ATTORNEY GENERAL WRIGLEY ANNOUNCES GAMING ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST EAST MAIN INVESTMENTS, LLC.

04 Dec ATTORNEY GENERAL WRIGLEY ANNOUNCES GAMING ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST EAST MAIN INVESTMENTS, LLC.

December 4, 2024

_{CONTACT: Suzie Weigel, 701.328.2210}

Bismarck – Attorney General Drew Wrigley announced that an investigation completed by the Gaming Division determined that East Main Investments, LLC (EMI) the owner of the Silver Dollar Bar, a site authorized for conducting gaming, acted together with a state licensed nonprofit charitable gaming organization to violate the gaming laws and rules.

“These violations again demonstrate that some unscrupulous individuals and entities involved in Charitable Gaming are ignoring the charitable purposes and resorting to unlawful practices and greed. My office will ensure we enforce North Dakota law and protect the integrity of the charitable gaming industry,” said Attorney General Drew Wrigley.

“Violations like these have continued to undermine the charitable gaming industry as a whole. The violations that occurred in this instance have long term impacts on nonprofit organizations that honestly follow the law. Many people and organizations are harmed by the actions of one or two bad actors. The Gaming Division takes these violations seriously and will continue to investigate and take appropriate action against other sites that want to make this a ‘for profit’ industry; that undermine the good work of charities,” said Gaming Division Director, Deb McDaniel.

Pursuant to the July 1, 2024, enforcement action by the North Dakota Attorney General’s office, EMI entered into a binding “Settlement Agreement and Stipulated Order,” whereby EMI and its owners have agreed to the following mandatory penalties, fines, and acknowledgements of wrongdoing:

• EMI fully admits, without exception, limitation, or condition, that EMI engaged in the conduct set forth in the Agreement, including as detailed in Section II, paragraph 10. EMI fully admits, without exception, limitation, or condition, that such conduct violates ND Admin. Code 99-01.3-02-05(2) and 99-01.3-02-05(3)(b).
• EMI’s site authorization will be suspended for one (1) year beginning July 1, 2024, the date the Notice of Violation was issued to EMI.
• Six months of the one-year suspension will be deferred for a period of three years. Should EMI(including any of its owners, agents, or representatives) fail to comply with the terms of this Agreement or commit any further violations of the gaming laws, rules, or regulations within the three-year period, any and all site authorizations held by EMI will be immediately terminated and/or revoked. EMI agrees to waive its right to a hearing under N.D.C.C. ch. 28-32 or any appeal therefrom to contest the termination of its site authorization if a violation occurs within the three-year period.
• EMI will pay a fine in the amount of attorney’s fees. Full payment of the fine shall be made within ten days of defendant receiving the final amount of attorney’s fees.
• EMI, including any of its owners, agents, or representatives, must refrain from making any statements contrary to the terms and acknowledgements of this Agreement. EMI, including any of its owners, agents, or representatives, must refrain from making any statements contrary to the terms and acknowledgements of this Agreement.

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A copy of the Settlement Agreement and Stipulated Order is attached.