UK Players Banned from Betting on Open Championship Golf

Lee Travino, who bet on himself to win the 1971 Open Championship at 14-1 and blew away the field. (Image: bahl.blog.blogspot.com)
The globe’s best golfers are up in hands this at the Open Championship in the UK, where they have been asked to sign a waiver to declare that they will not place bets on the outcome of the championship week. Betting is something of a tradition for many players at the Open, because, of course, sports betting is wholly legal and easily available in Britain. At the 1971 Open, Lee Travino famously bet £100 ($171) him to almost triple his prize money when he blew away the field on himself at 14-1, which helped.
However, for the time that is first the Open, the R&A, the regulating human body of this game outside the US, has officially warned players that such behavior is now off-limits, even though so it claims the rules have been around in place since 2011. It absolutely was news to some. One player, whom wished to remain nameless, told ESPN he was handed the waiver, while his caddy expressed his delight that the ban did not extend to caddies that he was ‘shocked’ when.
We sense way around the rules with that one.
’30 Guys in Violation’
Pro golfer Graeme McDowell gave a far more measured and professional response, however, stating: ‘It’s really no different than just what we curently have in the European Tour and PGA Tour, so it does not change anything.
‘Honestly we love to gamble,’ he continued, ‘just not on golf!’ he included quickly, lest there were any representatives from the R&A in the vicinity.
Alas, though, it seems that old habits die hard, as one player that is anonymous revealed to ESPN: ‘There’s probably … at minimum 30 guys in violation [of the no-bet waiver] already,’ the source unveiled, ‘and that number will be bigger by [the end of the week].’
The regulations that are new British golf in line with every other sport on earth, which tend to frown on players betting regarding the upshot of an occasion in which they are participating. The English Football Association (FA) recently announced that, from the forthcoming season, all professional players in English football would be banned from gambling, not only on competitions in which their group is included, as was previously the instance, but from all football fits anywhere in the world. The brand new hard-line FA rules could well be the catalyst that has prompted the R&A to clamp down on its players.
Keeping Sport Clean
R&A CEO Peter Dawson said: ‘I can say that this business that is whole of sport clean in terms of wagering is extremely high regarding the IOC’s agenda at the moment, then one we’re following very closely because it’s just a killer to sport to believe that any outcomes might have been predetermined. And I also really don’t think that’s applying in golf. But we must be vigilant.’
Meanwhile, those of us who aren’t golfers that are pro and who reside in nations where such practices are legal, we are liberated to wager on the results of the Open Championship to our heart’s content. And not simply the outcome; many UK bookmakers are offering odds on any such thing from whether a player will create a cut to how many bunkers he may hit.
With regards to an outright winner, Rory McIlroy is favorite ( at the time of the writing), at 5-1, and he appears to be to be a solid choice if he can keep their composure up front, although good outside bet might be Justin Rose at 16-1. He’s been on a tear, having just won two tournaments on the bounce.
GTECH $4.7B IGT Acquisition to Create Gaming Superpower
GTECH’s $4.7 billion purchase of IGT will gain both companies and allow for many corporate tax breaks (Image: gamblingnews.ca)
Two super heavyweights of the gaming industry are to merge in a $4.7 billion deal, as Italian company GTECH has announced its takeover of Las Vegas-based IGT this week, together forming the world’s biggest end-to-end gaming company.
The two giants will combine to produce a new company that is holding in the UK, with corporate headquarters in London and operating headquarters in Las Vegas, Providence, Rhode Island and Rome. It will, nonetheless, be listed on the latest York Stock market. GTECH will even assume approximately $1.75 billion in existing IGT web debt, making the total purchase price approximately $6.4 billion.
GTECH is the largest operator of lotteries on earth, possessing 63 per cent for the global lottery market. It runs in all continents and across 52 nations, employing over 8,500 people. In 2012, it had revenues of €3.08 billion ($5.14 billion). It also owns the iGaming software developer Wagerworks.
IGT, meanwhile, could be the world’s largest manufacturer of gaming equipment, producing roughly half of all gaming machines in the United States. It’s offices in 11 nations, but has recently reported a decline in profits and in March announced that it would be forced to lay off seven per cent of its global workforce in order to truly save costs.
Contract ‘Defines the long run of Gaming Entertainment’
The two companies state that the deal enables them to capitalize on opportunities across aussie-pokies.club global gaming market and that the new group would be expected to enjoy revenues of over $6 billion with more than $2 billion in profits.
‘We are extremely pleased to achieve a definitive merger agreement with GTECH as a result of our exploration of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value,’ said IGT CEO Patti Hart. ‘ This combination that is outstanding of global leaders truly describes the future of gaming activity. Together we are uniquely placed to offer the industry’s broadest and most portfolio that is innovative of products, solutions and solutions.’
For GTECH, the acquisition represents its arrival on the scene being a major global player in the casino industry and certainly will also allow it to build on its presence in the United States video gaming market where it already operates lotteries. GTECH is dealing with far slow growth at home in the Italian market; according to Reuters, total net spending for video gaming in Italy fell 6.6 percent last year, while it rose 6.7 % in the United States.
British Corporate Tax Breaks
Relocation to the UK, meanwhile, provides a slightly more tax regime that is favorable. According to The Wall Street Journal, the two businesses presently have a tax rate in the high 30 % range which would fall towards the mid-30s into the UK. The report notes that this really is element of a trend when a company that is large usually American, will acquire an overseas company in order to develop a new company that can relocate to a country where it’s going to pay less corporate tax, although in this case the reverse is true.
‘This transaction is transformational for our company.’ said ceo of GTECH Marco Sala. ‘With restricted overlap in items and customers, the combined company will enjoy positions that are leading all sections of the gaming landscape. It will increase our global scale sufficient reason for a full suite of offerings and customer that is robust across the client range, the brand new business could have unparalleled capabilities to handle the ongoing convergence across worldwide gaming segments.
‘ Our expertise across these segments and greater ability to invest in R&D will improve player experiences and benefit our business and government consumers. The transaction will significantly enhance our income and strength that is financial and offer clear and achievable price and income synergies,’ Sala added.
MGM Expected to Receive Maryland Casino Approval
An MGM casino would be just the development that is latest at National Harbor along Maryland’s Potomac River. (Image: JonBilousBlog.com)
MGM Resorts happens to be making some splashes that are big the East Coast, including gaining a permit to build in Springfield, Massachusetts. Now, with one last approval from local regulators, MGM could see another complex built just miles from the country’s capitol.
The Prince George’s County Council is expected to vote on 21 in favor of approving the construction of a $925 million casino complex in National Harbor, Maryland, just across from Washington D.C. over the Potomac River july. The venue, which has recently gotten many approvals from local and county officials, is expected to be opened in July 2016.
Casino License Already Approved
This final approval will come just months after MGM received the last of six casino gambling licenses made available from their state of Maryland. Groundbreaking on the casino could take place because early as come early july, and the business has already started initial work on the site in expectation of the approval process that is smooth.
The relatively easy regulatory procedure has been aided by the fact that hardly any opposition has emerged to the task. Pretty everyone that is much was up to speed with the casino, that will be anticipated to bring significant financial benefits to both Maryland and Prince George’s County.
Where there are disagreements, they have already been primarily based on the design for the casino, because well as exactly what the community are certain to get from the revenues it makes. Concerns have been raised in regards to the big LED video screens that are to be included to the signage for the casino, with some saying they are able to be a security hazard and distract drivers on the I-295 highway. But the local planning board approved them, agreeing that they had been a significant part of the business while the casino aesthetic.
That issue is the one hurdle MGM might have to clear during the County Council meeting, as many locals have complained about the scope and size of the signs, some of that are as big as 60 feet high and 100 foot wide.
‘This is not Las Vegas,’ said William Cavitt, president of the Indian Head Highway Area Action Council. ‘It is not Atlantic City. It isn’t any other location where MGM is found.’
Latest Development at National Harbor
The proposal would put a major casino resort just mins from Washington. MGM plans to build a single million square-foot facility, one that will include about 3,600 slots and 140 table games. There would additionally be a 300-room hotel tower, high-end restaurants and retail locations, and a concert theater.
When approved by the County Council, MGM would then be able to request the necessary permits to begin construction.
The casino would join a small but development that is vibrant the banking institutions of the Potomac River. National Harbor first opened in 2008, and additions to the site have been ongoing ever since. The location, which covers not as much as two miles that are square currently possesses convention center and six hotels, as well as many restaurants and shops. The Walt Disney Company has planned to create its own resort resort at nationwide Harbor, but backed out of the concept in 2011.