Suffolk Downs Racetrack will be forced to close following Revere casino that is unsuccessful bid.
The City of Revere near Boston will sue the Massachusetts Gaming Commission over its decision to award the East Massachusetts casino video gaming license to Wynn Resorts over Mohegan Sun. Mohegan Sun, which wanted to develop a $526 million casino on land owned by the Suffolk Downs Racetrack in Revere, lost the permit battle last month after a protracted bidding process which cost both sides millions of dollars, as well as times descended into tit for tat recriminations.
While Wynn now focuses on its vision to build a resort in Everett, just a few miles to the eastern, Revere is left to pick up the pieces and mourn the resulting closure for the historic Suffolk Downs thoroughbred racetrack.
The horseracing industry had been hit by way of a 40 percent reduction in recent years and it ended up being believed that the proposed Mohegan Sun resort is enough to save lots of Suffolk Downs, whose owners had pledged to keep operating for at minimum another 15 years should win the license revere.
In fact, the requirement to protect Suffolk Downs was one of many primary motivations for the establishment of the 2011 Gambling Act, which expanded casino gaming into the state and created the east Massachusetts casino license. The decision to opt for Wynn Resorts has hammered the final nail into the thoroughbred horseracing industry in the area and that could impact the jobs and livelihoods of as much as 800 people. Many people in Revere feel betrayed by the politicians.
Suit Wants Decision Vacated
The lawsuit, which isbeing brought jointly by the populous city and the union that represents 145 workers at Suffolk Downs, claims that the Commission ‘acted arbitrarily and capriciously, abused its discernment, violated conditions of the gambling legislation, provided Wynn unequal (and better) therapy than other gaming candidates, and treated other applicants unfairly and inequitably.
‘By its acts and decisions, the commission has completely violated the letter of the Gaming Act, the purposes behind the Gaming Act, the Commission’s own regulations and procedures, and provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution,’ it states.
The suit asks the court to nullify the decision and order the Gambling Commission to reassess the permit in accordance with the gambling law.
Criminal Land Sale Problems Addressed
‘ We now have seen … intense disappointment express itself in a number of ways, including legal action and also false accusations of bias against the Commission,’ said Interim director of the Gaming Commission Hank Shafran in a reaction to the lawsuit. ‘ This latest effort is just one more manifestation of dissatisfaction from invested parties after a lengthy assessment and public deliberation process that was based solely on the merits of competing proposals. Our company is confident that this complex certification procedure has been executed in a manner that is comprehensive, thoughtful and reasonable, albeit unsatisfactory and disappointing to those who had envisioned a different outcome.’
But, according to Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo, the Commission still has questions that are pressing answer in relation to the selection procedure. ‘ There are certainly a number of troubling and alarming failures by the Gaming Commission that raise serious questions concerning the process that is entire of the spot A license,’ said Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo. ‘From inequity in the process, to a failure to need adequate community mitigation, to ignoring prospective unlawful activity associated with the Everett land, the Commission has in almost every regard did not live up to its responsibilities under the Gaming Act.’
Rizzo is referring to the fact FBT Everett Realty, the company that sold the Everett plot of land to Wynn Resorts, attempted to conceal that certain of its directors, Charles A. Lightbody, had Mob connections and convictions that are criminal. It is against Massachusetts video gaming law for a convicted felon to profit from a casino’s operations. Three members of this ongoing company, along with Lightbody, were arrested on state fraud charges just two weeks after the Gaming Commissions decision.
Irish Gambling Control Bill Imminent
Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who announced at this year’s spending plan that he expects a duty that is betting on line gambling transactions to yield €25 million per year. (Image: Eric Luke/ Irish Times)
An Irish Gambling Control Bill might be a reality shortly, with Irish media reporting that the long-awaited push to modernize the country’s regulatory framework is, at last, ‘imminent.’ The draft Gambling Control Bill, which had been knocking around since last July with seemingly small progress, is about to become a reality.
The bill will update the current Betting Act 1931, the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 and parts of the Finance Act 1992 in order to more efficiently encompass gambling that is online.
With echoes of this new UK Gambling Act, which is scheduled to come into force on November 1st, it’ll require offshore operators offering wagering services to Irish customers to put up an Irish license, whether or perhaps not they have actually any real presence in the country. a betting duty will be imposed on betting transactions involving all Irish customers.
Currently, only bookmaking stores are required to pay for a gambling duty, 1 per cent on transactions, however the new rules will require all operators, bookmakers and gambling exchanges, remote and land-based, to pay the same tax. It’s been estimated that around €1.6 billion ($2 billion) per is gambled by Irish customers on the internet each year year.
€25 Million become Raised
Finance Minister Michael Noonan announced in their 2015 budget speech this week that he anticipated a yield of €25 million ($32 million) per annum in taxes. He added that €11m of the cash raised goes towards investment in Ireland’s horse and greyhound rushing industries, as well as contributing to a social responsibility fund that helps to fight issue gambling.
‘In recognition of the importance for the Irish bloodstock industry to the rural economy and the anticipated yield of €25 million per annum from betting duty, the Government may be providing an additional €6 million ($7.6 million) a 12 months for three years to the investment for horse and greyhound racing,’ said Noonan. ‘The Government is also allocating additional capital of €5 million ($6.3 million) to Horse Racing Ireland in 2015 to leverage investment in competition courses.’
Irish bookmakers have broadly welcomed the bill. ‘We been employed by closely with the authorities in Ireland in the Betting (Amendment) Bill, ensuring there is an even playing pitch for all organizations who operate in the Irish marketplace irrespective of whether these are typically located in Ireland or not,’ said a spokesman for market-leader Paddy Power.
Step in the Right Direction
The bill will also establish consumer complaints and age verification procedures, settings on advertising, also as laying down provisions for the licensing of land-based gambling enterprises in Ireland. The number of new casinos permitted would be limited by 40 with no casino allowed more than 15 tables.
The news of regulation is well-timed. Just last week a study claimed that problem gambling in Ireland had increased 250 percent in the final 3 years, and a lurid report in the Irish Independent suggested that the rapid adoption of mobile technology was at fault.
In accordance with Justice Minister Alan Shatter, the bill is really a part of the direction that is right. ‘This legislation has got the twin objective of efficiently regulating the new and dynamic gambling sector that has emerged in the past few years, whilst also providing the ability to introduce important brand new measures to protect vulnerable adults and young people,’ he said. ‘I expect the gambling sector to commit itself in a significant way to the style and practice of socially accountable gambling.’
UK Gamblers Unhealthy Good Deal, Researchers Say
Most UK slot players do not look like this, according up to a health that is new on Uk gamblers. (Image: hyyy.com)
A new survey conducted by jackpot.co.uk sought to look for the overall health and wellness of UK gamblers in comparison to the basic population. Its findings did not paint a pretty image, with UK gamblers apparently being an unhealthy lot whom want to get some exercise and reduce on the booze intake.
Would you lie awake at night wondering what the average body mass index is of British slot players? Do you bother about whether online poker players drink excessively? Well, this might be the scholarly study for you. Scientists surveyed 2,131 active UK gamblers on their own health and lifestyle alternatives, such as just how much they drink or whether they smoke cigarettes, and calculated their Body Mass Index (BMI), with some alarming results.
Topping the BMI stakes, it seems, are the aforementioned slots players, who tipped the scales by having an BMI that is average of, a rating that isn’t considered healthy by medical professionals. In fact, it falls to the mildly obese category, since the average BMI of the British population is 27.
The study also discovered that slots players did the least amount of exercise contrasted to other gamblers (repeatedly pulling that lever doesn’t count apparently, although nice try!) In fact, just 27 percent of slots players and 28 % of video poker players stated that they did the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Video poker players additionally came in because of the second greatest BMI, of 30, which figures. All had BMIs over that of the national average in all, roulette, blackjack and craps players.
Survival associated with Fittest
On the other end of the scale were Pai Gow players, whom scored an average GPI of 23, well underneath the national average. One reason behind this may be the game’s appeal among individuals of Chinese origin that is ethnic a group which has reduced obesity rates in general than individuals of European origin. However, as the scientists are quick to point away, the outcomes could be skewed by the tiny sample size of respondents in this category.
One group that maybe fared interestingly well were poker players, who’d the joint second cheapest BMI (with baccarat players), at 25. Significantly, they were the second biggest group of respondents and consequently offered a reliable sample size. Poker players were also the most physically active of all combined teams, with 50 percent meeting the necessary levels of exercise. They do drink too much, coming in second in the boozy stakes behind those perennially unhealthy slots players while they might be nice and slender, though. (perhaps because they truly are lighter than slots players they get drunk quicker, right?)
Up in Smoke
In general, the survey showed that casino gamblers across the board were almost 4 per cent more likely to smoke than the population that is general. Pai Gow players came in highest, with a whopping 46.2 per cent classifying themselves as smokers, although once we have seen the results may be anomalous due to the small test size. Baccarat came in second, though, with 25 % saying they smoked, probably they are James Bond, and those incorrigible slots players coming in third with real-money-casino.club 24 percent because they all think.
The study additionally asked its respondents about their preferred platform for casino gaming and found that people players whom predominantly played on their desktops were more prone to have high BMI scores, in comparison to those who also played real time as well as on their mobiles.
So if you’re an online slots player with a pc, you might want to consider quitting the booze and cigs, and taking on yoga, before it’s all too belated. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we now have some bicep exercises to do with a cocktails that are few.
