By Eduardo Rueda, Investigative Reporter
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Seven Mile Casino, a South Bay card room known for its hands of blackjack, poker and baccarat, is less than a week away from reopening to the public. The card room returns following a vote made two weeks ago by the Chula Vista City Council, clearing the way for businesses to expand all outdoor operations. Seven Mile Casino 134 followers on LinkedIn. A new gaming club with coastal class. Coming to Chula Vista in May 2015. Please join us for opening day in early May. Seven Mile Casino. Chula Vista, California. January 11, 2017. Seven Mile Casino is a gaming Casino we designed located in Chula Vista, Ca. The project consists of two large gaming rooms, an interior restaurant and an exterior bar/lounge patio area. The restaurant space looks out over the casino and consists of booth and table seating with a large indoor/ outdoor bar.
Chula Vista's Seven Mile Casino reopened Tuesday night with a new manager after being shut down on December 9 in an early morning raid by the FBI, IRS, and State gaming officials.
The casino, along with the Palomar Card Club in San Diego, was closed by an emergency order from the California Bureau of Gambling Control. Skycity queenstown poker. The closure came on the day indictments were unsealed against 25 individuals connected to a wide-ranging money laundering investigation. Seven Mile Casino, and its owner, Harvey Souza, are accused of failing to maintain anti-money laundering programs.
The casino announced this week that it would reopen after meeting new conditions set by the California Department of Justice and the Bureau of Gaming Control. One of the changes initiated this week include installing a new independent manager, Jimy McKee.
McKee, a 40-year veteran of the gaming industry, has previously held leadership positions in other casinos, as well as having served on the Nevada Gaming Commission. McKee also has 11 years of law enforcement experience and served in the US Marine Corp.
The new manager will monitor the day-to-day operations of the Seven Mile Casino and continue to work with law enforcement and gaming officials to ensure they meet all legal requirements of their licenses.
The indictments against the other individuals included charges of money laundering, running a sports book, running an illegal gambling operation in private homes, and transporting women across State lines for prostitution. The indictments estimate that the illegal gambling operations generated more than $10,000,000 in proceeds.
The indictments allege the illegal gambling proceeds were laundered through local casinos as well as the Bellagio and Wynn casinos in Las Vegas.
The Seven Mile Casino released a statement saying in part that 'We look forward to working with the California Bureau of Gaming Control to resolve all issues.' Kem bridge vs poker.
Souza, the owner of the Seven Mile Casino, has been a fixture in local civic and political circles for many years. His family has run a casino in Chula Vista for more than 70 years. Prior to opening the new location on Bay Boulevard this past July, the casino operated as the Village Club Card Room on Broadway since the 1950s. The casino is the largest tax generators in the City of Chula Vista, paying more than $520,000 in annual fees.
The closure of the casino left its 300 employees out of work for several weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday. Workers were back at work on Tuesday to a light crowd of patrons.
Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista Raid
Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista News
'I'll be back to play at the casino and I hope it all gets resolved soon,' commented John Reynolds, an occasional card player that lives within blocks of the casino. 'Mr. Souza has always seemed to me to be a nice man and I hope the charges don't hurt the employees that work here,' he added.
The Seven Mile Casino in Chula Vista, California. Photo from Facebook
The casino, along with the Palomar Card Club in San Diego, was closed by an emergency order from the California Bureau of Gambling Control. Skycity queenstown poker. The closure came on the day indictments were unsealed against 25 individuals connected to a wide-ranging money laundering investigation. Seven Mile Casino, and its owner, Harvey Souza, are accused of failing to maintain anti-money laundering programs.
The casino announced this week that it would reopen after meeting new conditions set by the California Department of Justice and the Bureau of Gaming Control. One of the changes initiated this week include installing a new independent manager, Jimy McKee.
McKee, a 40-year veteran of the gaming industry, has previously held leadership positions in other casinos, as well as having served on the Nevada Gaming Commission. McKee also has 11 years of law enforcement experience and served in the US Marine Corp.
The new manager will monitor the day-to-day operations of the Seven Mile Casino and continue to work with law enforcement and gaming officials to ensure they meet all legal requirements of their licenses.
The indictments against the other individuals included charges of money laundering, running a sports book, running an illegal gambling operation in private homes, and transporting women across State lines for prostitution. The indictments estimate that the illegal gambling operations generated more than $10,000,000 in proceeds.
The indictments allege the illegal gambling proceeds were laundered through local casinos as well as the Bellagio and Wynn casinos in Las Vegas.
The Seven Mile Casino released a statement saying in part that 'We look forward to working with the California Bureau of Gaming Control to resolve all issues.' Kem bridge vs poker.
Souza, the owner of the Seven Mile Casino, has been a fixture in local civic and political circles for many years. His family has run a casino in Chula Vista for more than 70 years. Prior to opening the new location on Bay Boulevard this past July, the casino operated as the Village Club Card Room on Broadway since the 1950s. The casino is the largest tax generators in the City of Chula Vista, paying more than $520,000 in annual fees.
The closure of the casino left its 300 employees out of work for several weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday. Workers were back at work on Tuesday to a light crowd of patrons.
Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista Raid
Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista News
'I'll be back to play at the casino and I hope it all gets resolved soon,' commented John Reynolds, an occasional card player that lives within blocks of the casino. 'Mr. Souza has always seemed to me to be a nice man and I hope the charges don't hurt the employees that work here,' he added.
The Seven Mile Casino in Chula Vista, California. Photo from FacebookSeven Mile Casino Chula Vista News Breaking
Federal authorities raided two non-Indian card clubs in southern California and charged 25 people with illegal gambling and money laundering. The U.S. Attorney's Office said the Village Club Card Room, also known as the Seven Mile Casino, and the Palomar Card Room operated as fronts for an illegal sports bookmaking operation and were used to launder an estimated $10 million. Some of the defendants also operated illegal gambling operations in rented mansions, according to the indictment. 'This indictment describes a massive operation that laundered millions of dollars in illicit proceeds,' U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a press release. 'We are committed to putting an end to any activity that enables criminals to hide illicit proceeds.' The FBI seized more than $600,000 during the raids. Some 21 people were arrested in various locations -- including an employee of the casino owned by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. 'The FBI should be protecting us from terrorists, not from someone hoping to make an inside straight,' Craig Kolk's attorney told the paper. Non-Indian card clubs are legal in California. The Seven Mile Casino denied any wrongdoing and said it would work with the state to address any issues. 'Seven Mile Casino, owned and operated by Harvey Souza and his family, have worked tirelessly for the past 70 years to build upon their great-grandfather's legacy and comply with the evolving regulations regarding card rooms across the state,' the card club said on Facebook. 'As a family and as a business, they are very much invested in the community of Chula Vista and the industry. We look forward to working with the California Bureau of Gambling Control to resolve all issues.' Get the Story:Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista Yelp San Diego
California card clubs raided in massive gambling probe (AP 12/9)FBI Raids San Diego-Area Casinos (NBC 12/9)
FBI raids 2 local card rooms tied to illegal gambling (KUSI 12/9)
Seven Mile Casino Chula Vista Reviews
2 card clubs raided, 25 indicted (The San Diego Union-Tribune 12/10)