Former Offshore Bookmaker Now a Politician
ESB’s Dennis Atiyeh Failed in Run for U.S. Congress
A former offshore bookmaker who once fought the Federal government recently tried to become part of the Federal government.
Dennis J. Atiyeh, who owned and operated offshore sportsbook English Sports Betting (ESB) in Jamaica in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was charged by the Feds in 2000 with illegally running a sports betting operation from the U.S.
After a Federal court trial in 2001 revealed Atiyeh was only doing marketing for ESB from an office in Whitehall, Pa.--not taking bets there, which was done at ESB's Jamaica headquarters--he was acquitted of all charges.
It cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
Now, long out of the offshore bookmaking business since ESB folded about 10 years ago, Atiyeh ran for the U.S. Congress in the last election.
He lost.
But it brings to mind the old saying, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
Because in Atiyeh's case, it was, "If you can beat 'em, join 'em."
With 'em--or them--being the Federal government.
Atiyeh, 51, who's now a farmer in North Whitehall, Pa., last November ran as a write-in candidate for the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, which covers the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton region and surrounding areas.
The longtime incumbent congressman for the 15th District, Republican Charlie Dent, ran for another term last November and faced no Democratic opposition in the election.
Atiyeh is also a Republican.
According to the official election results, the final vote tally had Dent receiving 26,144 votes and Atiyeh receiving 40 votes.
Atiyeh's main issue in the campaign was: attorneys.
If elected to Congress, Atiyeh promised to reign them in.
During the campaign, he told a local weekly newspaper, the Bethlehem Press, that attorneys should have to pay for their use of the court system.
"In a time when everyone is paying so many taxes, the tax burden has fallen on the citizens," Atiyeh said. "Attorneys, who go to court, benefit without paying any costs. The average citizen pays a fuel tax. I believe attorneys should have to pay to use the courts."
On his Facebook campaign page, which is still up at www.facebook.com/dennisjatiyehforcongress , Atiyeh declared: "Lawyers--pay to use the courthouse facilities. It's only fair! Citizens and companies pay a fuel tax to use the roads. Write in, vote Dennis J. Atiyeh, 15th Congressional District on November 4th and lawyers will pay an annual registration fee to help defray the costs of building and operating the courthouses that law-abiding citizens never see the inside of! Citizens and companies pay an annual auto registration fee; it's only fair! Write in and win, Dennis J. Atiyeh, 15th Congressional District on November 4, 2014 and cut taxes now! The majority of citizens never use the courts. Write in Dennis J. Atiyeh, 15th Congressional District on November 4. Votes are for victory, everyone wins!"
Although is was a talented team of attorneys--led by the late Ken Hense--that successfully defended Atiyeh in his Federal trial, it's no surprise Atiyeh has a problem with lawyers, or would run an election campaign with that being the key issue, as he has been involved in numerous court cases in his career.
Atiyeh and the late Ken "The Shrink" Weitzner, a sports betting blogger, once sued each other over comments made about ESB on Weitzner's website, The Prescription, and comments made about Weitzner's mental health in a weekly sports betting newspaper Atiyeh published, the Las Vegas Sporting News (LVSN).
Atiyeh and LVSN were also sued by mainstream sports publication The Sporting News over trademark infringement.
In addition, when ESB first opened, it was known as ESBN, or the English Sports Betting Network.
Atiyeh shortened the name to ESB or English Sports Betting after cable television network ESPN threatened a lawsuit over trademark infringement.
Atiyeh also had legal issues with gaming writer Buzz Daly, the late sportswriter Lynda Collins and convicted felon and fellow sportsbook operator Jay Cohen.
In another memorable case, Atiyeh once sued Gambling911.com publisher and owner Chris Costigan for libel after Costigan wrote an article about Atiyeh's arrest record.
That lawsuit, which was erroneously filed against Chris Tostigan, was thrown out of court for being filed in the wrong jurisdiction.
Atiyeh never re-sued.
By Tom Somach
Gambling911.com Staff Writer
