
Uk horse racing has received a lift from the European Commission, which on Friday gave full approval on the UK government’s reforms associated with the sport’s main funding system.
British activities minister Tracey Crouch thinks the levy that is new ensure gambling reforms pay a fair return to aid horse racing, but the bookies argue they already help it through sponsorship deals.
All bookmakers will be required to pay a ten percent levy on all gross profits derived from betting on British horse racing above a $500,000 ($640,000) threshold under the new system.
Under the system that is previous which has been doing existence since 1961, just betting firms based in the UK had been required to contribute to funding, but now the levy will apply to all companies that offer bets on British racing, including including on- and off-course bookmakers, betting exchanges and spread betting companies.
The majority that is vast of websites, also those owned by Uk household-name brands like Ladbrokes and William Hill, are based overseas.
‘This move will help secure the future of horse racing in Britain by making certain that gambling firms pay a fair come back to support the game,’ said sports minister Tracey Crouch, whose department is behind the reforms.
‘Horse racing possesses strong heritage in this country, using a large number of individuals and is enjoyed by many nearly every day of the entire year. This approach that is new the Horserace Betting Levy helps sustain and develop the game.’
Long-term Certainty
The horse racing industry believes the new levy will assist develop a stable long-term funding procedure for the activity. BHA leader Nick Rust said that it shall allow racing to secure ‘a fair return’ from wagering companies.
The newest deal will boost reward money and provide extra capital for anything from racing integrity to equine welfare and veterinary science.
‘We enjoy working closely with bookmakers to build a future that is exciting both our industries,’ Rust said.
‘ The brand new levy has the potential to place an end to unnecessary divisions between race and gambling as it makes a level playing field, removes the need for annual negotiations on the rate and provides long-term lucky 88 slot machine free online certainty for both events.’
Dissenting Voices
But the gambling industry, which lobbied for a lower levy, claims it already contributes handsomely to your racing industry through sponsorship deals.
It’s also resents the old Levy Board, on which it had representation, will be replaced by a racing that is new, on which it currently has none.
‘As one of the major contributors to your levy we would hope that multichannel representation that is betting form component of any new distribution human body,’ stated William Hill’s Ciaran O’Brien.
‘It certainly makes sense for both industries to have an input into the way the funds are invested, otherwise an increase is represented by this move in taxation alongside a removal of representation.’
Melco-Hard Rock’s Cyprus Casino Awaits Lift Off, Comprehensive Approval Imminent
A Melco-Hard Rock consortium is set to bring casinos to your Republic of Cyprus.
On Friday, Cyprus’ Tourism Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis announced the evaluation process was complete, and, pending ratification by the nation’s cabinet, work will quickly begin on the construction of a $550 million ‘Euro Casino’ resort into the town of Limassol.
An artist’s rendering associated with the Republic of Cyprus’ first casino resort, an effort that is joint Melco International Development and Hard Rock Resorts, to be completed in 2020. (Image: Melco-Hard Rock)
It shall be the republic’s very first, yet not the area’s. Since Turkey invaded the north in 1974, Cyprus has been split into north and south, ethnically and politically Turkish and Greek, respectively, separated by a United Nations buffer zone.
There are several dozen casinos and gaming halls into the north, and even within the buffer zone it self, but casino gaming is brand territory that is new the south.
Secret Bidding Process
The republic enacted a bill to legalize casino gaming in 2015, producing one permit to operate a single casino resort and a number of smaller satellite casinos. As a major tourist that is european, competition was fierce, therefore the tender process curiously secretive.
The likes of Nagacorp, Boomberry, Genting, Caesars and Sun International were also in the running while the Cypriot government kept the names of bidders under wraps, it’s believed that, along with Hard Rock and Melco.
The consortium has said it expects to secure a 30-year certification agreement that allows it to operate a casino monopoly within the republic for the first 15 years.
It hopes to start a casino that is temporary Limassol in October 2017, while the work begins on the Euro Casino resort, which is scheduled to open in 2020. The finished Euro Casino will boast 500 luxury resort rooms and at least 100 video gaming tables and 1,000 slots.
Network of Gaming Venues to check out
The consortium says that should the casino that is temporary Limassol prove effective, it’ll consider starting a ‘network of gambling premises,’ including a casino in the divided capital city of Nicosia, supported by slot parlors in Paphos, Larnaca and Famagusta.
Lakkotrypis made the announcement throughout the island’s travel and tourism event, Taxidi 2017, as he discussed prepared improvements to the nation’s tourism and travel sector.
A record number of visitors are anticipated this summer and he admitted investment in infrastructure was needed to avoid some of the airport delays witnessed year that is last.
‘ Our ultimate objective, through well-thought-out, coordinated actions, is to enhance the quality and diversify our tourism product,’ he stated. ‘To this end, we continue steadily to enrich our experience, for example by promoting opportunities in major jobs such as golf courses, marinas plus the integrated casino resort.’
Elvis Memorabilia Retained by Westgate Nevada Despite Lawsuit From Icon’s Estate
The Elvis memorabilia which was section of an exhibit at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort is not being came back to the icon that is late estate in Memphis, Tennessee.
The former ‘Graceland Presents Elvis’ memorabilia inside the Westgate remains locked up in the resort despite the exhibit’s closure over a ago year. (Image: Westgate Las Vegas)
‘Graceland gifts Elvis’ was a short-lived attraction inside the previous International Hotel, an off-strip resort that hosted hundreds of performances by the legend. The exhibit opened in April of 2015, and closed the next February.
The 28,000-square-foot display offered visitors the opportunity to view 350 bits of Elvis memorabilia, the collection that is largest outside of Graceland. The artifacts included stage outfits, jewelry, letters, guitars, along with other relics that were loaned to the casino from their estate in Tennessee.
However with the display defectively attended, Elvis Presley Enterprises threatened to abandon its lease that is 10-year agreement than a year after opening. Westgate, which claimed to possess invested over $9 million in planning the area for the spectacle, subsequently closed the attraction and locked the memorabilia as ransom.
Despite case filed in March of 2016 that tried for the items to be returned, the Westgate has maintained their possession. ‘Everything is safe,’ Westgate COO Mark Waltrip said after ‘Graceland Presents’ closed.
While public address announcers usually had to inform fans dreaming about an encore that ‘Elvis has left the building,’ his memorabilia isn’t quite therefore fast in order to make an exit.
Do Not ‘Return to Sender’
After admission numbers neglected to meet expectations, with both edges citing bad marketing and promotional efforts because the main reason, the Elvis’ estate wanted to cancel the exhibit and bring the relics straight back to Tennessee.
The arrangement between the Westgate and Elvis Presley Enterprises turned bitter when the resort effectively petitioned Las Las vegas into renaming Riviera Boulevard to Elvis Presley Way. The street connects Las Vegas Boulevard with Paradise Road where the Westgate sits eastern of the Strip. The famed Riv closed in 2015 and was demolished a year ago.
Elvis’ estate don’t want their likeness on a road name, especially one which may aid the Westgate in attracting people to its resort.
Last spring, a judge said Elvis Presley Enterprises could publish a $9 million relationship to recover its items. Alternatively, the estate and Westgate chose to take the full case to arbitration. A mediator is expected to issue an answer into the coming days.
Viva Elvis Presley
Following a seven-year hiatus from performing reside in favor of making Hollywood films, most of which were decried by critics, one exception being ‘Viva Las Vegas,’ Elvis Presley returned to Nevada for a residency at the newly exposed International Hotel in July of 1969.
Built by the late Kirk Kerkorian, Elvis performed 58 consecutive sold out shows, and lived in the resort’s penthouse suite on the 30th floor. He would go on to try out a huge selection of concerts at the International, and was scheduled to go back in 1978 before his untimely death.
Apart from the nearby namesake street, Elvis’ presence today during the Westgate is basically nonexistent. It appears the resort has interest that is little continuing to celebrate The King. The conclusion that is expected the memorabilia situation is his estate paying Westgate for the things in trade for the termination of this lease agreement.
Graceland, Elvis’ mansion in Memphis, is the second-most visited home in America behind only the White House.
Niagara Fallsview Casino Theatre Proposal Would Block Views of Falls
The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort puts slots and table games simply steps from probably the most famous falls in North America, but a proposed 5,000-seat theatre being considered by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG) is being panned by city officials and neighboring hotels.
The Niagara Fallsview Casino complex into the distance might quickly hoist a new theater adjacent to its tower, and which has hotels behind the resort upset over sight lines to your falls. (Image: Niagara Fallsview Casino)
Owned by the OLG, the Niagara Fallsview Casino sits just north of the iconic tourist location in the Canadian part. The $1 billion complex, opened in 2004, is probably one of the most prominent features of the Horseshoe Falls skyline.
Though Niagara Fallsview has one tall tower, the rest of the complex is relatively short in stature, at only a few floors high. That’s allowing the numerous hotels behind the casino to also have views of the falls.
But Niagara Fallsview’s 1,500-seat theatre is no longer adequate to accommodate A-list skill, and OLG is readying to construct a space that is 5,000-seat. Three locations are increasingly being considered, one being together with the bus terminal that serves the Niagara Fallsview complex.
Niagara Falls officials Mayor that is including Jim are opposing the bus terminal location. In a report, the city says ‘the loss of spaces with views of the falls might have a economic impact on hotel income, as well as perhaps value and evaluation that has a direct impact on the municipal tax base.’
OLG Exempt From Rules
The waterfront area of Niagara Falls is afflicted by development rules that stipulate how high buildings can be constructed in certain areas. Whenever resort hotels behind the casino complex were erected, they were built because of the understanding that their views would remain unimpeded.
Nevertheless the OLG, a government entity of this Ontario province, isn’t subject to local zoning guidelines. OLG did, nevertheless, enter into a Development Agreement with Niagara Falls ‘in principle,’ and agreed never to build greater than certain heights.
‘Tourism invested vast sums of bucks predicated on an understanding of . . . where the sight lines had been likely to be,’ Diodati told the Niagara Falls Review. ‘ They took a large amount of risk in good faith.’
Two privately owned land parcels are being considered by the OLG for the theatre. All three bids are now being privately funded in exchange for the right to work the concert and music facility.
The video gaming regulator is anticipated to make its decision on the winning proposal month that is next.
Casinos Bet on Entertainment
Casino resorts across america and North America are targeting millennials by booking hipper concert functions. That’s led to a need for bigger entertainment spaces, and gaming operators are betting big on new facilities.
The OLG additionally owns Casino Niagara just a mile north in addition to Fallsview. Casino Niagara is an older resort that dates back to 1996, and doesn’t feature concert space. But directly across the Niagara River on the US side, the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians, features a 2,400-seat events center and more intimate theater that is 440-seat.