Rest easy, Pokémon Go fans in the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi government has quelled the horrific rumor that you may never be in a position to have fun with the game you love. All is right with all the world.
Is there or isn’t there? Conflicting information on the revival of an old Saudi fatwa on the favorite new app Pokémon Go may have players going in circles. Oh wait, they are doing that anyway.
The game who has grabbed the minds and bodies of people everywhere, from the nevada Strip to UK bookmakers providing lines on exactly how quickly the game would fall from favor, is A-OK for the UAE because well.
The government assured players they were safe to walk into man holes and cause enormous traffic pileups, just like Pokémon Go aficianados the world over have been doing since the insanely popular app hit the market just this month in an official statement issued late last week.
‘ No fatwa that is religious from the council for senior scholars in Saudi regarding the Pokemon Go game,’ was the word through the government, although no specific attribution was given to this declaration, so take that under advisement.
You might be challenged even finding the app, because theoretically, it’s not yet in the Saudi market. you know what will stop someone determined to get in on the trend that is latest: nothing nada bupkes. Evidently, some clever Saudis have figured away exactly how to download the app their very own way.
Exactly What’s the issue?
From whence did all this hysteria arise, anyway?
Apparently, whenever very first version of Pokémon emerged around 2001, Fatwa #21758 (that is a great deal of fatwas) hit the street, declaring the game unfit for Muslims since it embraced non-Muslim spiritual principles, including gambling and that man is descended from apes, à la Darwin.
As soon as the newer variation hit the globe, rumors circulated that 78-year-old Saudi cleric Sheikh Saleh Al-Fozan, an associate of the Council of Senior Scholars, said that the original fatwa would be revived, effectively banning the mobile app version from the conservative Wahhabi kingdom.
‘The concept of development is a primary element,’ explained the initial edict that is religious. ‘One of the most extremely important things that makes man condemn this game is adopting the idea of evolution manufactured by Darwin.
‘This theory states that all species of organisms evolve and that the origin of man ended up being an ape. Astonishingly, the young kiddies usually use the phrase ‘evolution’ inside and outside the game. They can be heard by you saying that this creature within the card has evolved to another kind.’
Devious Companies
The fatwa apparently went on to complain that the game additionally included symbols ‘associated with Judaism,’ especially a star that is six-pointed also Christianity, specifically a cross, because well as ‘angles and triangles’ used by many ‘devious companies.’
‘This game encourages and circulates the symbols of disbelievers and the forbidden images. It is also a kind of consuming money unlawfully,’ said the fatwa. The Pokémon cartoons, meanwhile, exist to ‘possess the minds’ of children, the cleric opined.
Al-Jazeera reported this that the kingdom’s Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has waded into the debate, warning that apps like Pokémon Go could expose the user’s location to ‘prying eyes,’ an assertion that has actually been made by plenty of non-Saudi organizations also week.
There have even been reported situations of muggings whenever crooks had the ability to track specific areas of Pokémon Go users.
Chess Ban Also
Pokémon Go hasn’t been the game that is only receive the cold shoulder from the Saudi Ulama. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh recently declared chess to be described as a ‘work of Satan,’ banning it on the grounds that it was ‘a waste of the time.’
Meanwhile, Pokémon Go is additionally ruffling feathers in Egypt, where deputy chief associated with Al-Azhar Islamic institution Abbas Shuman has called it a ‘harmful mania.’
‘This game makes people look like drunkards in the streets and in the roads while their eyes are glued to your screens that are mobile them to the imaginary Pokémon into the hope of catching it,’ Shuman stated.
Well, we can’t really argue with the guy on that one.
Pennsylvania Casinos Refusing to get Into State’s New Liquor Legislation
The Hollywood Casino near Harrisburg says it generally does not plan to pay for $1 million to serve liquor between 2 and 6 am, and that is clearly a position it appears the majority of Pennsylvania casinos are taking. (Image: Dan Gleiter/The Patriot-News)
Pennsylvania gambling enterprises aren’t jumping at the possiblity to provide alcohol between the hours of 2 and 6 am due to law that is new exorbitant expense. Last thirty days legislators in Harrisburg passed a measure to allow the state’s 12 casinos to dispense booze for the additional four hours each night on the condition that every pays $1 million for the expanded liquor permit.
The revenue grab by state lawmakers will not be paying off according to casino that is several.
‘We’re not going to pay for $1 million for the privilege of selling alcohol after 2 am and I really don’t know every other casino which will,’ Sands Casino CEO Mark Juliano told Allentown’s Morning Call. ‘ This one doesn’t make a lot of sense.’
The Republican-controlled state legislature is searching for untapped revenue sources to endow Governor Tom Wolf’s (D) $31 billion budget. The swelled spending plan is short about $1 billion in funding.
Sinister Plans
It’s an election 12 months, this means politicians termination that is facing November are furiously aligning their records to favor the constituents they represent. That means touting a record that doesn’t include raising taxes for the vast majority of republicans.
But to cover Wolf’s budget, something’s got to offer. As is normally the full case, alleged ‘sin industries’ are increasingly being targeted.
The legislature plans to adopt an expanding gambling measure in September which will authorize online gambling and enable airports and off-track wagering facilities to provide slot machines.
Smoke prices were increased by $1 per pack, making smokers in Pennsylvania the 10th-highest consumer that is taxed the country. Of each and every pack sold, $2.60 now directly would go to Harrisburg.
Expanded gambling permits certain politicians to sell their agendas to the people they represent without saying they directly increased taxes in the public that is general. But that’s as long as the theorized revenues come to fruition.
So far, it appears the first faltering step in loosening laws surrounding casinos and gambling is a breasts. The $12 million lawmakers expected to gross from the alcohol amendment is certainly no thing that is sure.
Should any one of the 12 casinos decide to opt to the program and pony up $1 million, the legislation would officially happen on 8 august.
Unfortuitously for lawmakers, it appears casinos don’t want to be the spot that is go-to the after last call crowd.
‘We just don’t possess the requirement to serve alcohol 24/7,’ Hollywood Casino SVP of Public Affairs Eric Schippers said. ‘We probably wouldn’t take a license if they were free.’
Business is Good
As Casino.org reported week that is last Pennsylvania casinos posted record revenues for the 12 months ending June 30. Commercial gambling had been legalized nine years ago, and 2015-2016 has been the industry’s strongest year to date.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that revenues totaled $3.2 billion for the period, eclipsing the record that is previous a staggering $86 million.
Gambling is thriving in the Keystone State, and alcohol that is adding the early early morning is a cocktail the casinos are unwilling to mix.
Rank and 888 to release Shocking Bid for William Hill
William Hill moved to belittle the notion of a reverse acquisition by 888 and Rank, though it would certainly be interested in 888’s digital expertise. (Image: William Hill)
Gambling groups Rank Group and 888 Holdings is to launch a shock double bid for William Hill, Britain’s biggest bookmaker.
The two companies announced on Sunday evening that they had formed a consortium and were weighing a takeover that is reverse of bookmaker that will value William Hill at around £3 billion ($4 billion).
It is uncertain whether 888 and Rank, which has Grosvenor, the UK’s casino chain that is biggest, will seek to merge before generally making an offer. Under UK takeover panel rules, they must now submit a firm bid by 21 august.
In their joint declaration, Rank and 888 stated they saw ‘significant industrial logic [in the proposition] through consolidation of their complementary online and land-based operations, distribution of substantial income and cost synergies and from the anticipated advantages of economies of scale, which will accrue to all shareholders.’
If it were to happen, such an acquisition would form a consolidated gambling energy house to challenge those created over the past 12 months by the mergers of Paddy Power and Betfair, also Ladbrokes and Coral.
Consolidation Period
The UK gambling industry was undergoing a necessary period of consolidation within the last couple of years, as companies seek to obtain greater scale and cost benefits in the face of increased taxation and regulation throughout Europe.
William Hill today acknowledged that it had received a ‘highly initial approach’ from the consortium, but moved, predictably, to belittle the proposition.
‘The board of William Hill would tune in to and give consideration to any proposal that might be forthcoming through the consortium,’ it said. ‘However, it just isn’t clear that a combination of William Hill with 888 and Rank will enhance William Hill’s strategic positioning or deliver value that is superior William Hill’s strategy which will be centered on increasing the group’s diversification by growing its digital and worldwide businesses.’
William Hill CEO Ousted
William Hill is left in a vulnerable position since its CEO, James Henderson, was ousted by the board last week, evidently for his failure to shore the bookmaker up’s online wing. With this perspective, 888’s digital expertise might prove to be ultimately tempting.
For 888, meanwhile, it really is a takeover that is reverse in every sense of your message. 888 survived a £750 million ($1.47 billion, at the time) takeover attempt by William Hill in February 2015 when 888’s biggest shareholder refused to offer. It has additionally prevented being acquired by Ladbrokes on several occasions over the previous years that are few.
A year ago, it was involved in a high-stakes bidding war with GVC Holdings for the best to get bwin.party, but threw in the towel in the face of GVC’s final bid of $1.6 billion.
Caesars Interactive Entertainment in Advanced Talks Over $4.2 billion Acquisition
Caesars Interactive, which as parent of Playtika, reached its goal of dominating the social casino market on Twitter, might be sold for $4.2 billion. (Image: Caesars Interactive Entertainment)
Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE) could be sold up to a Chinese consortium led by Giant Interactive, owners of MMO role-playing game ZT on the web, based on a report by Reuters.
Sources whom spoke towards the news that is international on condition of anonymity stated that negotiations were at an advanced stage, with the price of Caesars’ digital supply anticipated to meet or exceed $4.2 billion. Neither Caesars nor Giant Interactive had been readily available for comment when contacted by Reuters.
The Wall Street Journal reported in May that the embattled casino giant had gotten ‘multiple offers’ for CIE, which is currently its only unit that is profitable. Based on Reuters’ sources, US games manufacturer Hasbro and Korean gaming that is social Netmarble Games had also experienced the mix.
WSOP pelican pete slots free play Not Part of Deal
CIE owns the casino that is social business Playtika, which it acquired in 2011 for$90 million, announcing at the time that its long-term ambition was to become ‘the number 1 in casino and social games on Facebook.’
It additionally has the global World Series of Poker brand and operates Caesars real-money online gambling ventures in Nevada and New Jersey, even though consortium is understood to be interested only in its social gaming products. Last year, CEI’s income expanded 30.6 percent in contrast with 2014, to $785.5 million.
CEI’s parent, Caesars Acquisition Company CAC), is due to merge with Caesars Entertainment Corp (CEC), as an element of a reorganization plan, because the group tries to place its distressed operation product, Caesars Entertainment running Corp (CEOC) through chapter 11 bankruptcy.