
Some constituents are unhappy with what they perceive to be racist policies at Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino
The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh is not the type or form of casino that always makes headlines. But one local politician is concerned that the casino has recently placed policies into place that show an ugly pattern one that might, in reality, be discriminatory towards black patrons.
Earlier this month, an Allegheny County councilwoman named Amanda Green Hawkins wrote a page to the casino’s general supervisor. In the letter, she asked a pointed question about why several events that seemed to be aimed at the local African-American community have been terminated, afflicted by higher pricing, or faced other unequal conditions.
According to Councilwoman Hawkins, the page follows a pattern of reports she received from her constituents.
Possibly policies that are racist
‘There have been allegations of battle discrimination,’ Hawkins stated. ‘Constituents have actually called me or written me e-mails about things they’ve seen going on [at Rivers Casino] that they say are only racism.’
There were several examples in present months that prompted the letter. In 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 function 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 hinged doors and not allowing any more visitors in the location.
While that one case by itself might mean little, Hawkins thought from visitors that it was part of a pattern of behavior from the casino that was being reported to her. As an example, Omega Psi Phi a historically black fraternity ended up being charged $15,000 this past year to host an event in the casino’s ballroom, which was far more compared to the fee normally charged to use that venue.
In addition, the casino has recently turn off many events which were understood to be well-liked by the community that is black. Boxing matches and coverage of such matches at casino bars are no further 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 audience that is african-American’ Hawkins had written.
Casino Ready to React
Interestingly, the casino itself took a line that is soft responding to the accusations. While basic manager Craig Clark hasn’t commented on the whole story, casino spokesman Jack Horner told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette which they would be happy to talk about the problem with the councilwoman.
‘Rivers Casino already has reached out to Councilwoman Hawkins’ office to schedule a individual meeting with our general manager, to address any misunderstanding, and to correct the record,’ Horner said.
In the event that allegations grow to be accurate, the casino could be found in violation of laws discrimination that is regarding though it is too early to say just how severe any prospective punishment might be.
The Rivers Casino was opened in 2009. The casino sits alongside the Ohio River, beside the Carnegie Science Center. Along with 3,000 slots which have been on the casino floor since the Rivers’ launch, the casino now features over 100 table games, which were added to the casino in 2010.
Filipino Billionaire Enrique Razon Desires to Just Take Casino Kingdom Global
Billionaire slot magnate Enrique Razon wants to take a gamble on expansion
Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon comes from a family members that built a port company throughout Southeast Asia, eventually becoming one of the biggest such corporations within the region. Now, Razon is looking for to complete the exact same with his casino ventures.
Razon has Bloomberry Resorts, an ongoing company that operates a $1.2 billion casino resort understood as Solaire in Manila. Solaire was given certainly one of four licenses for casino jobs in Manila as part of an effort to provide the Philippines a gambling hub that could contend with Macau and Singapore.
Searching at Macau and Latin America
But Razon is looking to expand his casino business much like how he took his family’s small ports operation and switched it right into a worldwide procedure. He’s got already expressed an interest in moving into markets including Latin America and the biggest market of them all: Macau. While the latter probably can’t happen immediately, Razon hopes that after present licenses begin to expire in Macau in 2020, the us government there’ll open industry to brand new entrants.
‘We just have to build the brand,’ Razon said.
This is simply not the time that is first Razon family was component of the casino industry. Many years, ago, Enrique’s father was part of a venture with Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho that operated a casino that is floating 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 have the ability to translate that into a casino brand that is international.
Expansion Competition
‘ He shall have a harder time expanding his casino ventures overseas,’ said strategist Alex Pomento. ‘Mr. Razon’s expertise has been ports, business which has no correlation with gaming.’
Needless to say, Razon disagrees. He points out that Solaire has recently attracted a lot of VIP and high-stakes gamblers, enough that 30 junket that is so-called have actually decided to work with the casino. Those organizations provide credit and arrange trips for Chinese and Asian gamblers who wish 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 particularly in Latin America.
‘we have the advantage there because we are the port operator that is biggest there. The landscape is known by us,’ he stated.
Of course, Razon will face plenty of competition as he attempts to push his fledgling casino brand. Both domestic and foreign, including Sands and Wynn in Macau, he’ll face resistance from established brands. Even into the Philippines, several other operators will be competing for influence, including tycoon Henry Sy, who has partnered with Melco Crown to start a $1.3 billion casino complex in 2014. How effective Razon reaches moving to the top of the local market could figure out whether international expansion is in the cards.
The Razon family is best known for his or her ownership of International Container Terminal Services, company that Enrique and his father began in 1987. Today, the company (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 their own team
In regards to to your rules of conduct for players and coaches in sports, there is nothing taken more really than gambling. It’s easy to realize why: while other hot issues in sports such as for example performance enhancing drugs may give some players an unfair advantage, they don’t really change the fundamental competition taking place on the field. Whenever players and coaches gamble regarding the games, on the other hand, the legitimacy of your competitors it self is thrown 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 governing human anatomy 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 the very least three of those instances, he’s accused of betting that his very own team would lose.
To be clear, Black just isn’t being accused of trying to fix the games he played in. Even within the games in which he bet against his team that is own SFA does not believe he attempted to benefit by playing badly or elsewhere increasing the possibility of his team losing.
But that doesn’t suggest that the midfielder that is 28-year-old who presently plays for the Glasgow Rangers, wouldn’t face serious punishments for his betting habits. Because of the 13 times he bet on or against their team that is own 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 rules that are anti-Gambling
To make these bets, Black violated an anti-gambling guideline disciplinary rule 22 that is regarding the books throughout his career, which spanned his time at Hearts, Inverness, and now with the Rangers. The guideline states that ‘no club, official, team official or other user of group staff, player, match official or other individual beneath the jurisdiction of the FA that is scottish shall at all for a football match.’ While there are exceptions for certain authorized ‘football pools,’ the ban extends to all football matches any place in the world and thus Ebony would be facing punishment even if he hadn’t bet on his or her own team.
However, the bets on his team that is own do the chance of even harsher punishments for Black. According to the SFA, Black could face a suspension in addition to his fine, and he may potentially even receive a life time ban from playing soccer.
Ebony has already had a long career for clubs in Scotland, beginning with a 132-game stint at Inverness from 2004 to 2009. He then moved to the favorite club of their childhood, Hearts, for three years before joining Rangers year that is last. Ebony has additionally played one game for Scotland’s nationwide group, coming in as a substitute in a friendly against Australia. Black’s household features a long reputation for playing soccer, as his daddy had been a player that is professional well, playing for both Hearts and Hibernian.
This isn’t the time that is first Black has made headlines for off-the-field tasks. In 2011, he and a teammate were arrested and charged with medication possession at an Edinburgh night club, though the way it is as since been dismissed. Later that 12 months, whenever Hearts was struggling to pay player salaries for a time that is short he was said to have taken up a part-time work being a painter and decorator to pay his bills.