As DragoÅŸ Stoica (ex-member of “Mondenii” group, now a member of “Divertis group”) was saying, Eduard Irimia has proven that Romania also is able to organize a European level professional gala, at least”.

World Grand Prix 2010 has been a success, in what the set up is concerned, but also when it comes about the Romanian athletic success in a K1 competition. Unlike many other leading “personalities” in the Romanian sporting life, generally speaking, that vowelize and talk tall for days and nights on the radio and television, Irimia is the exception that proves the rule. In a sea of double dealer braggarts, the Romanian promoter – that has gotten in a few years from a K1 novice to the European head of this sport – likes to do and not to talk. The man does not kill you with flamboyance and arrogance, like other scores of failed managers, that constantly, live and in prime time, look for apologies and reasons why they did not succeed to do a thing or another. He’s not getting in your hair to get to like him, taking all your air, even though he’s more intelligent and more coherent than many “smart guys”. Or, maybe, that’s why…

Ex boxing promoter understood under way, seven years ago, the K1 phenomenon. Nobody plucked his sleeve to make him start this job. Nobody promised him money. He had nothing else to benefit from, except his managerial skills. And he started from here, without anybody asking him, to raise the pyramid of a sport with no tradition in Romania and he managed to put it in the same line with the international phenomenon, in only a few years.

Unfortunately, Eduard Irimia is a rare case in the autochthon sport, a field which is haunted by the ghost of impotence and collapsed by the carelessness and the indolence of most of his heads. Maybe a character like this should be awarded with more trust in the attempt to refloat the Romanian sporting life.

The Romanian Poker Federation is doing great. Young and strong, it plays all in after all in and here it is, already at the end of the second local large event of this sort – the Romanian Poker Championship, second edition. A “third degree” meeting at which participated important names from the local and international poker, sponsored like last year by PokerStars.

In the lobby of the elegant Hotel Radisson – former Bucharest – everything is quiet. They drink coffee, discuss business in whispers, and make plans. Nothing betrays the fact that in the Atlas Hall, located at first floor, the map of international poker is being rebuilt.

The hall is packed. Green canvas tables around which tens of participants focus with an almost material tension on their own odds. Some wear black glasses, other hoods, some are in elegant tuxedos, others with the cap covering their eyes. Some are quiet, introspective, others are nervous about everything. Television cameras are all around.

Other camera operators walk stealthily through the tables. Brief moments of whispering, some louder voices marking a winning hand, and then it all comes back to normal.

This is how things stood for five days, between May 2nd and 6th. 349 players – 197 in the Main Event, 153 in Student Cup and 44 in Side Events – fought to get a piece of the 207,000 Euros put at stake. The players also included Marcin Horecki and Elena Ichim, from PokerStars Pro, Mihai Niste, Ferdi Ciorobai, Toni Judet, Vidak Imre, Cristian Dragomir, Alain Medesan, Mihai Manole, Ciprian Hrisca. The scene was animated by original presences such as Adrian minune and Adi de la Valcea, two representatives of showbiz, keen on poker.

FIVE DAYS OF COMPETITION

And so it started. Sunday, May 2nd, was the day for two satellite tours. On May 3rd began the Main Event Day 1A, followed in the evening of the same day by Side Event Turbo. The third day, Main Event Day 1B – Elena Ichim, the Romanian in Italy, left the table with 100,000 chips in her box. In the fourth day Stefan Ciuca collected 490,000 chips; Adrian Mihalache, 399,500; Eduard Norel, 387,000; Vidak Imre, 385,500; Razvan Sebe, 369,000; Mihai Niste, 334,500; Ferdi Ciorobai, 291,000; Alain Medesan, 181,500; Catalin Stan, 151,000. This was, in fact, the configuration of the final table.

And so came the final. Last day. Nervous for one last time. Eight Romanians and one Hungarian. Tense, focused, suspicious. Ferdi makes a good start, makes and all in and forces Razvan Sebe to fold. And still, this does not help. The first to leave the tour after 40 minutes is Ferdi Ciorobai himself: Mihai Niste asks all-in, Ferdi pays. Mihai has two aces, Ferdi has two kings. In the end, he places 9th with 19,600 lei. The next one to be defeated, Razvan Sebe, places 8th, with 21,700 lei, eliminated by Stefan Ciuca, with full from river. 10 minutes into the 21st level, Alain Medesan also packs up, leaving the competition on the 7th place, with 26,100 lei as prize, being defeated by Imre Vidak, who paid the all-in asked by Alain and won. Catalin Stan goes home on the 6th position, with 34,800, defeated by Norel Eduard, who also paid the all-in asked by Stan. Shortly after, Norel leaves too – 5th place with 47,800 lei -, before the 22nd level, defeated after the all-in asked by Imre. The 4th place goes to Imre, with 69,600 lei, and the 3rd place to Adrian Mihalache, with 95,600 lei.

The final fight is between Niste and Ciuca. It only took two hands for Mihai to become the great winner. The two make allin. Ciuca reveals and ace and ten, Niste a queen and jack. The turn, a nine, brings a straight to Mihai Niste and the jackpot – 232,559 lei – and the title of Romanian poker champion. Stefan Ciuca occupied the second position with 156,500 lei.

DUMITRU MARIAN STANCU WON THE STUDENTS CUP

Stancu proved to be the most talented student poker player in Romania. He won the Cup put at stake by the National Poker Sports Federation in order to encourage young people practice poker as a sport. The winner of the Students Cup was awarded 2,000 lei and the students cup at poker.

In the period May 2nd – 6th 2010, the National Sports Poker Federation organized together with Poker Stars and Platinum Casino Romanian Poker Championship, 2nd edition.

Just like the first event, this too was a big success, reuniting at tables players seeing poker as a sport, as a competition in which the best wins. The ages of the players ranged from 18 years to over 50 years. The participants included casino players, online poker players as well as occasional players. To all these we can also add the students who had an event of their own – the Student Cup. In a nutshell, it was a smashing success, one which was most beneficial for poker as a sport. The communication channels used, including the partnership with Casino Life and Business Magazine, emphasized that poker is a sport and that it should be treated as such. The spirit of competition, as well as the fair-play dominated all throughout the tour. The impact of this sport can also be observed from the audience ratings of the website TVpoker.ro, which transmitted live, on Internet, for the fans, all the development of the tour. Romania thus succeeds in placing itself on the map of European poker by organizing important events.

THE POKER FEDERATION HAS BIG PLANS

The plans of the National Sports Poker Federation are both ambitious and realistic, at the same time. Once poker has been accepted as a mind sport all throughout the world, people will have to overcome mentality barriers and understand the complexity of this game. The National Spots Poker Federation aims to impose a strict calendar of tours for all the players in the country and it will try to organize events all throughout the country. If until now it was proven that it can be done and that there is a significant number of players, from now on a step will be taken to prepare intensive and progressive programs for tours. This means gradual qualification in satellites which will be played also live, not just online. The National Sports Poker Federation aims to create a national team to represent Romania in the upcoming World Poker Tour. All in all, the Romanian Poker Championship will try to encourage as many young players as possible to become known by organizing satellites, but, over time, efforts shall be done to bring the most powerful PRO players, in order to constantly raise the level of poker tours.

IN ROMANIA, POKER IS ONE STEP AHEAD

The impact of poker can be shown in online playing statistics, in the number of poker rooms present on the market, in the number of players in live tours. In order to build a proper and civilized environment for the phenomenon to develop, this connection is needed, created by the Federation and all the other parties involved. A very important step is that all poker players get to be respected for their work, get to pay taxes and be able to carry on with their activity of amateur or professional poker player in optimal conditions.

Romania is learning, but is a slow learner, just like in other domains. Judging from the poker side, we are a few steps ahead, because many things have been accomplished by organizing important tours in Romania.

The National Sports Poker Federation is expecting you at the next poker tour of this summer. For more information, please visit www.FederatiaRomanadePoker.ro

The new star of the feminine international poker has been in Romania. The beautiful and courageous Elena Ichim is only 25 years old, has an angelic face, a shy smile, but she’s always elegant, attentive and proves to have an analytical mind.

IS IT TOUGH TO “FIGHT” AGAINST ALL THESE EXTREMELY MOTIVATED MEN?

But women are also involved and they also have the spirit of competition. They also manage to do things very well. Of course it all depends also on what kind of men are at the table. Some of them want to prove their potency, when they are in the presence of a woman. But I get through with it.

WHEN DID YOU BEGIN TO DARE THEM?

It started two years ago. I have been playing at professional level for a year now. I started because my boyfriend was also playing, and I was going with him at the tournaments. At a certain moment I felt like I was getting bored with looking, so he advised me to play. This is how it all got started.

WHAT ATTRACTS YOU TO THIS GAME?

The adrenaline. The fact that it makes you think a lot. You have to apply the mathematics, the logics and the psychology. That’s why this game is very beautiful. Besides the chance, obviously.

WAS THERE A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THESE TWO YEARS OF COMPETITIONS?

The most interesting moment was an online tournament in which participated 2500 persons, and where I got on the 8th position. I was very excited, especially because there were a lot of contestants.

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK IS MORE EXTENDED, AT THIS MOMENT, THE LIVE POKER OR THE ONLINE POKER?

Both of them are extended, but they are totally different.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

When you play live poker you have the chance to see and to observe your opponents. They might have tics, they might be nervous. They act in a certain way if they have good cards and in a different way if they don’t. You are able to see all these things, you are able to read them. When you play online poker, these things don’t happen.

IS THE ONLINE POKER ENTIRELY SAFE?

There is certainly no kind of possibility to trick somebody.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DID YOU GET THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH?

All kind of people. There are people who want to create characters – they bustle, they roar. Some of them are very voluble, they laugh, they joke; some of them are very stern, upset actually.

THOSE THAT ROAR DO NOT TRIGGER THE RESPONSE OF THE ORGANIZERS?

Well yes, of course. But they don’t care. They still act the same way. The adrenaline won’t let them cool down.

DO YOU PLAY FOR ITALY. WHY?

Because this is where I started to play. This is where I have learned to play hold’em.

HOW DO PLAYERS IN ITALY DIFFER FROM PLAYERS HERE IN ROMANIA?

The Italians are more aggressive in their playing style. They force more.

HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS AFFECTED THE INTERNATIONAL POKER CIRCUITS?

No. The competition is equally well organized. We have more and more tournaments, and the players are more every day.

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP AFTER THIS TOURNAMENT?

Another one, but at this time I don’t know which will it be. My agent handles everything connected to scheduling, registering, organizing, generally speaking.

WHAT DO YOU DO BETWEEN TWO TOURNAMENTS?

I study. There are a lot of specialty books, which could teach you how to always improve your style. Then, you need physical training. The tournaments could take even 10-11 hours, with breaks of 10-20 minutes. You need a good condition. This is a sport that stresses physically very much.

WHO IS THE PERSON THAT YOU’VE LEARNED THE MOST FROM?

My boyfriend. He is a very good player. After that, I persevered, I got experience playing, and I have also studied.

WHEN DID YOU LEFT ROMANIA?

It was in 2003. Then I settled in Italy.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO COME HOME?

Yes, I have. I come gladly to Romania, but I get to come here rarely, because I’m afraid of planes. But, I don’t have too much time, because I participate at tournaments.

YOU COULD MIX THE USEFUL WITH THE PLEASURE. YOU COULD COME TO ROMANIA ON A SHIP THAT ORGANIZES POKER TOURNAMENTS. DID YOU PARTICIPATE AT THIS KIND OF TOURNAMENTS?

No.

BUT WOULD YOU LIKE TO?

Yes, but I don’t know if I would resist on the sea.

A POKER PLAYER NEED A LOT OF ASSETS: HE HAS TO BE A GOOD PSYCHOLOGIST, A GOOD OBSERVER, HE HAS TO BE VIGILANT, LOGICAL… HOW DO ALL THESE DEVELOP TO A TOP PLAYER?

In the first place, I think these all should be native. Then, they will develop in proportion as you play in more and more tournaments. You see better, you get experience… You get to know more and more players, more playing types…

DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER CAREER, BEYOND POKER?

No.

THE ODDS ARE THAT POKER WILL BECOME AN OLYMPIC SPORT. DO YOU THINK ABOUT PLAYING FOR A MEDAL?

It would be great. For me, and for any other poker player.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF ROMANIAN TEAM OR A PART OF ITALY TEAN?

Considering the fact that I live in Italy, I have a life in Italy for over seven years, I think I could represent Italy. If I should come back to Romania, I should start a new life.

BEING VERY INVOLVED IN THIS POKER PHENOMENON, DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR HOME, FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND? WHEN DO YOU GET TO SEE EACH OTHER?

We are together all the time, because we go together at tournaments. All of our friend play, also. So, we are together all the time and we feel great. I hope we will come back to Romania as soon as possible.

Catalin Botezatu is a remarkable presence of fashion events, and of events generally speaking, whether they are held within the country or abroad.

FASHION

His latest collection, Return to Ra, was presented at Bucharest Fashion Week, India Couture Fashion Week, in the opening of the World Skiing Championship at Kitzbuhel and at Seattle Fashion Week. Return to Ra is a fascinating collection, with elegant, bright dresses. They share as common element the sun, the center of the universe, source of light, energy and warmth, symbol of an egocentric philosophy. More than 20 pieces, of fine silk and velvet. At the end of the presentation, a superb silvery dress, completed by a white veil, more than two meters long.

MEDIA

The dresses designed by “Catalin Botezatu” appear not only on the catwalk, but also in the pages of famous magazines, such is SHE magazine. In this presentation, they take a tour around the world, emphasizing the beautiful bodies of stars like Vanessa Williams and Kelly Rowland.

GLAMOUR

An MUMM ambassador, Catalin Botezatu was a special guest of Chivas Romania at this year’s edition of the International Film Festival at Cannes.

Here he enjoyed the company of friends from the country – Irina Florea (Brand Manager Pernod- Ricard), Corina Barladeanu (2activePR), Andreea Esca and Andi Moisescu -, or friends from abroad – Penelope Cruz, Eva Herzigova, Michael Douglas, Claudia Cardinale, Pedro Almodovar, Tim Burton.

On the red carpet, the French lace black dress, Botezatu design – worn by Irina Florea – made quite an impression on the audience, Claudia Cardinale even uttering an admirable “Mon Dieu”.

K1 stars moved in to Bucharest for a few days. Eduard Irimia kept his word and offered Romanians an exceptional event – the “World Grand Prix 2010″

One of the most important K1 promoters in the world, Eduard Irimia, convinced every important figure of the contact sports world that Bucharest can perform as good as other capital cites when organizing such events. “World Grand Prix 2010″ was a winning bet. Great names of K1 participated in the Gala organized at Romexpo, including also the Dutch Erol Zimmerman and his countryman Valentijn Overeem, Ray Sefo, the American Mighty Mo, the French Freddy Kemayo and Amadou Ba, the Lithuanian Mindaugas Sakalauskas, Jimmy Ambriz and the winner of the Las Vegas tour, the American Carter Williams, as well as the Byelorussian Alexey Ignashov. Unfortunately, our stars, Morosanu, Zmarandescu and Iftimoaie, from a formidable trio turned into a “triangle of sudden death”, the first two managing to remain upright for only 15 seconds for Catalin Zmarandescu vs Valentijn Overeem and 26 seconds for Catalin Morosanu vs Erol Zimmerman, which was only enough for a few takes of the cameras. The only survivor was Ionut Iftimoaie who managed to resist standing until the end of the fight, but barely withstanding the avalanche of punches taken one after the other from the undisputed star of K1, Ray Sefo, declared winner by score. The only ones who kept the flag up in the Super Fights were Ionut “Pit-bull” Atodiresei, who defeated Amadou Ba, Sandu Lungu, winner over Jimmy Ambriz and Raul Catinas, who defeated Carter Williams by KO.

CIOBANU FOUGHT VERY WELL IN THE PYRAMID

An excellent performance in the pyramid of 8 was put up by the Romanian Sebastian Ciobanu who defeated in the first match the Estonian Daniil Sapliojin, qualifying to the finals after defeating the famous Mighty Mo by KO. Unfortunately, Ciobanu was defeated in the final by Freddy Kemayo. The French climbed in the ring for the last event of the competition after having been beaten in the semi-final by the Byelorussian Alexey Ignashov who, afterwards, declared to be forfeit.

The winner of the pyramid in Bucharest qualified for the world finals of 16 from Seoul.

IMPECCABLE ORGANIZATION

Although Bucharest was for the first time the host of such an important event, the organization was impeccable. “I was a bit nervous up until the gala started. Now we’re on the money. I think that the atmosphere is superb, and the fact that Romanians also lose is not bad, otherwise some might say that things are unclear and that because we are organizing the event, we have all our fighters winning in a row. Now, even if the hall is not filled its limits, I appreciate the effort of those who came here” declared the promoter Eduard Irimia, the soul of the gala in Bucharest. “We are happy we could lend a hand, to make available this space and to participate to the organization of an event of such scale. We and Edi Irimia are just beginning, but we hope that the event will be perceived as a good one and we hope to continue with it. For us it wasn’t very difficult. It was difficult for Edi; it was also difficult for the sponsors, for the services involved on the organization. And, what is most difficult is bringing the fighters” said Doru Simovici, general director of Romexpo.

THE VIPS DECLARE TO HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED

But the fighting ring was not the only one to be populated with stars, but also the great ring at Romexpo. The VIP tables and the armchairs were occupied by more than 6,000 people. The fans of this sport included artists, TV producers, political figures and lots of sports people. Some of them had the kindness of sharing with us their impressions. On the right side of the ring, in the hall, Oana Zavoranu and Pepe were watching the events unfolding. “We are waiting for the big fights, we are only just beginning. But from the point of view of the organization, all seems to be OK, but I think it will be perfect once we gather more experience in the organization of these great galas. I like American galas, and there are things to learn from them” said Oana Zavoranu. “Anyway, it’s a great step forward, compared to what’s going on regularly” added Pepe.

Very close to the podium that was pounding under the steps of the fighters on their way to the ring was Tolea Ciumac. “The organization seems perfect to me. I was expecting a much bigger interest from the public. I think many are too lazy and prefer to see it on TV. Or maybe the prices are too big, who knows…” he said. Tolea promised he would prepare intensely for his close debut in K1. Across the podium, at another VIP table, was Nicolae Manea. “Honestly, I am not that much keen on this sport, but I am a very good friend of Iftimoaie and I wanted to see him in the ring and encourage him. It’s a huge difference between soccer and this sport. And I appreciate K1 fighters a lot. A very tough sport. It’s the first time that I’ve come to a gala, but I think the organization is superb” declared the sports manager of FC Rapid.

“An extremely spectacular gala. The fact that we managed to bring in Romania such sportsmen is very positive and for the future I expect even more” said the director of the Theater of Comedy, George Mihaita, seated at a table right next to the ring, close to the Mayor of district 6, Cristian Poteras. “It definitely is a success. Such a show must have color, rhythm and beautiful girls, which, as one can see, are to be found all over” added the Mayor. Very close to the “war zone” was the manager… “Everything is very interesting and well organized. An organization exceeding expectations. Professionalism, from setting, effects, services, up to these extraordinary fighters” declared Niculescu.

For a first gala organized in out country, at such a scale, it seems extraordinary. Edi Irimia proved that we can do it too. I like very much what I see. When I was younger, I was into the martial arts” declared Dragos Stoica. We also ran into Alexandru Lungu. “An extraordinary organization. I practiced a tactical boxing, I wanted to win very badly, I took no chances, as I used to do right from the very first minutes. I will continue to participate in November, at the new gala,” he declared.

“It was a very beautiful gala. Real fights, true fights, very tough. Edi proved that it is possible to organize an extraordinary gala with great fighters in our country too. But we have to keep improving to be able to stand up to these K1 titans” said Ciprian Sora in between two photo and autograph sessions, surrounded by children, future fighters of K1.

Pontoon is the British version of the oldest and most popular casino game, 21, more famous due to its American name, Blackjack.

Pontoon can be played by a minimum of two players – but the best version is with 5-8 players -, and a standard deck of 52 cards. For more than eight players two decks of cards can be used.

The values of the small cards are written on them, while the aces can be worth 1 or 11, depending on the player’s choice, and the kings, jacks and tens all have the value 10. The objective of each player is that of forming a hand the total value of which will be as close as possible to 21 but without exceeding this value.

A GOOD HAND

The best hand is Pontoon, which means a 21 made of two cards, and it can be formed only by and ace and a ten, or and ace and one of the other big cards, them too having the value 10.

The next hand is Five Card Trick, a hand made of 5 cards totaling 21 or less. A hand made of three or four cards and totaling 21 points beats any other hand, except Pontoon of the Five Card Trick. The hands with the value 20 or less and with less than five cards are ranked in order of their value – the hand closest to 21 being the best. The hands with values above 21 points are worthless.

THE RULE OF THE GAME

Before the beginning of the game, one of the players will be chosen as bank. Initially, each player receives one card, face down, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer and fin ishing with the dealer. All players, except the bank, can look at the cards. Each player, except the bank, puts forward his initial stakes (after previously establishing a minimum and maximum level for the initial stake).

The dealer then deals a second round of cards face down and all players check to see their card. If the bank has a Pontoon, it has to show it at once and gets double the stake placed by each player.

If the bank doesn’t have Pontoon, the game continues, each player being able to request extra cards.

If any of the players receives the first two cards with the same value, he can split the two cards and can play two hands (split), placing the cards on the table face up and adding one more stake equal to the initial stake. After all players have played, the bank also turns its two cards face up. The bank can now add more cards to its hand, until it is satisfied with the total or until it exceeds 21. If the bank looses (bust), all players receive 1-1 winnings for other hands than Pontoon or Five Card Tricks. If the bank finishes with a value below 21, all players flip their cards in order to determine the winner. In a situation of equality, the bank is the one that always wins.

In this issue of Casino Life and Business Magazine we continue with the presentation of gambling activities, as regulated through G.D. 870/2009, and submit to your attention the legal provisions regarding fixed-odds betting.

FIXED-ODD BETS

Fixed-odd betting activities are being held only in clearly defined locations, namely in betting agencies. The party organizing such betting activities is obliged by the law to use certain informatic program and certain applications which are unique with reference to the organizer. In order to be able to obtain the authorization, the bet organizer shall draw-up the technical-economical documents of efficiency for a period of one year, documents that need to contain the following information: 1. the total of estimated gross cash-ins (gross cash-ins being the total sum cashed in before discounting the prizes and other expenses); 2. the total of expenses, split on main elements of expenses; 3. gross profit.

Each month, the fixed-odd bets organizers have the obligation, before day 10 of the ongoing month, to draw-up a situation for the previous month regarding the cash-ins for the fixed-odd betting system. These documents are to be drawn-up in 3 copies by the general cashier in a records register made up of 100 pages, which needs to be bound, numbered and endorsed by the territory tax authority on the range of which is situated the space where the gambles are being held. Thus, the law imposes to economic operators that the percentage of winnings from the total of gross cash-ins be at least 60%, calculated for the validity period of the authorization. In the game regulations and the internal order regulations, there must be stated the main data regarding the organization of the activity, and namely:

• the certification and homologation system of the winnings, • the system for validating the winnings, • the control and security system and other key elements defining the respective activity. • In case the fixed-odd bet organizer chooses later on to modify these data, it can proceed to such only pursuant to the commission’s approval. The fixed-odd bet organizers have the following obligation: • not to practice excessive illumination of the entrance or of the location where it exploits the fixed-odd betting, in any form or by using any means, except for the situation in which the entire building that the location where the activity is being held is a part of makes the object of the illumination, other than street illumination.

Furthermore, they can advertise the fixed-odd betting activity in the following conditions: 1. write the name of the organizing firm, the name of the activity or other markings which the organizers think fit, at the entrance in the location or placed thereon, on a panel or over a glass surface placed in the space afferent to the location, within the limit of 6 sqm; 2. the panel stipulated at point 1 can be illuminated at an intensity that allows during nighttime only the visibility of the markings thereon; it is forbidden to use intermittent or stroboscopic lights, as well as any other means of dynamic illumination. The law allows the organizer to expose in a visible spot within the glass surfaces the posters or advertising materials in view of supporting the campaigns of informing clients, under the condition that the surface of each material taken separately does not exceed 1 sqm, and the total surface 3 sqm. The exploitation of fixed-odd gambles can be done by the economic operators that fulfill the requirements stipulated by the current legislation and that own a license to organize gambles. The exploitation of these gambles can only be done based on the authorization to exploit the gambles, document issued by the Ministry of Public Finances, through an appointed commission, under the conditions stated by the law. The authorization to exploits the gambles is granted for a fix period of 12 months. The start date of the authorization to exploit gambling activities is given by the first day of the month following that in which it was granted, after analyzing and favorably endorsing the documentation submitted by the economic operator and after the payment of the sums owed in advance by the economic operator.

If during the previous years the most expensive vessels presented at the specialized fairs were in excess of one million Euros, year 2010 comes with a reduced offer in terms of the zero count of the price tags.

Princess 42 is the most expensive boat to dock this year at the Romanian Boat Show. The yacht, costing more than 600,000 Euros, can fulfill several fantasies. It’s by nothing inferior to an apartment. It has all the necessary utilities for a comfortable suite: depending on the version, the boat features two or three cabins, two bathrooms and kitchen. It has cherry wood and leather inserts for the inside. It can even be turned into a convertible boat if you attach upstairs its blue sunscreen. To this end, the English manufacturer has specifically built a metallic support, similar to that in a car. The vessel features a length of almost 14 meters, including the bow balcony, a width of four meters and a 2 X 460 HP engine. Around the world approximately 40 such vessels are sold per year, and around 200 units have been built in total.

ROMANIANS STICK TO TRADITION

The surprise of the fair was a Romanian boat, made exclusively of oak wood dried for 10 years, totally natural, and costing around 18,000 Euros. The boat is covered in special mahogany wood, water-resistant, varnished with epoxy varnish, in 10 layers. There are only 10 such vessel in the world. Seven of them have been bought from abroad, from Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. The rest are in Romania, where somebody has yet to buy one.

SALES EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

Around 100 vessels of all sizes were put on display at the Romanian Boat Show, in total value of approximately 20 million Euros. There were vessels with and without engines, with sails, accessories for sails and for other water sports, as well as offers from auxiliary domains, associated to yachting.

Although the exhibitors did not expect to see spectacular sales, some had the surprise to close even more deals than last year. The event can be considered a true measuring gauge of Romania’s nautical industry, setting the trends of the year in the domain of vessels and offering a clear perspective of the annual sales made in our country.

At the 2009 edition, Romanian Boat Show generated sales for approximately 80 vessels, with a total value of 7-8 million Euros. There will also be a summer edition of the event, which will take place in Tomis Harbor in Constanta, in the period June 16th – 20th.

LAUNCH ON THE HORIZON

Perhaps at the next edition, the exhibitors will come up with new models, for instance the Porsche Design, now undergoing some final testing in Sweden. Royal Falcon Fleet 135, a 41.15-meter long catamaran, will be, seemingly, a true hit. The vessel can accommodate up to 20 persons on board, including the crew. RFF135 is being propelled by two V16 turbo-diesel engines, manufactured by MTU, together giving an output of 4,600 HP, more than enough to make Porsche’s last creation reach a maximum speed of 35 knots, which means 65 kilometers per hour and a cruise speed of 30 knots. Pretty fast for a boat of these sizes, but the consumption is one to match, 750 liters per hour. The catamaran was built in Singapore by the Royal Falcon Fleet, and Kockums Sweden took care of the interior design.

The tourist offer in Vegas just got richer at the beginning of year 2010 with two new properties – Planet Hollywood Towers and the no less famous Hard Rock Hotel.

Hard Rock – the crown pearl After an investment to envy, worth $750 million, the new hotel Hard Rock in Vegas offers 374 apartments, all with surfaces ranging between 213 and 1,300 square meters. The hotel offers tourists an exclusive check-in, a butler, spa, restaurants and services only available to HRH Tower clients. Rightfully considered the pearl of the crown Hard Rock Hotel& Casino, the new hard Rock hotel brings as novelty a special design marked by dark wood floors, luxurious carpets, hi-tech equipment – an unprecedented audio system, with a juke-box storing more than 2,000 songs, large-screen LCDs and DVD players. The bedrooms are furnished with mahogany andleather beds, and the design is completed by silk curtains or luxurious linen, designer-created. The huge bathrooms – 45 square meters – are made of glass, black porcelain and Chinese marble. The prices for the rooms start from $119.

Hard Rock Hotel&Casino in Las Vegas, covering a surface of 68,000 square meters, in Paradise Corridor, is owned and operated by Morgans Hotel Group and its partner DLJ Merchant Banking Partners.

PLANET HOLLYWOOD TOWERS

Together with the opening of the timeshare Planet Hollywood Towers, another 1,201 apartments add to the list of options for tourists to choose once reaching Vegas. 52 floors, 1,201 rooms with surfaces ranging between 121 and 289 square meters, all decorated in a fantastic style and equipped exclusively. The resort houses one of the best fitness centers, with a very well-rained staff and high-tech equipment. The staff from PH Towers is available for its clients with a 24-hour non-stop concierge service, room-service, as well as a full-service business center. Guests can take full advantage of the latest technologies, fully equipped kitchens, marble bathrooms and extremely elegant bedrooms.

Planet Hollywood Towers is impressive from the very first steps, with huge lobby windows – as high as from floor to ceiling – allowing natural light to flood inside during the day, but also offering a generous view towards the private pool, the bar and the 32 chalets of the resort. The walls are covered in original paintings in oil and pop art, while sculpted red and white glass installations complete the scenery.

The reception area is marked by columns with colored LED lights. The apartments rent for sums ranging between $229 during week time and $349 during the week-end. At the last floor there are 16 penthouses with surfaces in excess of 1,000 square meters.

The new Hotel is connected to the Miracle Mile Shops and to Planet Hollywood Resort&Casino, being located 3 miles away from the McCarran International Airport.