Connecticut Lawmaker Resigns In The Middle Of Gambling-Related Scams
Within a week from the launch of online casinos and sportsbooks in Connecticut, one of its lawmakers who voted for its legislation resigned from the position.
State representative Michael DiMassa, D-West Haven, resigned from his position amid all the accusations of alleged gambling and mismanaged use of the federal Covid-19 funds, which were meant for the welfare of his former constituents. His departure time gets covered up by the more positive announcement on the same day, which is the opening of the first retail sportsbook by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) at Sports Haven.
However, the accusations made on DiMassa specify nothing on online gambling. But the poor timing is unfortunate for the operators and the state. The Connecticut General Assembly has already removed DiMassa’s bio and contact pages prior to the sportsbook opening at 2 pm.
DiMassa is forbidden to participate in gambling in the state, including the online gambling options for which he voted in the assembly.
DiMassa Spent All The Covid 19 Aid Money On Gambling Allegedly
DiMassa was a state lawmaker as well as a municipal employee. Just like the Connecticut General Assembly site, DiMassa’s details were gone from the City of West Haven site, too, as he resigned from his position of assistant to the West Haven City Council today.
DiMassa, as a city employee, funneled over $636,783.70 in federal stimulus from the city’s fund into a business known as Compass Investment Group. The funds have been sourced to help Americans cope with the pandemic. According to the US Justice Department’s allegations, DiMassa’s Compass group never gave any services to the West Haven Public Health Department, even though the city was billed and charged for the services.
Federal authorities also claim that DiMassa has withdrawn $178,150 from the business account of the Compass Group in Webster Bank. According to Mohegan Sun Patron Gaming records shown in the arrest warrant, DiMassa made ten exchanges of cash for poker chips from May 7 to 29.
Connecticut Online Gambling Is On Full Swing
Connecticut sports betting will witness its CLC retail sportsbook locations launch. On September 30, the retail sportsbook at the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun received their initial bets through the partners – DraftKings sportsbook and FanDuel sportsbook, respectively.
Soon, Mohegan Sun Casino, which is powered by FanDuel, will start to serve gamblers. The Foxwoods owners, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Apart from the scandal by Di Massa, the online gambling launch program has gone smoothly and successfully in Connecticut.
