Supercasino controversy fires up

05.18.2007 | 6:34 am | casinos, gambling

The ongoing debate over the location of the UK’s first super-casino has flared up again, with a minister claiming that the government has no plan in place to support the original decision made by the Casino Advisory Panel.

Earlier this year, the panel decided that Manchester would make the ideal location for the sole super-casino, much to the surprise of many.

Under the initiative, the long-deprived east side of the city would benefit from a significant programme of regeneration, with as many as 3,000 jobs also being created in the area.

However, despite approval from the House of Commons, the House of Lords blocked the plan, giving some encouragement for the supporters of Blackpool’s bid for the gaming site.

Commenting on the future of the scheme, the minister in charge of gambling, Richard Caborn, told the Manchester Evening News: “We have not got a position on it at present.

“The Lords decided not to accept the recommendations and we are still considering what the next step will be,” he added.

Manchester’s supporters were given a recent boost when Gordon Brown, expected to be the next prime minister, announced that he had backed the city’s original bid and was keen for the proposals to go be passed.

WSOP rules revealed

05.17.2007 | 11:44 am | casinos

In the run-up to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, this year’s rules have been posted online, to much debate in the gaming world.

Some of the key rules for this year’s event include a zero-tolerance attitude towards aggressive swearing - in particular the use of the F or C-word.

Interestingly, shouting f***! will not land you in trouble if you are dissatisfied with your hand, but only if a player directs such language at another person will they be penalised.

Penalties will also be incurred for etiquette violations, such as “touching another player’s cards or chips, delay of game and excessive chatter” - possibly the first time the game has been subject to such stringent rules.

Also, perhaps in an attempt to enforce polite courtesy rather than as a defence against cheating, the WSOP has decreed that any player using a mobile phone when his or her hand is dealt will receive a dead hand.

It will be interesting to see the atmosphere in 2007’s Main Event with the WSOP cracking down on minor and etiquette violations, despite deciding not to penalise last year’s winner, James Gold, after he admitted showing an opponent a hole card, as well as announcing he held top pair and top kicker after the opponent had bet.