N.Y. Congressman Gregory Meeks Won $3,500 from Vegas Blackjack Tables

Congress Blackjack

Upon advice of lawyers, New York Representative Gregory Weldon Meeks, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1998, has admitted to winning $3,500 while playing blackjack in Las Vegas.

The “blackjack winnings”, as termed by Meeks, were neglected in his earnings reports over the past two years and only came to light in a November 17 amendment to the financial disclosure forms used by the Democrat representing Queens. The amendment itself does not state where he wagered or that he was playing blackjack card games, but simply “In 2008, I had gambling winnings of approximately $3,500.”

On Thursday, Meeks clarified that the money was won at Las Vegas blackjack casinos. He reported the funds after the lawyers who reviewed his financial disclosures instructed him. Meeks responded “I know that I won some money in Las Vegas, so report it. What’s the big deal?”

Meeks is the subjection of investigations by the House Ethics Committee and the New York Attorney General’s office. Moreover, he has been connected with a New York political scandal involving the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG). While Meeks has no formal role in AEG, the list of people involved has been compared to a “New Direction [Local Development Corporation] class reunion” as many of the same people have been involved with the dubious Hurricane Katrina charity which seems more like a slush fund.

Aqueduct is now being changed into the Resorts World New York “Casino”. Unfortunately, this will be nothing more than a glorified slots parlor, and not somewhere that Meeks or other blackjack fans can go to enjoy the game. No blackjack card games are allowed at Resorts World New York.