World

Mega casino projects that failed in Spain

Published

4 years ago

April 22, 2020

Beautiful casino megaprojects such as the Kingdom of Don Quixote, Gran Scala, and Eurovegas never saw the light of day in Spain. Barcelona World casino, on the other hand, supports a thread of hope that is becoming increasingly fragile. Why? There are no specific reasons for such fiasco, but there are some similar business strategies that could lead to bankruptcy. Another reason that may have affected the giants is a decline in interest among people to visit gambling establishments since online gambling clubs always at hand. For example, you can play top gambling games just by clicking on this link – www.casinonic.com/en-AU/games/top. Anyway, let’s take a look at each casino separately.

Kingdom of Don Quixote project in Ciudad Real

The Kingdom of Don Quixote project was presented in 2005. This casino was supposed to have an area of 10,000 square meters, a luxury hotel, a theater for 3,000 spectators, a golf course, 7,000 rooms, and 7,000 permanent jobs. For seasonal work should have involved 11,000 workers. This casino received funding from the gaming giant Caesars, which was supposed to operate the casino under the Harrah’s brand. That would be Las Vegas in Ciudad Real.

Negotiations are at an impasse and deadlines have not been met. On December 1, 2011, a meeting of shareholders declared bankruptcy. Caesars said it lost $ 27.1 million on this project.

The Don Quixote project has always been associated with another fiasco – Don Quixote Airport. The total debt amounted to 200 million euros. Sergio Alvarez, president of the Board of Shareholders, then told the local newspaper La Tribuna de Ciudad Real that his goal was to attract investors, seek funding and promote the project.

Gran Scala project between Zaragoza and Huesca

In December 2007, the government of Aragon introduced the Gran Scala project. The promotion company was International Leisure Development (ILD), which promised 32 casinos, seven theme parks, hotels for 25,000 guests, 250 stores, 26,000 direct jobs and nearly 65,000 seasonal. In total, investments amounted to 17,000 million euros.

The place chosen for the development of the Grand Scale project was the Monegros Desert, located between Zaragoza and Huesca. To implement this project, 4,000 hectares of land was needed.

Due to such a large amount of land, plots were acquired from private individuals. The conditions were as follows: owners received from 4 to 10% advance payment. If the investor did not pay the balance until February 2012, then the land was returned to the owners. And so, it happened. International Leisure Development did not pay the balance and the project itself remained only on paper.

Eurovegas Project in Madrid

In 2010, Las Vegas Sands began to be interested in opening a mega-casino complex in Europe. The owner of this company is billionaire Sheldon Adelson. The location of the future casino was considered either in Barcelona or in Madrid. Adelson said that it was Spain that was most suitable for hosting his “Gambling Eden”. He planned investment of 18 million euros. 250,000 thousand permanent and seasonal jobs, 12 hotels and restaurants with the ability to serve 50,000 people, several golf courses and 6 casinos with a large area.

Two years later, it was decided that the casino will be located in the capital of Spain. Three options were considered: Paracuellos del Jarama, Valdecarros and Alcorcon. The latter was chosen as the location.

Everything seemed to go smoothly, but delays, changes in the initial numbers, and requests for changes in laws began to appear. So, until 2013, after the resignation of Esperance Aguirre, the project fell apart.

So why these megaprojects closed?

The main groups opposed to the implementation of casino megaprojects were left-wing parties, environmental associations, and organizations against gambling. And the arguments are as follows:

Environmental Impact: This is a model that is contrary to sustainable development.
Gambling-based economic specialization.
Increase negative values.
The emergence of a marginal environment: drugs, mafia, and prostitution.
Low skilled labor.
Changes in laws: projects required changes in the law to meet the interests of the investor. For example, the government of Aragon approved the law on recreation centers of large capacity. For Eurovegas, it was necessary to amend the Tobacco Act, and in the case of Barcelona Word, a tax reduction was approved.

World

A Step-by-Step Guide to Hiring the Right Personal Injury Lawyer

Published

16 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Michelle Langton

Are you dealing with injuries, loss of income, and hefty medical bills because of an accident that was not your fault? If yes, you need the services of an excellent personal injury lawyer. But how do you determine if a lawyer is a perfect match for your personal injury case when you have so many options? This step-by-step guide aims to teach you the critical steps to hiring the best personal injury lawyer in your state.

1. Know Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney

Typically, you must hire the right personal injury lawyer if you are pursuing a lawsuit for personal injury. As defined on Forbes, a personal injury lawsuit is a civil action that an injured person takes against a person or company responsible for an accident that resulted in injuries.

For instance, you get into a car crash or slip and fall incident in the workplace because of someone else’s fault. You can sue the party responsible for injuries, lost wages, medical bills, and mental anguish.

But there are instances you may not need a personal injury attorney despite being in an accident. For example, a minor fender bender where no one sustained injuries or had their property damaged is easy to resolve without involving lawyers. So, after an accident, evaluate the damages incurred. If they are severe, search for a personal injury attorney.

2. Do Extensive Research

Where do I begin my search? Referrals are valuable because you can ask specific questions regarding the lawyer’s communication style, availability, litigation experience, and fee structure. So, ask family and friends to recommend someone they have worked with. Search for attorneys in your area online if you need referrals. You can type a simple search query like ‘personal injury attorney near me’ on Google. Alternatively, look for a lawyer through online directories.

3. Schedule Free Consultations

You want to know what a personal injury lawyer will do for you. Therefore, schedule a free consultation meeting and ask questions like:

What will you prioritize in my case?

The right attorney will focus on getting justice and fair compensation to ensure your stress-free recovery. Communication should also be a top priority. The lawyer should communicate with you using simple terms to help you understand your legal rights. More importantly, they should update you about the case progress on time.

Do you have experience handling cases like mine?

As lawyers at Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo law firm mention, experienced personal injury attorneys will guide you through the legal process. Even more interesting, they will handle negotiations on your behalf to safeguard your rights. So, make sure your lawyer has experience in personal injury law.

It would be better if they had specialized experience handling cases like yours. For example, if you are pursuing a truck accident lawsuit, you will want a personal injury lawyer with expertise in dealing with trucking accident claims.

What is the value of my personal injury claim?

After evaluating your case, a skilled attorney should tell you the worth of your personal injury claim. What you should be cautious of are unrealistic estimates and guarantees. There are no assurances in personal injury claims. If a lawyer promises a higher settlement that sounds too good to be true, do not fall for it because they are lying.

How much are your legal fees?

Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee arrangement. Based on Cornell Law School, a contingent fee structure allows lawyers to receive a certain percentage of the total settlement value a client wins. As a result, you do not pay your legal representative any upfront fee.

4. Check Testimonials

Aside from experience, work with a trustworthy and reputable attorney. You can quickly determine a lawyer has an outstanding reputation by reading testimonials from past clients.

Find out if the clients feel happy about the outcomes of their case. How about the style of communication? Does the lawyer explain legal terms in simple language?

A reputable lawyer will receive positive feedback from clients and respect from peers. Also, check with your local bar association to ensure your preferred lawyer doesn’t have disciplinary actions against them.

5. Select Your Lawyer

At this point, comfort matters a lot. Do not choose a lawyer you feel uncomfortable discussing your legal issues with. Also, ensure they have the experience and resources to win your personal injury claim. Equally important, they should have an excellent reputation.

Conclusion

When you are a victim of an accident that someone else caused out of negligence, you need to seek justice and compensation for your injuries. There is only one way to achieve these goals. You must work with the best lawyer to pursue a personal injury claim. True, choosing the right one can be challenging. But you can make an informed decision if you follow this step-by-step guide to hiring the right personal injury lawyer.