West Fargo Rural Fire Department fined and barred from gambling sites – InForum
WEST FARGO — The West Fargo Rural Fire Department has been fined and banned from hosting games at two West Fargo bars, which have also been suspended from hosting any games for a year, after investigators determined that they committed significant violations of state gaming laws.
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley fined the West Fargo Rural Fire Department $20,000 with a five-year suspension of $5,000 and banned it from conducting gambling activities at the Bar Nine and at the Bordertown Bar & Grill in West Fargo, effective immediately.
Wrigley also ordered games suspended at Bar Nine and the Bordertown Bar & Grill for one year, effective July 1. Both bars are owned by Nasser Hammami.
Hammami could not be reached for comment on Thursday, June 16. A call to West Fargo Rural Fire Department Chief Steve Baron was not returned at press time.
Wrigley said an investigation found the bar owner had participated in gambling activities at both venues, which is prohibited by law.
“All gaming activities must be conducted by the charity itself,” Wrigley said.
He also noted that unlicensed raffles and other games had been held in bars.
The North Dakota Century Code prohibits hosting games of chance that directly benefit the host company. The Host may also not influence the determination of prizes or conduct unauthorized raffle activities.
Sites, or lessors, are paid in rent by charities that run games on their site.
According to state law, “A lessor may not operate games of chance or interfere with or attempt to influence the organization’s game selection, prize determination, or disbursement of net proceeds.”
While the West Fargo Rural Fire Department is not permitted to hold games at the two bars, the charity has other sites where it can continue to hold games.
“At other sites where no violations have been found, (the rural fire service) may continue to operate,” Wrigley said. “Those were their strongest sites, where they had the most charitable income.”
No gaming will be allowed at Bar Nine or Bordertown for a year, Wrigley said. This includes all games such as bingo, machines, games of chance or raffles.
Although not required, Wrigley met with the West Fargo and Hammami Rural Fire Department earlier this week. He said they all agreed to accept the terms of the breach.
“It’s a significant penalty for someone in these situations,” Wrigley said. “It will have a significant impact on them.”
Wrigley said his office has a duty to protect the integrity of the gambling industry. Only charities or nonprofit public interest organizations can conduct gambling.
“Our goal is to ensure compliance, but also to proactively provide a deterrent to others,” Wrigley said. “They were not in compliance, hence the sanction. We will continue to intensify these investigations into the operations, and we will have periodic spot checks. It is extremely important that the game maintains its good reputation. happen, you need to have compliance and public trust.”
The West Fargo Fire Department became its own municipal department with full-time paid firefighters in 2018. The West Fargo Rural Fire Department remained a separate non-profit volunteer service covering rural areas.
Readers can contact West Fargo editor Wendy Reuer at
Where
701-241-5530
. Follow her on Twitter
.