Latvian
PM Suggests Reopening Gambling Law
At reported by the Baltic Times:
"Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis offered
to reopen a law granting the right to regulate
gaming institutions only to the federal government,
he told journalists on Nov. 21.
"The
announcement came after public uproar over Parliament's
decision to strip the rights from municipalities
- namely to determine zoning restrictions on
casinos, gambling houses and slot machine halls.
"Parliament
passed the law on Nov. 17 with support from
the left-wing opposition, while coalition partner
New Era decried the legislation, saying it would
lead to the government's demise.
"But
the outrage continued, with dissatisfaction
coming from Kalvitis' People's Party and Latvia's
First Party, another coalition member.
"Riga
gambling house owners rejoiced at the law, since
the Riga City Council has adopted restrictions
on where casinos can be located in the capital;
it wanted all casinos and slot machines to be
concentrated in hotels. Many casinos and slot
halls stood to lose out from the city's restrictions…"
|
