National Lottery gives Sluzewiec track back to Treasury

The State Treasury plans to dispossess the National Lottery (TS) of the TWK Sluzewiec horse-racing track in Warsaw for a symbolic zl.1, the price TS paid for it a year ago. Not only does the track not fit TS's current strategic plans, but the Treasury also doubts whether TS can still hold stake in the racing partnership after amendments to the gambling and lotteries bill. Previous TS president Slawomir Sykucki claimed last year that TWK would become part of a gambling business, while fairs and cultural events could be held on days when there were no races. None of his plans were fulfilled, despite the fact that TS was to invest zl.20 million in TWK over four years. Analysts claim that the racetrack could have been saved from its present financial woes precisely if TS had stayed away from it. "(...)Lack of capital could in effect force the land to open to private investors(...) At that point the construction of hotels, trade centers or flats on the estate worth $200 million would not be far off," said one specialist. Although new TS president Wladyslaw Jamrozy declined to comment, sources claim he agrees with the idea of giving the racetrack back. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 6) M.M.