1. We have had to re-apply for "change of use" for our premises due to a new law that has just come in for casinos. Before April 2006 casinos premises were covered under D2 planning consent (which my building already has), but the Government has now decided as of May 2006, casinos must apply for a separate catorgory of planning use (this has nothing to do with the "Gaming Licence", just planning regulation). None of my legal advisors picked this up, it was the landlord's lawyer who spotted it. I'm "told" its just a formality, but it still delays commencing works for another 6-8 weeks.
2. I spoke to the Gaming Board last Friday to chase up my interview with them for the Certificate of Consent. Apparently there were 72 "unexpected last minute" applications for casino licenses that were put in just before April 2006 (everyone is trying to avoid applying to the new Gaming Commission which took control of all new applications after April 2006). They do not have the manpower to deal with all of these applications so could give me no idea of what was happening with mine, even though I've paid my fees etc.
The lega system is a joke, (doing things the correct and legal way), you can't apply for planning or a license untill you find suitable premises, and when you tie yourself into a massive premises lease liability, the goalposts change. The lawyers, "so called experts", tell you everything in running to plan, and you stumble on these problems yourself. Meanwhile, existing card rooms are operating without a licence and all of these headaches and in full view of the supposed law.
This whole process has been like pulling teeth from the start, as my diary testifies, I've put a hell of a lot of effort in. What started as an interesting and challenging project into the unknown, "to open the UK's first legal card room", is now developing into one big expensive pain in the ass. However, the alternative theory is that there in no such thing as a "free lunch", and these problems are just "par for the course" for taking on a project like this.
But on the positive side:
1. I finished 30th out of 2076 in the Pokerstars sunday comp last night. I tried a new strategy, stay away from people that have more chips than me......my previous system was, "the more chips they have, the higher my implied odds are". I'd like to get back to enjoying my poker, since DTD, I've not really been able to focus on it or play much. I've only been turning up just for main events and my games got pretty rusty and even more irratic than usual. I was looking at my results in 2006, I've played 12 events, cashed in 3, made 2 final tables, and am still £25K down plus expenses. I'm goona take some time out to play more tournaments and travel to some nice places.
2. My horse, Hi Humpfrey, finally won a race at 7-1. A nice £22.5k profit from the bookies at Aintree. I missed the race as I was in Barcelona losing at heads-up.
3. Liverpool finished 3rd in the Premiership, I just remembered I had £250 each way with Booky Jim at 25-1.
Life is full of ups and downs, apart from DTD I don't have much stress and can't really grumble.
