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Bronx News: Who’s Banking on Big Bucks from Casinos? New York’s Transit System

  The MTA is projecting billions in revenue from proposed NYC-based gaming halls, which are poised to win up to three licenses later this year. This article originally appeared in The City. By Jose Martinez and Lauren Hartley Bronx Voice October 23, 2025 BRONX NEWS - New York’s mass-transit system is banking on billions of dollars from the state’s bet to bring full-scale casinos to the city. With three gaming-palace proposals still on the table — two in Queens and one in The Bronx — the MTA is counting on close to $2 billion through 2029 just from casino-licensing fees earmarked for the transportation authority’s annual operating budget. Billions more could come from tax revenue, depending on how licenses are awarded.  “More service, better service, no layoffs,” Janno Lieber , MTA chairperson and chief executive, said Oct. 10 in response to a question from THE CITY about the potential impact of casinos on the transit system. “That’s what we accomplished thank...

Genovese Bronx-based Gambling Ring Silenced with 6 Convictions

File Photo


By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

February 20, 2023 


BRONX - Just days before the Super Bowl, America's single largest day of gambling, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced that six members of the Genovese crime family have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy pertaining to an online gambling operation, with three of the six defendants based in the Bronx.



 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that Genovese family associate Thomas Poli, 64, of the Bronx had pled guilty in federal court back on September 29, and will be sentenced on April 13.

 

Genovese family Captain Nicholas Calisi, 63, of Boca Raton, FL., soldier John Campanella, 47, of the Bronx and associate Michael Poli, 37, of Hawthorne, NY., submitted their guilty pleas on February 8, and are expected to be sentenced on June 27.




 

Genovese captain Ralph Balsamo, 54, of the Bronx and soldier Michael Messina, 69, of New Fairfield, CT. would submit their guilty pleas on February 9, and will be sentenced on June 28.

 

At the announcement, Williams stated, "Today's pleas demonstrate that those who swear a lifetime allegiance to criminal organizations will be prosecuted, no matter their efforts to insulate themselves."

 

Court documents from the superseding indictment revealed that the six men "engaged in extortionate extensions of credit by extortion, extortion, operating illegal gambling businesses and the transmission of gambling information."



 

All six members face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

 

In court testimony Thomas Poli revealed a relationship with Bronx County Clerk Luis Diaz, which led to Diaz' own indictment for submitting false information regarding Poli's false claim of fulfilling a community service requirement. Diaz also pled guilty and stepped down from his lifetime appointment in July 2022.  

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