207:, a Malaysian gaming giant, was also interested in LCI. "London Clubs is an important strategic asset for foreign gaming companies wanting to establish a footprint in the UK ahead of deregulation," said Matthew Gerard of Investec Securities. Interest in British casinos had increased in 2006 due to legislation that allowed for larger "Vegas style" casinos.
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In 1991, British gaming regulators opened an investigation of London Clubs, focusing on alleged violations of casino regulations and questionable backgrounds of some of the company's shareholders. The Gaming Board decided to oppose license renewals for the company's casinos in London. Ultimately,
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became the youngest player to ever win a WSOP bracelet at 18 years, 364 days, also becoming the first woman to win a World Series Main Event (Unlike Nevada, English gambling laws do not prohibit 18-year-olds from participating). Harrah's
Casinos, the owner of the WSOP, considers the WSOP Europe
261:
While no definitive plans have been announced, Pollack indicated in
February 2007 that other venues may start holding WSOP events. Egypt and South Africa were mentioned as possible expansion sites because Harrah's owns casinos, via LCI, in those two locations.
162:. In 1988, Grand Metropolitan decided to sell its casino division to focus on its core businesses of food, beverages, and retail. The next year, London Clubs became an independent company, when Grand Metropolitan sold an 80 per cent stake in the chain in a
265:
In 2010, Harrah's was renamed as
Caesars Entertainment. Caesars was acquired in 2020 by Eldorado Resorts, which then changed its own name to Caesars Entertainment. By this time, the former London Clubs were known as Caesars Entertainment
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on the Las Vegas Strip. A combination of cost overruns, declining tourism, and poor design led to the casino filing bankruptcy in
September 2001 and eliminating LCI's equity in the casino.
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London Clubs was able to satisfy regulators by replacing its top management and arranging for shareholder David
Shamoon to sell his stock, and the casinos' licenses were renewed.
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became the first person to ever win a WSOP bracelet outside of Vegas. Bihl won the £2,500 World
Championship H.O.R.S.E. at the World Series of Poker Europe at LCI. Days later,
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is the most prestigious poker tournament in the world, and the WSOPE was the first time it held an event outside of
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for £128 million. Its operations at the time comprised six casinos in London, one in France, and five on
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is a
British gaming company that operates eleven casinos in the United Kingdom and Egypt. It is owned by
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In July 2021, Caesars sold its EMEA division to the newly formed
Metropolitan Gaming, an affiliate of
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203:(England's largest casino operator) about a possible merger, but the latter were outbid by Harrah's.
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By 2001, LCI had developed severe financial problems, after its failed venture in the
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bracelet to be the same in prestige as those awarded every year in Las Vegas.
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722:"Metropolitan Gaming acquires Caesars' Europe and Africa casino businesses"
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Pokernews.com: £10,000 NLHE, Final Table: Annette
Obrestad Makes History
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Stay classy, London: Jeffrey
Pollack on the World Series of Poker Europe
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London Clubs originated as a chain of casinos owned by the conglomerate
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447:"GrandMet sells 80 per cent casino stake for 128 million pounds"
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199:. Before being bought by Harrah's, LCI was in negotiations with
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773:
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
371:
790:"Metropolitan Gaming sells South Africa casino to Tsogo Sun"
690:
World Series of Poker ups the ante, expands event to Europe
703:"Harrah's controlling stake in London Clubs International"
778:(Report). Tsogo Sun Gaming. 24 November 2022. p. 24.
288:, to focus its business on the United Kingdom and Egypt.
230:. It also had licences to build five additional casinos.
177:
LCI became a publicly traded company in 1994 when it was
471:. London. 29 September 1991 – via Newspapers.com.
668:
27 February 2007. Pokerlisting.com Accessed 7/25/07
195:
In 2006, London Clubs International was acquired by
489:. London. 15 March 1992 – via Newspapers.com.
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526:. London. 30 May 1993 – via Newspapers.com.
210:At the time of purchase, LCI operated casinos in
415:. London. 18 December 1988 – via NewsBank.
428:"GrandMet selling six casinos to buyout team"
8:
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233:LCI is best known for being the host of the
29:
596:. London. 3 June 1994 – via NewsBank.
572:"London Clubs deals a £125m flotation card"
138:, and later became an independent company,
28:
859:British subsidiaries of foreign companies
854:Gambling companies of the United Kingdom
409:"GrandMet on a roll but to quit casinos"
142:. From 2006 to 2021, they were owned by
709:. 5 November 2006 – via NewsBank.
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844:Gambling companies established in 1981
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839:British companies established in 1981
7:
692:6-28-07. USA Today. Accessed 7/25/07
537:Chris Blackhurst (18 October 1992).
508:. London – via Newspapers.com.
502:"Deal on cards to save London Clubs"
607:Reece, Damian (30 September 2001).
630:"Casino giant to buy London Clubs"
609:"Aladdin failure puts LCI on edge"
284:in South Africa to a group led by
25:
720:Robert Fletcher (5 August 2021).
500:Michael Gillard (9 August 1992).
551:from the original on 12 May 2022
747:"Caesars sells African casinos"
570:Martin Flanagan (12 May 1994).
483:"London Clubs: Faites von jeux"
280:In 2022, Metropolitan sold the
134:. The casinos began as part of
849:1981 establishments in England
578:. London – via NewsBank.
520:"Yard arrest in Revenue probe"
453:. London – via NewsBank.
434:. London – via NewsBank.
355:The Rendezvous Casino Brighton
277:, for a reported £15 million.
1:
864:2006 mergers and acquisitions
465:"London Clubs: Decision soon"
388:Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
235:World Series of Poker Europe
540:"Casino war comes to court"
426:Derek Harris (6 May 1989).
384:Emerald Resort & Casino
282:Emerald Resort & Casino
880:
636:. BBC News. 31 August 2006
445:Clay Harris (6 May 1989).
313:The Kings and Queens Cairo
183:Unlisted Securities Market
140:London Clubs International
44:Caesars Entertainment EMEA
41:London Clubs International
18:London Clubs International
308:The Ramses Casino Cairo
197:Harrah's Entertainment
144:Harrah's Entertainment
834:World Series of Poker
239:World Series of Poker
148:Caesars Entertainment
345:Metropolitan Mayfair
275:Silver Point Capital
132:Silver Point Capital
106:Silver Point Capital
796:. 13 September 2022
794:Gaming Intelligence
664:30 May 2009 at the
613:The Daily Telegraph
128:Metropolitan Gaming
31:
30:Metropolitan Gaming
761:– via Issuu.
164:management buy-out
160:Grand Metropolitan
136:Grand Metropolitan
117:metropolitangaming
753:. 28 October 2021
751:Gaming for Africa
378:Former properties
303:London Club Cairo
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16:(Redirected from
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74:Headquarters
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757:29 December
731:29 December
251:Thomas Bihl
249:. In 2007,
168:Cunard Line
60:hospitality
828:Categories
800:5 November
640:9 February
395:References
615:. London.
576:The Times
432:The Times
286:Tsogo Sun
243:Las Vegas
146:and then
662:Archived
549:Archived
220:Brighton
216:Southend
92:Products
52:Industry
35:Formerly
292:Casinos
181:on the
179:floated
154:History
112:Website
96:casinos
82:England
66:Founded
366:Online
247:Nevada
218:, and
212:London
78:London
56:Gaming
776:(PDF)
297:Egypt
224:Egypt
102:Owner
802:2023
759:2021
733:2021
642:2009
557:2020
268:EMEA
226:and
119:.com
86:U.K.
69:1981
830::
792:.
749:.
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650:^
632:.
621:^
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386:—
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