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| Casino boss Sheldon Adelson presses Spain over anti-smoking laws | Casino boss Sheldon Adelson presses Spain over anti-smoking laws |
| (4 months later) | |
| An American casino billionaire looks set to force a U-turn in anti-smoking laws in Spain as a desperate government seeks ways to kick-start the country's economy. | An American casino billionaire looks set to force a U-turn in anti-smoking laws in Spain as a desperate government seeks ways to kick-start the country's economy. |
| Sheldon Adelson visited Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, in Madrid earlier this week as he completes his proposal for a vast complex of casinos, hotels and conference centres known as Eurovegas on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. | Sheldon Adelson visited Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, in Madrid earlier this week as he completes his proposal for a vast complex of casinos, hotels and conference centres known as Eurovegas on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. |
| Eurovegas would become one of Europe's biggest construction sites, creating tens of thousands of jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is expected to hit 28% by the end of this year. But Adelson wants gamblers to be allowed to smoke inside the complex – something that is against Spanish health laws. | Eurovegas would become one of Europe's biggest construction sites, creating tens of thousands of jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is expected to hit 28% by the end of this year. But Adelson wants gamblers to be allowed to smoke inside the complex – something that is against Spanish health laws. |
| The laws that prevent smoking inside public places were introduced by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's socialist government early in 2011. Only Bhutan and a few US states were deemed to have stricter anti-tobacco legislation at the time. | The laws that prevent smoking inside public places were introduced by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's socialist government early in 2011. Only Bhutan and a few US states were deemed to have stricter anti-tobacco legislation at the time. |
| Rajoy, from the conservative People's party (PP), said on Thursday that no decision had yet been made on the issue. | Rajoy, from the conservative People's party (PP), said on Thursday that no decision had yet been made on the issue. |
| But Adelson, who is based in Las Vegas, said he believed the government would not balk at changing the law to suit his interests, telling journalists in Jerusalem on Wednesday: "No I don't think so," according to Spain's EFE news agency. | But Adelson, who is based in Las Vegas, said he believed the government would not balk at changing the law to suit his interests, telling journalists in Jerusalem on Wednesday: "No I don't think so," according to Spain's EFE news agency. |
| Campaigners have posted a petition on change.org asking Madrid not to change the law. "We Spaniards do not want the tobacco law changed," their petition says. "We cannot allow a good law to be changed so that Mr Adelson can earn more money while Spain becomes poorer." | Campaigners have posted a petition on change.org asking Madrid not to change the law. "We Spaniards do not want the tobacco law changed," their petition says. "We cannot allow a good law to be changed so that Mr Adelson can earn more money while Spain becomes poorer." |
| The vast EuroVegas complex is set to be built in the Madrid dormitory town of Alcorcón. On Thursday, the head of the Madrid's regional government, Ignacio González, said legal changes necessary to allow the complex to be built would be in place within six weeks. | The vast EuroVegas complex is set to be built in the Madrid dormitory town of Alcorcón. On Thursday, the head of the Madrid's regional government, Ignacio González, said legal changes necessary to allow the complex to be built would be in place within six weeks. |
| Adelson, who said he already had $9.8bn (£6.4bn) of financing in place to build the first phase, would then have to present his plans for approval. | Adelson, who said he already had $9.8bn (£6.4bn) of financing in place to build the first phase, would then have to present his plans for approval. |
| Sources at his Las Vegas Sands company had originally said building work might start this year, but Adelson told journalists in Jerusalem that he was not in hurry. | Sources at his Las Vegas Sands company had originally said building work might start this year, but Adelson told journalists in Jerusalem that he was not in hurry. |
| The original target opening date for the first stage of the project, which would see him build four separate "resorts" of 3,000 hotel rooms with casino facilities attached to them, was 2017. | The original target opening date for the first stage of the project, which would see him build four separate "resorts" of 3,000 hotel rooms with casino facilities attached to them, was 2017. |
| Adelson plans eventually to triple the number of hotels and casinos on the three square mile site. Company sources claimed that, when the project was finished, it would generate 240,000 direct and indirect jobs. | Adelson plans eventually to triple the number of hotels and casinos on the three square mile site. Company sources claimed that, when the project was finished, it would generate 240,000 direct and indirect jobs. |
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