this week.
Verne Troyer stars in TV UK spots for BGO.com, but the company has been fined this week by the UKGC for violations of its code of practice in advertising. (Image: BGO.com)
The online casino operator, that includes a strong brand presence into the UK market, because of a television advertisement campaign fronted by Verne Troyer, best-known as Austin Powers’ ‘Mini-Me,’ was accused by the regulator of ‘misleading advertising by itself and its affiliates’ websites’ and fined £300,000.
New measures introduced the UKGC in its 2015 Licensing Conditions and Codes of Practice managed to make it a requirement for licensees’ advertisements to ‘state significant limits and qualifications’ in terms of their promotions, which includes advertising on social media and through affiliate marketing.
That means operators have to outline plainly exactly just what is intended with a ‘free bet,’ or even a ‘bonus,’ and what consumers need certainly to do to qualify for them, such as having to relax and play through arduous wagering requirements.
