Craig Estey

Richard Craig Estey is the founder of Dotty's, a chain of taverns with slot machines[1] with about 175 locations in Nevada, Oregon, and Montana, and another 150 locations planned in Illinois.[2] The business model is controversial, with sites "offering minimal food and beverage choices with a heavy focus on gambling."[1] The chain caters to women aged 35 and older, with a clean, well-lit atmosphere meant to invoke "your grandmother's kitchen".[3]

Dotty's logo

In 2006, Estey came under investigation by the Lottery for alleged incidents of domestic violence against his wife, and for lying to Nevada gaming regulators about the incidents.[4][5][6][7] Faced with the threat of losing Dotty's lottery retailer contract,[6][8][9] Estey was forced to sell Dotty's locations in Oregon to a group of investors from South Dakota, including Dan Fischer and Marwin Hofer, at a sales price reportedly higher than $15 million.[10]

Estey has donated money to RightChange.com, a group dedicated to electing conservative Republicans.[11] Estey was also a major donor to Super PACs supporting Mitt Romney in 2012.[12]

References
  1. Howard Stutz for the Las Vegas Review-Journal July 26, 2014. Dotty’s taverns are simply complex
  2. Alison Burdo (May 23, 2013). "Chain of 'homey' gambling cafes makes big suburban push". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  3. Steve Mayes (July 21, 1996). "A sure hand". The Oregonian.  – via NewsBank (subscription required)
  4. Steve Duin (December 17, 2006). "Oregon Lottery scratches Dotty's Delis owner". The Oregonian.  – via NewsBank (subscription required)
  5. Steve Duin for The Oregonian. January 02, 2007 Yes; Estey, No
  6. Will Evans for National Public Radio and The Center for Investigative Reporting. Oct 31, 2008 RightChange gets money from controversial businessman
  7. John L. Smith for the Las Vegas Review Journal. March 30, 2011. Dotty's seems to be 'grandmothered in,' able to ignore the rules
  8. Letter from Oregon Lottery to R Craig Estey, December 13, 2006 Archived 2014-12-09 at the Wayback Machine, linked from NPR article already cited and Mirrored article at CIR website Archived 2014-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Oregon Lottery tells chain owner to sell or lose state contract". Associated Press News Service. January 4, 2007.  – via NewsBank (subscription required)
  10. Steve Duin (March 1, 2007). "Craig Estey exits with wallet bulging". The Oregonian.  – via NewsBank (subscription required)
  11. Evans, Will (31 October 2008). "RightChange Gets Money From Controversial Businessman". NPR. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  12. "The largest super PAC donors". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
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