In view of the extensive coverage given to Sea The Stars’ majestic romp to glory in the race in 2009, there had been some hope that the Arc had been given a new lease of life by the powers that be at the Beeb.

However, with cutbacks across the board and racing a low priority in the general sporting scheme of things, this could be the last time licence payers foot the bill for coverage of the Parisian event. The broadcasting of the event on BBC2 instead of BBC1 also hints at the lack of priority given to the race. Those interested in Group 1 horse racing tips should be very concerned.

Channel 4, who earlier this year announced major cutbacks to their coverage of horseracing in the UK, are in no position to step into the breach, so unless one of the digital sports networks feels it worth taking a chance on bolstering racing, this could well prove to be the end of the road for a race that has provided British racing fans with such outstanding memories over the decades.

Dancing Brave’s surge to victory on the outside of the field in the 1986 renewal will live long in the memory, as will last year’s sensational change of gear shown by Sea the Stars under an ice-cool ride from Mick Kinane, to destroy a top class field and win his sixth Group 1 in as many months. Fans of racing tips will be hoping for another exciting renewal this year.

I suggest you savour every moment of the 2010 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It may be the last we see on terrestrial television for a very long time.

So bingo clubs are still paying 5% more in taxation than in 2009. No wonder online bingo is booming! The combination of the smoking ban, tax rise and the credit crunch has resulted in many bingo halls in England closing their doors. The UK Bingo tax is totally unfair, it amounts to a special tax on Bingo revenue. Bingo clubs, like all businesses, are subject to normal corporation tax on their profits. The Bingo tax rate has been applied only to land based bingo halls and all other forms of gaming, like sports betting, fruit machines and casinos enjoy the lower tax rate. Like most bingo players I believe that this tax is discriminatory, wrong, unfair and should be withdrawn.

With such a positive upturn in fortunes for Macau’s casino industry despite the expected negative effects of the global economic crisis, it looks as though many more of Vegas’ blue chip casino companies will be looking to launch new ventures in the area over the coming year to cash in on the Asian casino boom.

Share prices for Sands China, the Macau outpost of the Las Vegas Sands, meanwhile rose 5 percent to HK$10.02 on the news, indicating a promising future for the latest addition to the enclave’s casino network.

The agreed deal, reached with 61% of the company’s bondholders will give Donald Trump stock and warrants worth 10% of Trump Entertainment Resorts.

As part of the arrangement, New Jersey casinos Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina, will all keep the Trump name, while Donal Trump will be able to use his name on other gambling projects that do not directly compete with Atlantic City.

I think Donald should consider wearing a hat like me!