CR65-p06-Euro 5:SJC-Casino Review 17/2/08 00:39 Page 1
casinoreview
Ladbrokes has confirmed strategy and have decided Gala Casinos is considering shutting its venue in Sunderland, in
that it will not be bidding to withdraw from the
Smoking
the north east of England, due to an increase in taxation and
for any of the small and process due to the length
ban and
the impact of the smoking ban. Gala confirmed they are in talks
large casino licences of time it would take to
higher tax
with staff over plans to shut the casino. A spokesperson said:
when the UK government generate sufficient return
could lead
“We have begun consultation with staff about possible closure.
Ladbrokes say no thanks to
makes available up to 16 on the capital spend This will take about six weeks. We are looking at all the
licenses later this year. required,” the British to UK different options. There are lots of different reasons. The
new style casinos “We have conducted a bookmaker said in a
closure
industry has been impacted by external factors in the last year
review of our casino statement. - an unexpected tax increase in the budget, the smoking ban.”
February 6 saw the launch of Scotland’s biggest casino, a spectacular, three storey riverside venue, which claims to be unlike anything
Scotland has seen before. Whist the city had wanted a Super Casino it has instead got a very good one.
Glasgow on a roll as
Scotland’s biggest
casino opens
hotscot and a private poker room. building both inside and out - Glasgow landmarks as the Alea Glasgow is going to be a it a major success.”
UNITED KINGDOM There are three terraces over- it will be lit throughout the Clyde Auditorium and Clyde huge boost for the city, offer- Architect Real Studios’ was
looking the river, for drinks or day to attract attention from Arc, better known to Glaswe- ing Glaswegians an entirely charged with the mission to
London Clubs International is for those wishing to smoke. passers by. gians as the Armadillo and new entertainment experi- turn the 60,000sq ft ground
continuing with the expan- The casino boasts 20 Every detail of this stun- the Squinty Bridge. ence. We offer something for and first floor of the building
sion which made it such a gaming tables, including ning venue has been designed Live entertainment is key everyone - from a romantic into a real destination with
must have target for US opera- Punto Banco, blackjack, to impress. Interior design to Alea’s offering, with an dinner for two, a night of live enticing bars, a stunning
tor Harrah’s Entertainment roulette and poker, as well was carried out by Yvonne eclectic mix of DJs, lives acts music or a game of poker with restaurant, live events venue
with the opening of its latest state-of-the-art slot machines Golds, design director of Real and Saturday-night dinner friends, I’m confident that and casino; to create a place
Alea casino on the banks of and electronic roulette Studios, utilising Scottish art dances will feature weekly. Glasgow people and those for Glasgow’s style-conscious
the River Clyde in Glasgow, machines. and designers to emphasise Alea Glasgow is the fourth visiting the city will really take citizens, who want to dis-
bonny Scotland. Glaswegians like to party the sense of place, including in the roll-out of LCI’s new to Alea and all that the venue cover a whole new entertain-
Housed in a massive three- in style, and the new Alea in stunning artworks by Glaswe- concept casinos, aimed at has to offer. To be heading up ment experience.
storey glazed building, the Glasgow provides plenty of gian pop artist Ashley Cook, young adults, women, tourists such a major venue is an excit- Yvonne Golds, Real Studios
£25m venue opened in opportunity to do so, from among others. and business travellers, in addi- ing challenge but I’m confi- design director, said: “The
Springfield Quay near the city the designer-wallpapered The highest quality food tion to traditional gamers, who dent that with the great team volume of the building will be
centre as Scotland’s first gaming halls on both floors will be a feature of the Red want to enjoy and be part of a we have working here, Alea impressive in its own right.
luxury casino, dining and live with their dramatic pendant Leaf restaurant, which has a uniquely entertaining experi- will be a real success.” But you have to draw people
music venue. lamps draped in luxurious kitchen brigade run by Scots- ence, all under one roof. Michael Silberling, LCI into the space and keep them
Set over two floors of dra- silk, to the hot pink Long Bar, born chef Jamie Walker - for- The venue will be managed chief operating officer, there. That’s what we’ve tried
matic, river facing space, no upstairs. A dramatic wooden merly of the Dorchester by director, Paul Rety. Rety was added: “We’re very excited to achieve either by creating
expense has been spared on wave sculpture weaves Hotel and Mosimann’s in previously general manager at to be opening our first venue intimate pockets of activity in
luxury contemporary interi- through the entrance and up London and Cameron House the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow, in Scotland. Alea Glasgow is restaurants and bars, or
ors creating two bars, restau- the stairs, referencing the Hotel on Loch Lomond. The and has extensive experience a fantastic venue in a fantas- through celebrating that
rant, a live music room, coffee Clyde’s shipbuilding past and restaurant features stunning of the city’s hospitality industry tic setting on the Clyde and volume with dramatic light-
lounge, two floors of casino adding visual impact to the views of such famous He said: “I’m confident that we are committed to making ing and visual statements.”
Grosvenor challenges National Bank of Abu Dhabi in high Court
moneygoround company Rank. The casino exchanged However, the bank’s defence team paid to the Inland Revenue. integrity of the system of international
UNITED KINGDOM a cheque for £3.61m for chips which argued that the manager was justified Grosvenor, which has since sold the finance is undermined as a bank will
Al-Reyaysa then lost at the club’s in claiming the cheque would be hon- Clermont to Malaysian billionaire Quek have to wait for funds to clear before
The previous owners of one of roulette table. Four days later, the Cler- oured as it was “inconceivable” that Leng Chan, won a court judgment any goods can be released”.
London’s most famous casinos is to mont’s bank NatWest phoned the Al-Reyaysa would not be able to pay. against Al-Reyaysa, a 45-year-old busi- The High Court heard that the 45-
challenge the rules that govern the National Bank of Abu Dhabi to confirm The operator claims that banks nessman from the United Arab Emirates, year-old United Arab Emirates citizen
free flow of cash around the world’s the cheque would be paid. have a duty of honour to pay cheques in May 2001 but claims it has yet to thought nothing of gambling millions
banks in an attempt to recover £7.36m NatWest was told that it would be under the “uniform rules of collection” receive any of the money owed. The in one evening. In one 18-month
owned to them from a high roller. honoured. As a result, the casino - governing the collection practices for bank denies liability and has twice tried period he spent £150m at the Cler-
Grosvenor Casinos has launched a accepted a second cheque from Al- cheques and bills of exchange drawn to have the action annulled but the appli- mont alone.
suit in the Royal Courts of Justice Reyaysa, this time for £3.7m. Both up by the International Chamber of cation has been rejected both times. Al-Reyaysa was also a familiar face
against the National Bank of Abu Dhabi cheques bounced Commerce. It said both cheques were If this case sets a precedent, at most of London’s exclusive
(NBAD) to recover money owed by Stephen Phillips QC, acting for given verbal approval by Mohammed banks could be bound to the rules, casinos including 50 St James,
Ahmed Al-Reyaysa, a regular at the Grosvenor Casinos, claimed that the Subh Al Sarraj, general manager of the which are not currently legally Aspinall’s and the Ritz hotel casino.
Clermont Club in London’s Berkeley club lost out financially because a Ajman branch of NBAD at the time. enforceable and have never been He is also being sued by the Ritz
Square in 1999 and 2000 when it was National Bank of Abu Dhabi manager Grosvenor is seeking up to £9m, tested in court. Grosvenor argues casino after 31 cheques bounced
owned by Grosvenor’s parent approved the first cheque. including interest and gaming tax that if NBAD wins the case “the worth a total of £2.25m.
6 March 2008 europeannews
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