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UK Horse Racing Levy Reforms Clear Final Hurdle

UK Horse Racing Levy Reforms Clear Final Hurdle

Uk horse race has gotten a lift from the European Commission, which on Friday gave full approval on the UK government’s reforms of this sport’s main funding system.

British sports minister Tracey Crouch thinks the levy that is new ensure gambling reforms pay a fair return to support horse racing, but the bookies argue they already support 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.

Underneath the system that is previous which has been in existence since 1961, only betting organizations based in the united kingdom were required to contribute to funding, however now the levy will affect all companies that offer wagers on British racing, including including on- and off-course bookmakers, betting exchanges and spread betting organizations.

The vast majority of betting websites, even those owned by British household-name brands like Ladbrokes and William Hill, are based overseas.

‘This move will assist secure the future of horse racing in Britain by making sure that gambling organizations pay a return that is fair support the sport,’ said sports minister Tracey Crouch, whose department is behind the reforms.

‘Horse racing possesses strong heritage in this country, using a huge number of individuals and is enjoyed by many almost every day of the season. This approach that is new the Horserace Betting Levy can help sustain and develop the game.’

Long-term Certainty

The horse racing industry believes the brand new levy will help produce a stable long-term funding process for the game. BHA chief executive Nick Rust said that it shall allow racing to secure ‘a reasonable return’ from wagering companies.

The new deal will improve prize money and provide extra money for sets from racing integrity to equine welfare and veterinary science.

‘We enjoy working closely with bookmakers to build an exciting future for both our industries,’ Rust said.

‘ The brand new levy has the potential to place an end to unnecessary divisions between race and wagering as it generates a level playing field, removes the necessity for annual negotiations on the price and provides long-term certainty for both events.’

Dissenting Voices

But the industry that is betting which lobbied for the lower levy, states it already contributes handsomely to your racing industry through sponsorship deals.

It is 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 towards the levy we would hope that multichannel representation that is betting form part of any new distribution human anatomy,’ said William Hill’s Ciaran O’Brien.

‘It surely makes sense for both industries with an input myfreepokies.com into how a funds are invested, otherwise this move represents an increase in taxation alongside a removal of representation.’

Melco-Hard Rock’s Cyprus Casino Awaits Lift Off, Complete 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 had been complete, and, pending ratification by the country’s cabinet, work will quickly begin on the construction of a $550 million ‘Euro Casino’ resort into the city of Limassol.

An artist’s rendering associated with the Republic of Cyprus’ first casino resort, a joint effort between Melco International Development and Hard Rock Resorts, to be completed in 2020. (Image: Melco-Hard Rock)

It shall be the republic’s first, but not the island’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 in the north, as well as 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 video gaming in 2015, producing one license to operate a casino that is single and lots of smaller satellite gambling enterprises. Being a major European tourist hub, competition was fierce, as well as the tender process curiously secretive.

Even though the Cypriot government kept the names of bidders under wraps, it’s believed that, along with Hard Rock and Melco, the loves of Nagacorp, Boomberry, Genting, Caesars and Sun International were also in the running.

The consortium has said it expects to secure a 30-year licensing agreement that allows it to use a casino monopoly into the republic for the first 15 years.

It hopes to start a temporary casino in Limassol in October 2017, while the task begins in the Euro Casino resort, which can be scheduled to start in 2020. The completed Euro Casino will boast 500 luxury rooms in hotels and at least 100 gaming tables and 1,000 slots.

System of Gaming Venues to follow along with

The consortium claims that should the short-term casino in Limassol prove effective, it’s going to consider opening 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 statement through the island’s travel and tourism exhibition, Taxidi 2017, as he discussed planned improvements to your nation’s tourism and travel sector.

A record quantity of visitors are required this summer and he admitted investment in infrastructure was required to avoid a number of the airport delays witnessed year that is last.

‘ Our goal that is ultimate well-thought-out, coordinated actions, is to enhance the quality and diversify our tourism product,’ he stated. ‘To this end, we continue to enrich our experience, for example by promoting assets 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 that was part of an exhibit at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort is not being came back to the late icon’s estate in Memphis, Tennessee.

The former ‘Graceland Presents Elvis’ memorabilia inside the Westgate remains locked up in the resort regardless of the exhibit’s closure over a ago year. (Image: Westgate Las Vegas, Nevada)

‘Graceland Presents Elvis’ was a short-lived attraction inside the previous International Hotel, an off-strip resort that hosted a huge selection of shows by the legend. The exhibit opened in April of 2015, and closed the next February.

The 28,000-square-foot display offered visitors the chance to view 350 bits of Elvis memorabilia, the largest collection outside of Graceland. The items included stage outfits, jewelry, letters, guitars, and other relics that were loaned to the casino from their estate in Tennessee.

But with the exhibit badly attended, Elvis Presley Enterprises threatened to abandon its 10-year lease agreement less than the usual year after opening. Westgate, which claimed to have spent over $9 million in preparing the room for the spectacle, subsequently closed the attraction and locked the memorabilia as ransom.

Despite case filed in March of 2016 that sought for the what to be returned, the Westgate has maintained their possession. ‘Everything is safe,’ Westgate COO Mark Waltrip said after ‘Graceland Presents’ shut.

While public address announcers often had to see fans dreaming about an encore that ‘Elvis has left the building,’ his memorabilia isn’t quite so quick to create an exit.

Do Not ‘Get Back to Sender’

The Elvis’ estate wanted to cancel the exhibit and bring the relics back to Tennessee after admission numbers failed to meet expectations, with both sides citing poor marketing and promotional efforts as the primary reason.

The arrangement between the Westgate and Elvis Presley Enterprises turned bitter when the resort Las that is successfully petitioned Vegas renaming Riviera Boulevard to Elvis Presley Method. The street connects Las Vegas Boulevard with Paradise Road where the Westgate sits east of the Strip. The famed Riv closed in 2015 and was demolished year that is last.

Elvis’ estate didn’t want his likeness on a street name, especially one that may aid the Westgate in attracting visitors to its resort.

Last springtime, a judge stated Elvis Presley Enterprises could publish a $9 million relationship to recover its items. Alternatively, the estate and Westgate made a decision to take the case to arbitration. A mediator is expected to issue a resolution into the days that are coming.

Viva Elvis Presley

Following a hiatus that is seven-year performing are now living in favor of making Hollywood films, most of which were decried by critics, one exclusion being ‘Viva vegas,’ Elvis Presley returned to Nevada for a residency at the newly opened 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 hundreds of concerts at the International, and was scheduled to return in 1978 before his untimely death.

Aside from the nearby namesake street, Elvis’ presence today at the Westgate is basically nonexistent. It appears the resort has small fascination with continuing to commemorate The King. The conclusion that is expected the memorabilia instance is going to be his estate paying Westgate for the things as a swap for the termination for the lease agreement.

Graceland, Elvis’ mansion in Memphis, is the second-most visited house in America behind just the White House.

Niagara Fallsview Casino Theatre Proposal Would Block Views of Falls

The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort puts slots and dining table games just 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 soon hoist a new theatre adjacent to its tower, and which has hotels behind the resort upset over sight lines to the falls. (Image: Niagara Fallsview Casino)

Owned by the OLG, the Niagara Fallsview Casino sits simply north of the iconic tourist destination in the side that is canadian. The $1 billion complex, opened in 2004, is the most prominent features of the Horseshoe Falls skyline.

The rest of the complex is relatively short in stature, at only a few floors high though Niagara Fallsview has one tall tower. That’s to permit 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 house A-list talent, and OLG is readying to construct a space that is 5,000-seat. Three locations are being considered, one being on top of the bus terminal that serves the Niagara Fallsview complex.

Niagara Falls officials including Mayor Jim Diodati are opposing the bus terminal location. In a study, the town says ‘the loss of spaces with views of the falls might have a monetary impact on hotel income, and maybe value and evaluation which has an impact on the municipal tax base.’

OLG Exempt From Rules

The waterfront area of Niagara Falls is subjected to development rules that stipulate how high buildings may be constructed in certain areas. Whenever resort hotels behind the casino complex were erected, they certainly were built utilizing the understanding that their views would remain unimpeded.

Nevertheless the OLG, a government entity associated with the Ontario province, isn’t at the mercy of neighborhood zoning guidelines. OLG did, but, enter into a Development Agreement with Niagara Falls ‘in principle,’ and agreed not to ever build higher than certain heights.

‘Tourism invested billions of bucks considering an understanding of . . . where the sight lines were likely to be,’ Diodati told the Niagara Falls Review. ‘ They took a complete 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 return for the right to use the music and concert facility.

The gaming regulator is anticipated to make its decision on the winning proposal the following month.

Casinos Bet on Entertainment

Casino resorts across america and North America are focusing on millennials by booking hipper concert acts. That’s generated a need for bigger entertainment spaces, and video gaming operators are gambling big on new facilities.

The OLG additionally owns Casino Niagara just a mile north in addition to Fallsview. Casino Niagara is a mature 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. 

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