Reporter:
Ed Silverstein is a senior reporter covering gambling law and crime news for Casino.org. Ed is an award-winning journalist with credits ranging from the Associated Press to American Lawyer Media. Ed joined the Casino.org news team in 2019 after decades of experience in legal reporting.
His past reporting and editing assignments include Cowles Business Media, Columbia University Press, the Connecticut Post, and Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. Besides the law and its application to the gaming industry, Ed’s areas of expertise span business, politics, education, and state and local government.
Ed holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and master’s degrees from Harvard and Yale. His professional awards include recognition from the New England Press Association and New England AP News Executives.
Ed currently resides in Connecticut, where he enjoys photography and bowling in his spare time.
Contact Ed at [email protected].
Areas of Expertise
2385 stories by Ed Silverstein
Tioga Downs Casino Arson Suspect Charged, 30 Horses Died in Blaze — Video
A man is behind bars after allegedly setting fire to a barn at New York’s Tioga Downs Casino Resort. Thursday’s blaze reportedly killed 30 horses and left one person injured. The suspect, Boyd H. Fenton, 32, of Athens, Pa., was apprehended soon...
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Damaging Solar Array Linked to MGM Casinos
The man who drove his car through a fence at a solar power facility before igniting a fire pleaded guilty last week in a Las Vegas court. Mohammed Mesmarian, 35, a one-time Colorado dentist, entered guilty pleas to two reduced charges: second-degree...
Canadian Casino Security Guard Murder Suspect is Teenager, Police Reveal
Authorities are on the lookout for a 17-year-old suspect who’s believed to have killed a security guard last month at Ontario’s Pickering Casino Resort. Tyjae Nosworthy-Smith is being sought in connection with the October 9 murder of Michael Ferdinand, 34. Durham Regional...
Casino Crime Roundup: Iowa Casino Deaths Under Investigation
Two guests at Iowa’s Wild Rose Casino & Resort were discovered dead in a hotel room last week. Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of their deaths. The incident began after resort staff became concerned about the two visitors. A call...
Mississippi Casino Visitors Shot Dead in Car, Vehicle Catches Fire
Three people were heading back to a Robinsonville, Miss. casino hotel over the weekend when their car was sprayed by bullets. It then struck a pole before bursting into flames. All occupants of the car were killed. The passengers were identified as...
Las Vegas Casino Strike Averted After Wynn Resorts Settles with Union
Wynn Resorts became the last casino company to reach a deal with Las Vegas hospitality workers this week, after both sides agreed to a tentative contract early Friday. The new deal averts a threatened strike just three hours before union members planned...
Wynn Continues Last-Minute Negotiations with Culinary Union
Eyes are on whether Wynn Resorts’ approximately 5K Las Vegas hospitality workers will walk off the job at 5 a.m. (PT) Friday without an acceptable contract. Culinary Union members at Las Vegas’ Wynn and Encore properties reportedly were meeting one last time...
MGM Resorts Reported Close to Culinary Deal as Strike Deadline Looms
MGM Resorts said it's moving toward a deal with approximately 20K Las Vegas hospitality workers just hours before a threatened walkout. MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle announced on Wednesday that a tentative settlement with the Culinary Union is forthcoming. I believe we will...
Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union Tentatively Agree to Deal
Culinary Union representatives announced Wednesday they tentatively agreed to a new five-year contract with the nine Las Vegas properties owned by Caesars Entertainment. Word of the agreement comes two days before a firm strike deadline for the hospitality workers. The approximately 10K...
Las Vegas Judge Sentences Mail Fraudster to 51 Months in Prison
A Las Vegas man was sentenced this week to 51 months behind bars for a fraudulent mass-mailing scheme that targeted thousands of elderly victims. Edgar Del Rio, 56, was given the sentence in federal court on Monday. He earlier pled guilty to...