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Some constituents are unhappy with what they perceive to be policies that are racist Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino
The streams Casino in Pittsburgh is not the form of casino that usually makes headlines. But one politician that is local worried that the casino has recently put policies into place that show an ugly pattern one that might, in fact, be discriminatory towards black colored patrons.
Earlier this month, an Allegheny County councilwoman called Amanda Green Hawkins wrote a letter to the casino’s general manager. In the page, she asked a question that is pointed why several events that seemed become directed at the local African-American community have been cancelled, subjected to higher pricing, or faced other unequal conditions.
According to Councilwoman Hawkins, the page follows a pattern of reports she received from her constituents.
Perhaps policies that are racist
‘There have actually been allegations of competition discrimination,’ Hawkins said. ‘Constituents have actually called me or written me e-mails about things they have seen going on [at Rivers Casino] that they state are just racism.’
There were examples that are several current months that prompted the letter. Within the letter, Hawkins highlighted an event held month that is last a black motorcycle club called the Pittsburgh Ruff Ryders. The casino found that the event was overcrowding the certain area it was being held in, and so shut the event down early. However, there have been questions about why the casino didn’t try taking other measures instead, such as closing the doorways and never allowing any more visitors in the venue.
While this 1 case by itself might mean little, Hawkins believed from visitors that it was part of a pattern of behavior from the casino that was being reported to her. A historically black fraternity was charged $15,000 last year to host an event in the casino’s ballroom, which was far more than the fee normally charged to use that venue for instance, Omega Psi Phi.
In addition, the casino has recently power down many events that have been known to be favored by the black community. Boxing matches and coverage of such matches at casino bars are no longer found there. Meanwhile, a popular promotion known as ‘Casino Royal Nights,’ organized by African-American promoter Jay Legacy at the casino’s Drum Bar, has also been shut down.
‘In effect, the casino will not conduct or hold any event that attracts or caters up to a large African-American market,’ Hawkins published.
Casino Ready to React
Interestingly, the casino it self took a soft line when responding to the accusations. While general manager Craig Clark have not commented on the story, casino spokesman Jack Horner told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette they would be happy to go over the problem with the councilwoman.
‘Rivers Casino already has reached out to Councilwoman Hawkins’ office to schedule a meeting that is personal our general manager, to handle any misunderstanding, and to correct the record,’ Horner said.
In the event that allegations become accurate, the casino could be found in breach of laws discrimination that is regarding though it is too early to state just how severe any potential punishment could possibly be.
The Rivers Casino was opened in 2009. The casino sits alongside the Ohio River, next to the Carnegie Science Center. Along with 3,000 slot machines that have been on the casino floor since the Rivers’ launch, the casino now features over 100 table games, which were put into the casino in 2010.
Filipino Billionaire Enrique Razon Wants to Take Casino Empire Global
Billionaire slot magnate Enrique Razon wants to take a gamble on expansion
Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon comes from a household that built a company that is port Southeast Asia, eventually becoming certainly one of the largest such corporations into the area. Now, Razon is looking for doing a similar with his casino ventures.
Razon are the owners of Bloomberry Resorts, business that runs a $1.2 billion casino resort known as Solaire in Manila. Solaire was given one of four licenses for casino jobs in Manila as part of an effort to offer the Philippines a gambling hub that could contend with Macau and Singapore.
Looking at Macau and Latin America
But Razon is looking to expand their casino company much like how he took his family’s little ports operation and switched it into a worldwide operation. He’s got already expressed an interest in moving into areas including Latin America and also the biggest market of these all: Macau. While the latter probably can’t happen straight away, Razon hopes that whenever present licenses begin to expire in Macau in 2020, the us government there’ll open industry to brand new entrants.
‘We have to build the brand,’ Razon said.
This isn’t the time that is first Razon family happens to be part of the casino industry. Many years, ago, Enrique’s dad was part of a venture with Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho that operated a drifting casino in Manila. But he left that venture, allowing the grouped family to concentrate exclusively on the ports business.
While Razon’s Solaire could be a success, there’s nevertheless a lot of skepticism over whether he’ll be able to translate that into a casino brand that is international.
Expansion Competition
‘ He shall have a harder time expanding their casino ventures overseas,’ stated strategist Alex Pomento. ‘Mr. Razon’s expertise is by using ports, a continuing business which includes no correlation with video gaming.’
Needless to say, Razon disagrees. He points out that Solaire has recently drawn a large number of VIP and high-stakes gamblers, sufficient that 30 junket that is so-called have actually decided to work with the casino. Those companies provide credit and arrange trips for Chinese and Asian gamblers who want to make visits to casinos that are overseas.
Razon additionally believes that his ports business can give him a actually leg up in a few markets specially in Latin America.
‘we have the advantage there because we are the port operator that is biggest there. We understand the landscape,’ he said.
Of course, Razon will face an abundance of competition as he tries to push their fledgling casino brand. Both domestic and foreign, including Sands and Wynn in Macau, he’ll face resistance from established brands. Even within the Philippines, several other operators will be contending for influence, including tycoon Henry Sy, whom has partnered with Melco Crown to start a $1.3 billion casino complex in 2014. How successful Razon is at moving to the top of the market that is local figure out whether international expansion is in the cards.
The Razon family is best known with regards to their ownership of International Container Terminal Services, an ongoing business that Enrique and his father began in 1987. Today, the business (known as ICTSI) is the Philippines’ largest ports operator and also runs in Asia, Argentina and Colombia.
Scottish Soccer Player Ian Black Accused of Betting Against Own Team
Scottish soccer player Ian Black could face sanctions and even worse for sports bets against his or her own team
When it comes towards the rules of conduct for players and coaches in recreations, there is nothing taken more seriously than gambling. You can realize why: while other hot issues in sports such as performance enhancing drugs may offer some players an advantage that is unfair they don’t replace the fundamental competition taking place on the field. When players and coaches gamble on the games, on the other hand, the legitimacy of the competition it self is tossed into question.
Made Bets His Team Would Lose
That’s why allegations taken from Scotland this are being taken so seriously week. The Scottish Football Association the regulating body for soccer in that nation is accusing player Ian Black of wagering on matches on his own team on many occasions over days gone by seven years. Worse still, in at least three of those circumstances, he’s accused of betting that his very own group would lose.
To be clear, Black just isn’t being accused of attempting to fix the games he played in. Even within the games in which he bet against their own team, the SFA does not believe he tried to gain by playing badly or elsewhere increasing the opportunity of his team losing.
But it doesn’t suggest that the midfielder that is 28-year-old who presently plays for the Glasgow Rangers, would not face serious punishments for his betting habits. Because of the 13 times he bet on or against their own team, along with 147 other bets he made on matches he didn’t be a part of, Black could face a fine of up to $1.3 million.
Violated Anti-Gambling Rules
To make these bets, Black violated an anti-gambling rule disciplinary rule 22 that was regarding the books throughout his career, which spanned his time at Hearts, Inverness, and now with the Rangers. The rule states that ‘no club, formal, team official or other member of group staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bet in any way for a football match.’ While there are exceptions for certain authorized ‘football pools,’ the ban also includes all football matches any place in the entire world and thus Ebony would be dealing with punishment even if he hadn’t bet on his or her own group.
However, the bets on his own team do make the possibility of even harsher punishments for Black. Based on the SFA, Black could face a suspension system in addition to his fine, and he may potentially even receive a lifetime ban from playing soccer.
Black has recently had a career that is long clubs in Scotland, beginning with a 132-game stint at Inverness from 2004 to 2009. He then relocated to the favorite club of their youth, Hearts, for 36 months before joining Rangers year that is last. Ebony has additionally played one game for Scotland’s national team, coming in as an alternative in a friendly against Australia. Black’s household features a long reputation for playing soccer, as his dad was a professional player as well, playing for both Hearts and Hibernian.
This isn’t the first time that Ebony has made headlines for off-the-field tasks. In 2011, he and a teammate were arrested and charged with drug control at an Edinburgh club, though the case as since been dismissed night. Later that year, when Hearts had been struggling to pay player salaries for a short time, he had been said to have taken up a part-time work being a painter and decorator to cover his bills.
