Wire EMEA
Debate Renews Over Hard Rock Complex
Five years on from being permitted to build a casino and leisure complex, the controversial development of Hard Rock Entertainment World drags on.
Te project has been beset by problems including planning permission and agreement as to how taxes from the new resort will be divided between municipalities.
SPAIN OPERATOR NEWS
UK - The King fronts William Hill campaign Ahead of the start of the 2023/24 football season, William Hill launched its new marketing and advertising campaign, ‘Who You Got?’, headed by Premier League and Manchester United legend, Eric Cantona.
As an official brand ambassador for the next two years, the Frenchman will be at the forefront of William Hill’s new above the line campaign across the UK and Republic of Ireland as the bookmaker implements a more disruptive and distinctive marketing strategy.
France - Barrière fully back in the family Barrière, the French, family-owned group with over 100 years of history, has begun a new chapter following the appointments of Alexandre Barrière and Joy Desseigne-Barrière as Chairs of the Group.
Together, they represent the fourth generation of entrepreneurs at the helm of the Group, since its creation by François André in 1912. The governance is buying out the 40 per cent of shares owned by Fimalac since 2011, stating an ambition develop and diversify the Group's activities.
UK - Judge rules over ‘faked alcohol intake’ Mayfair casino Aspinalls has won out in a case where a high-roller claimed that he wasn’t liable for £600,000 of losses because he was 'blackout drunk.' High Court judge Mr Justice Cotter ruled that Lester Hui was indeed liable for his losses and ordered the £589,724 losses racked up playing double chance baccarat, be repaid.
Mr Hui, who has been a member of the private members’ club since 1998, was part of a high end player segment, offered 'concierge service' with complimentary food and drink. Back on February 9, 2016, Mr Hui was present for a special meal at Aspinalls for Chinese New Year where he claims he drank three-and-a-half bottles of champagne and and five to ten shots of 53 per cent proof Mao Tai. He also claimed he had lodged a self-imposed request to only gamble £30,000.
However, the casino operator claimed that Mr Hui was sober enough to make decisions and even drove after playing at the casino. Mr Justice Cotter ruled that Mr Hui 'significantly exaggerated the amount of alcohol he consumed’, had in fact not drank Mao Tai and had drove 20 miles after being at the casino on the night in question.
He said: “I am satisfied that whatever Mr Hui did drink (which is probably very significantly less than he claims he drank), it did not have a readily observable effect upon him such that members of staff noticed, or should have noticed."
P16 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Municipal authorities of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia have expressed their concerns over continued delays to the development of Hard Rock Entertainment World.
In May 2018, the Government of Catalonia declared that it had given Hard Rock Entertainment World permission to build a casino and leisure complex in the southern towns of Vila-seca and Salou. However, the project has been beset by problems - most notably over planning permission. Te two local municipalities are also unable to agree on how taxes from the new resort will be divided. Renewed criticism came after the Minister of Health of the Generalitat, Manel Balcells, came out against the project while talking with the local media Catalunya Ràdio. “I am absolutely against the Hard Rock casino. I hope that the promoters will back down,” he declared.
In response, the mayor of Vila-Seca, Pere Segura, described the official as “very naïve.”
UK BetMGM gambles on the UK
MGM Resorts International has launched its BetMGM iGaming and online sports betting brand in the United Kingdom, kicking off MGM Resorts’ strategy of expanding the BetMGM brand into international markets.
Te new international BetMGM-branded offering leverages the technology and platform of LeoVegas, the Swedish-based gaming company acquired by MGM Resorts last year.
Te BetMGM UK online offering provides customers with exciting new product features such as large-scale and frequent jackpots, loyalty rewards, unique sports promotions and exclusive slots. Te new sports and casino experience utilises the BetMGM brand and MGM Resorts’ heritage entertainment in Las Vegas.
Te product is available now on desktop and mobile web with
further functional development, including mobile applications, planned before a national media launch in mid- September.
Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President MGM Resorts, said: “BetMGM is a proven brand in the sports betting and iGaming space, and we look forward to welcoming international players into our platforms designed specifically for them. Today’s announcement represents a key step forward in our international growth strategy, which has been advancing rapidly since our acquisition of LeoVegas.”
BetMGM, LLC, the joint venture between MGM Resorts and Entain, will continue to operate the BetMGM brand in the United States and Canada utilising the technology and platform provided by Entain. LeoVegas is currently available in nine jurisdictions in Europe and Canada.
Talking to La Vanguardia he said: “Te company will not back down, it will wait for the resolution of the Generalitat. If I had the urban planning license, I would start on the works . . . It’s an easy criticism [to make], gaming is present in many areas. In Barcelona there are days when there are five cruise ships docked with their casinos, but when we talk about gambling in Catalonia we always point to Hard Rock.”
Te mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, has also critisised the attitudes of the government and the councillor.“We ask the Generalitat to clarify this situation, to definitively approve the urban master plan,” he said. “We can’t delay the project any longer, investors will eventually get tired.”
Although the scope of the project is smaller than initially envisaged the site will still be a major development and will have a huge impact on the area. In February the Government of Catalonia signed an agreement for its budget.
Germany
GAMOMAT has expanded its Gaming for the Climate initiative after introducing Lava Lions to the campaign in support of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). Lava Lions joins Book of Oasis and Monkey Mania as the third title in the initiative.
Lava Lions first launched in June 2021 with glowing graphics that elevate the Diamond Wilds, Volcano Scatters and the top- paying stacked Lion symbol. It will ‘slot’ within the Gaming for the Climate project, created as a vehicle to donate a share of net revenues from selected games in support of conservation projects.
A portion of the net revenue GAMOMAT raised from the game will contribute to AWF’s goal of informing and enhancing regional conservation strategies. A core element is engaging communities in land-use planning and restoration activities, promoting land conservation and forest management.
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