Albania passes law banning sports betting

Albania passes law banning sports betting

Albania’s parliament on Thursday passed a law banning sports betting and other forms of gambling in the country from 2019.

The measure is to tackle addiction among gamblers and match-fixing in sport competitions, while also protecting household finances. The legislation was passed with 75 votes from members of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party. It will force the closure of slot machine parlours, betting shops and all other forms of sports wagering, including via online sites. It will, however, allow gambling at casinos in large hotels and a televised bingo game and national lottery will continue to operate because they have an ongoing concession. Albania’s sports betting industry has grown rapidly in recent decades and has an annual turnover estimated at 700 million euros. It is stoking concerns about its impact on low-income families and the integrity of national sport. Rama, an artist and former basketball player, has led a backlash against the industry. “We are waging a frontal war with the evil entrenched deeply in our society over the years,” he told parliament before Thursday’s vote. The prime minister accused some betting firm owners of having a criminal record and links to organised crime. He said a special task force would be set up to shut down any online gambling sites operating in the country. “They might keep changing sites, and we’ll keep shutting them down,” he said. Representatives of sports betting companies, which had offered to stop advertising and close half of the country’s betting shops to avert total ban, said they would fight the prohibition and seek compensation. “The companies are also evaluating the damages from the unilateral interruption of their license and mulling legal action to recover the damages,” Artan Shyti, the head of a sports betting industry association, said. (Reuters/NAN)

UEFA charge Man United over pitch invasion

UEFA charge Man United over pitch invasion

Manchester United were charged by UEFA on Wednesday for a pitch invasion at Old Trafford during their Champions League defeat by Juventus.

Manchester United’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 20, 2018. (Photo AFP) Three fans managed to get past the stewards early in Tuesday’s game, with one, who was wearing a United shirt, appearing to try and touch Cristiano Ronaldo as the Juventus forward returned to his former club. UEFA also fined the three-time European champions after their draw with Valencia earlier this month for a delayed kick-off and for arriving late to the stadium.
Jose Mourinho’s United slumped to a 1-0 loss as Paulo Dybala scored for Juve, who lead Group H from the English giants by five points.

2019: Atiku, Ezekwesili, Duke, others incapable of defeating Buhari-Says Igbokwe

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Ahead of 2019 Presidential elections, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Lagos chapter, Joe Igbokwe, has said none of the candidates is capable of defeating the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, boasting that his achievements will stand him out among other contestants.

He stressed that since assumption of office, Buhari has continued to improve the standard of infrastructure, tackled corruption for the  general interest of every citizen.

Igbokwe gave the assurance while debunking allegations credited to him that APC will not hand over power to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2019 if outcome of the election favoured the opponent.

According to him: “President Buhari as a Democrat, an incorruptible person and an honest man will hand over power to any candidate that wins, but am sure that all these candidates put together can defeat this great man (Buhari), known for honesty and integrity in 2019, all things considered.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/buhari-congratulates-emir-of-zuru-sani-sami-at-75/

“I have no power whatsoever to stop Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from handing over power to any of the candidates out of more than 20 contestants that wins the 2019 Presidential Elections.

“The truth Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and their colonies of unrepentant looters must know is that there are some Nigerians we have sworn never to trust with the keys of the Treasury of Nigeria given the monumental damage they inflicted on the project Nigeria in 16 years. This is the self evident truth they do not want to hear.

“We will not be distracted by the antics and shadow chasing PDP is known for. They sit down to gossip and make all the noise but we do work silently. History will remain our witness in fullness of time,” Igbokwe stated.

Communal Crisis: NYSC suspends 'Batch C' orientation course in Kaduna State indefinitely

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has suspended till further notice, orientation course for the 2018 Batch C Stream I, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, following unfavorable security reports.

A statement by Adenike Adeyemi, the NYSC Director of Press, issued on Monday in Abuja, advised prospective corps members posted to the Kaduna state to remain at home until further notice.

Adeyemi said that current security situation in the state and the consequent curfew imposed by the state government forced the scheme to suspend orientation in the state. She however, advised other prospective corps members deployed to other states and the FCT, to report at their various orientation camps on Tuesday Oct. 23, as scheduled.