Madrid puts pressure on government to push ahead with mega casino

Madrid put pressure on Spain’s central government on Thursday to push ahead with a mega gambling resort outside the capital after delays caused by U.S. casino operator Las Vegas Sands seeking exemption from a national smoking ban as a condition of a deal.
Madrid desperately wants the Eurovegas resort - slated to include six casinos, 12 hotels and shops - to be built in the region to create employment in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.
“We must do everything in our power to prevent a deal like Eurovegas slipping through our fingers,” Madrid President Ignacio Gonzalez told Onda Cero radio.
The deal has encountered delays because Sheldon Adelson, Chief Executive of Las Vegas Sands, wants smoking to be allowed in the casinos to prevent gamblers taking cigarette breaks outside which lowers takings for the operator.“From what we understand from Mr. Adelson, there are still some outstanding commitments from the Spanish government to be resolved,” Gonzalez added, without elaborating.