City plans to recoup tax money

MOSES LAKE - The Porterhouse Restaurant's casino in Moses Lake is operating under a new gambling license, city and state officials confirmed on Monday.

The new license is under Stanley Stanek, who is listed as president of Central Gaming Partners, said Susan Arland, a state Gambling Commission spokesperson.

Stanek owns the business' building, paid for its remodel earlier this year and obtained a liquor license and a gambling license, said Joseph Gavinski, Moses Lake's city manager.

The former owners, Steven Crothers and Brian Rosborough, are reportedly not involved in the gambling side of the business at this time, Gavinski said.

They leased the building and land from Stanek after they sold it to him, Gavinski said.

Gavinski said the city is still trying to recover $149,987 in unpaid gambling taxes, penalties and $17,000 in accrued interest from Cardroom Inc., the entity associated with the former owners.

"They still have to pay the taxes," Gavinski said. "They question is, how do we collect it?"

Cardroom Inc. withdrew its appeal to the city about issues surrounding the unpaid taxes earlier this month, Gavinski said.

The city previously asked the state Gambling Commission to start enforcement action to revoke Cardroom Inc.'s gambling license.

Gavinski said he believed Cardroom Inc.'s appeal issue concerned the penalties and interest associated with the taxes.

"I suspect they were simply looking to buy some time to allow Mr. Stanek to get his license in order," Gavinski said.

The city plans to foreclose on the equipment in the business to recoup the unpaid taxes, he said.

The new license allows the business to have punchboard pull tabs and nine tables for card games, Arland said.

Customers are allowed to play house bank card games, which includes blackjack and poker, just like under the old license, she said.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach Stanek and Cardroom Inc.'s attorney Larry Larson for comment.