Bashful C. Stupid-Butt said:
I could care less if the casino frowns on people who give the PB their player's card, and leave a few minutes after it is handed back. I read somewhere, maybe here, that this is not a good thing to do from the casino's POV. I think it was someone else story.
The counter can also get less heat if they take advantage of the comps and not just play for money. The story was about a guy who managed to get over $25,000 in credit from the Vegas casinos, only played a few hours. Was comped his hotel at several casinos, free airfare, and this was all done because it looked like he had lost $25,000.00 that he took home with him.
It didn't go into how or whether he paid it back. I just remember the story. I guess he paid it back, and his win was the free room, air fare food and shows.
SMOKE SIGNALS
May 11, 2008 -- The Post would have New Yorkers believe that NY Indian tribes, namely the Seneca, are financing terrorist activities through black-market cigarettes ("Smuggled Butts: The Terror Ties," Peter King, PostOpinion, April 30).
Like the United States, the Seneca Nation is combating the implication of terrorist financing via tight regulation of all products, import and export, from its territories.
The Seneca Nation developed its Import-Export Law in response to an isolated instance of criminal infiltration and to prevent black-market sales. It has made three busts in tandem with the ATF.
The Post says that NY tribes "refuse to comply" with an unenforced law to collect taxes on reservation sales of cigarettes. What is brazenly ignored is recognition of tribes' sovereign status to remain untaxed in accordance with age-old treaties - constitutionally referred to as "the supreme law of the land."
Maurice A. John, Sr.
Seneca Nation President Salamanca
Illegal-cigarette sales fund criminal activity and hurt law-abiding businesses.
New York's recent decision to raise cigarette excise taxes, without collecting millions of dollars in excise taxes that are already owed, will likely make this situation worse.
Philip Morris USA believes that our brands should be sold by law-abiding distributors and retailers and with payment of all applicable taxes.
We are actively involved in supporting law-enforcement efforts and investigations, and we take our own actions where we can. These efforts alone cannot stop contraband sales.
We urge enforcement of New York's tax and stamping laws and are encouraged by Gov. Paterson's statements that he intends to look more closely at the issue of tax enforcement.
We look forward to continuing to support the efforts of law enforcement and to working with the administration to address these issues.
Charles N. Whitaker
Vice President Compliance and Brand Integrity Altria Client Services, on behalf of Philip Morris USA
Richmond, Va.