Journalist Kenneth Awotwe Darko traveled to Malaysia to better understand direct selling company QNET’s business model. Darko works for a news team in Ghana and felt motivated to make the trip when the first news they heard about the direct selling company was negative. Darko wanted to know ifQNET was a scam or schemeof some sort. “Some individuals were accused of taking money from others with the promise of helping them travel outside of Africa,” stated Darko.

Darko decided to research QNET to separate fact from fiction. “The further I dug, the more I realized that the 24-year-old company has good intentions and an interesting business model, but the actions of some individuals who may or may not fully understand the brand’s line of business are causing some misconceptions about the company,” Darko explained.

The direct selling company works diligently to set the record straight about its legitimacy. While it’s often mistaken for a scam or pyramid scheme, the truth is that it’s an entirely legal direct seller. It pays commissions only on product sales. CEO Malou Caluza said, “The challenge is the lack of awareness and the lack of a legal framework to help the public differentiate between the genuine companies and the pyramid schemes.”

However, it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. Caluza said, “We have always maintained that the direct selling company is not for those looking for overnight success. This is evident in the success stories we share. Every one of the top leaders that our network looks up to today started with nothing and built their businesses slowly but steadily. It took them years to get to where they are today. They are our best ambassadors for the message that success at the company takes hard work and consistent effort over a period of time.”

The company proactively tackles lies and false allegations. Biram Fall is the regional manager for sub-Saharan Africa. He stated that the direct selling company “is making frantic efforts to ensure its reputation is not soiled. We keep implementing measures to help the general public and our stakeholders understand our business model and the fact that we are not a get-rich-quick or Ponzi scheme, we are not a travel agency. We do not condone illegal gathering, migration, or unethical marketing practices.

Fall continued, “We are aware that some individuals use the company’s name for unethical marketing practices. We are in collaboration with some governmental agencies in markets where we operate to identify and clamp down on these people and their negative activities. If any independent representative is found to be culpable in a case of unethical marketing, they are punished or terminated from the company’s record. And in some cases, they are handed over to security agencies for the law to take its course.”

The direct selling company recently launched its 360-marketing initiative called the Mama Campaign, which aims to help people differentiate between the legitimate direct selling business and the actions of fraudulent individuals.

Caluza said, “While direct selling is more than a century old, in many emerging economies, it is still in very early stages and hence, not properly understood. Many people assume it is some type of financial or investment scheme, and they are wary of it. To address this, the company focuses on education and awareness through social media campaigns, stakeholder engagement, training and events, and seminars to help people understand the positive impact of direct selling. We also educate them about the difference between legitimate direct selling businesses and illegal pyramid schemes.”

Exploring QNET in Malaysia and Attending the Company’s Convention

Darko traveled to the company’s office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in an effort to establish the truth about the enterprise. “One of the first observations I made was the fact that in this part of the world [Africa], a lot of people do not understand the concept of direct selling, and sadly, they are often unable to distinguish it from a Ponzi scheme, multilevel marketing, and the sorts,” explained Darko.

During the visit, Darko stated, “I saw firsthand the towering building where its operations take place on a daily basis. I saw some of the products and had interactions with key officers of the company as they explained in detail the features of the products and key truths about QNET’s business model.”

At the company’s annual global V-Malaysia 2022 conference, Darko said, “I was in the same arena as more than 15,000 independent representatives and officers of the company. It was electrifying and a sight to behold. I listened to seminars and presentations by many leaders of the company, including its founders, and I visited the exhibition booths, where I saw, touched, felt, and experienced the company’s wide array of products. I saw independent representatives from different corners of the world testifying about their experiences and the achievements they made, both in small and big leaps.”

How Darko Determined the Direct Selling Company Is Not a Scam

“The first realization I had from my five-day sojourn was that unlike Ponzi orget-rich-quick schemesthat usually last for a short time and disappear, QNET has actually been in existence for 24 years and growing stronger. I got to know that it is one of Asia’s leading e-commerce-based direct selling companies offering a wide range of health, wellness, and lifestyle products that enable people to lead better lives,” stated Darko.

“I realized that the company is empowering millions of entrepreneurs and young people in more than 100 countries worldwide. I also got to know that it is headquartered in Hong Kong and has a presence in more than 25 countries around the world through subsidiaries, branch offices, agency partnerships, and franchisees.”

Darko discovered that the company is law-abiding and highly socially responsible. “I realized that QNET adheres to international best practices and that it is a member of the Direct Selling Association in several countries and is also a part of the Hong Kong Health Food Association and the Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore, among others,” said Darko. “I saw pictures and evidence of the plethora of life-changing interventions and projects the company is implementing across the world, including Africa.”

After investigating the direct selling company in person, Darko concluded that it’s theopposite of a scamor scheme. “I am convinced that with the current economic situation in the world and especially in Africa, a lot of people need multiple streams of income to be able to stay afloat. Direct selling offers a wonderful opportunity for anyone to buy products, use them or refer [them] to other people and earn commission on the purchases they make,” explained Darko. “A lot of people have changed their lives for the better by simply taking up the opportunities offered by QNET and the direct selling industry.”

Being in a motorhome means having the flexibility to travel around the country, stopping off wherever you want to, with everything you need in your vehicle. The good news, it is now easy to hire or rent a motorhome in Manchester and tour the surrounding area or even further afield.

With the increased risk of foreign travel, more providers are now providing campervan rental from depots at Manchester Airport and downtown Manchester. For good deals on campervan hire Manchester, try out RVRentACampervan who offer a choice between Touring Cars and Easicampers. Both these suppliers provide an extensive range of Manchester campervan rental options.

One of the gemstones of the UK is Manchester, famous for being the first industrialised city in the world, with the first working canal in 1761 and world first railway line in 1830. It also at one point had the best football team in the Premier League, has given us some of the best music from the likes of Oasis, Morrissey and more recently Aitch and Bugzy Malone. It is also one of those brilliant destinations that has the buzz of a city in one part of it, but then also has the surroundings of the countryside. This makes it an ideal spot for any motorhome occupant, whether part of the younger or older generation. See below some of my top picks:

The Peak District

One of the UK’s biggest and most beautiful nature reserves, the Peak District can be a hit with the active person of your group or those who want a cosy chilled country weekend. It has breath taking hiking or walking trails where you can Instagram huge valleys, glassy lakes, snowy mountain tops on the horizon and stone villages frozen in time. You can even take a cable car up to The Heights of Abraham to see some of the longest views of Britain. In some of these lakes you can also for the more active person find water sports such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and even wild swimming. For the more relaxed and chilled vibe, you can explore the many picturesque villages with many stone cottages and massive stately homes to wander, all generally offering local produce and providing hearty meals to rest and refuel from.

The best place to park your motorhome for the weekend when visiting is Castledon Caravan and Motorhome site, rated 4.8 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.

Morecambe Bay

Fancy going to the beach and seeing an unforgettable sunset? This is the place for you. The huge sandy bay covering 310 square kilometres is also an important wildlife spot boasting a top avid bird watching spot and has become renowned for its flat fishing of plaice and cockles. Don’t let that stop you from taking a dip into the sea though, but keep your eye out depending on where you dip as in Morecambe Bay there are recorded sighting of bottlenose dolphins and grey seals.

The best place to park your motorhome for the weekend when visiting is Sunnyside Camping and Caravan site, rated 4.6 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.

City of Manchester

Don’t forget to visit the main city centre itself! A rival to London because it has something for everyone! Avid football fan? You could visit Old Trafford for Manchester United fans or Etihad Stadium for Manchester City fans. Want some culture? Visit the iconic building known as the Manchester Cathedral where you can join in on seasonal sing songs or visit the Jodrell Bank Observatory to see the stars at night. Famed for its nightlife and buzzing music scene because it can cater to anyone, from those interested in new and upcoming, to iconic rock bands, jazz bands or even classical music spots, the city has some of the widest array of concert halls, pop-up venues and warehouses for music. Some of the liveliest bars that are always talked about is Night & Day for the rock or indie fans, One Eight Six that is tucked away behind a mirrored door underneath a barber shop hosting Jazz evenings, Albert Schloss for your drag queens and pop music, YES which has a range of genres covered from live DJ’s to rock music & even Bunny Jacksons which is also famous for its food boasting the cheapest plate in town with 20p wings!

The best place to park your motorhome for the weekend when visiting is Hawthorne Caravan and Camp Site, rated 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.

With excellent road links to all these spots above and brilliant campsites to park up at the North West can offer you one amazing adventure to remember!

Casinos are a risky business. The house always wins, and the odds are stacked against you. But there is some good news for casino lovers out there: Casinos don’t go bankrupt very often. In fact, the number of casinos that have gone bankrupt has been steadily declining over the past decade. That being said, some casinos do go under every year—and they’re not always small operations either. So here’s our list of bankrupt casinos that were once famous but couldn’t keep up with the competition.

List of Bankrupt Casinos

There are many reasons why a casino might go bankrupt. Whether we’re talking of online casinos or retail venues, there’s always a chance that things will go south. The same applies to fully regulated casinos and casinos not on Gamstop. No matter the case, the reasons are always the same. Most often, they include:

• Being in the wrong place at the wrong time – A casino that is located in a town or city with too much competition may find itself unable to attract customers. In these cases, bankruptcy is often the only option for survival. Sometimes, it allows the brand to stay open as an online establishment after going through the bankruptcy process.
• Poor business decisions. – Bad management decisions made by top executives, such as spending too much money on marketing or expanding into countries where their brand isn’t well known (such as China). Bad business practices also contribute heavily to bankruptcy because they can cause revenue streams to dry up quickly. That leaves casinos without enough money coming in.
• Poor customer focus. – Modern casino players are on every corner. While establishing a retail casino is a great decision, it is necessary to launch an online casino that’s compatible with mobile devices. While it requires a higher initial investment, it helps the company stay afloat.
• Choosing reliable game partners. – From the moment it starts operating, a casino brand needs to establish collaboration with reliable partners.
• Not following the latest trends. – Take the increasing popularity of crypto, for example, casinos that don’t accept these payment methods are losing modern customers.

Casinos that have gone bankrupt have all made some of the abovementioned mistakes. Let’s go over the list to see some of the most famous casinos that went bankrupt.

Atlantic Club Casino Hotel

Atlantic Club Casino Hotel was a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. It was located on the Boardwalk, opposite the Showboat Casino. The casino opened in 1980 and closed in 2014. Despite being present for a long time, its bad business decisions have led to its closing.

Revel Oceans Resort & Casino

Opened in April of 2012, Revel Oceans Resort & Casino was the largest casino to ever go bankrupt. The casino was built for $2.4 billion and closed its doors after just two years in business, leaving behind $1.3 billion in debt. The casino was sold for $90 million in 2015 and reopened under a new name: TEN, or “The Entertainment Complex”. It’s a prime example of the percentage of casinos that go bankrupt due to poor business management. If you’re wondering do big casinos go bankrupt often, the answer is yes and no. While many casinos can go bankrupt, it doesn’t happen often with big names.

Aladdin Casino

Aladdin Casino, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, closed its doors in August 2004. It was a hotel and casino owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation. The Aladdin opened in 1966 and was one of the first casinos built on the strip after McCarran airport opened. The hotel contained 1,711 rooms that were spread across three towers as well as an outdoor pool and spa facilities. The casino contained over 2,200 slots and 160 table games, including blackjack and roulette tables.

Sahara Las Vegas

Sahara was opened in 1952 as the first casino on what would become known as the Las Vegas Strip. It was built by legendary Chicago gangster Tony Cornero and featured a hotel, casino, restaurants, and bars. The property went bankrupt in 2011 after being taken over by its parent company, SBE Incorporated (formerly known as Starwood Hotels & Resorts). The Sahara Hotel & Casino closed its doors for good on August 27th of that year after a long and storied history on the strip.

How Often Do Casinos Go Bankrupt

It’s hard to determine how often do casinos go bankrupt. The marketplace with online casinos is much more dynamic nowadays. Many people think casinos are safe bets—you know, because the house always wins. But the reality is that casinos go bankrupt every year. In some years, more than one casino has gone belly up. In fact, out of all businesses in America (and there were more than two million active businesses at the time), casinos were among those with the highest failure rate.

How Many Casinos Go Bankrupt Every Year

Knowing how many casinos go bankrupt in a year is important, but there are two ways to look at it. First, it’s a small number. In fact, most people don’t realize how many casinos exist in America – there are over 150 operating casinos in Nevada alone.

Second, even if a casino does close its doors for good, that doesn’t mean the game stops being played, and people can’t still gamble safely online (or at another nearby establishment). That’s why answering the question of how many casinos go bankrupt each year is challenging. There are too many fluctuations in the modern market. Especially when you consider how much the industry is growing.

Therefore, to answer the question of how many casinos have gone bankrupt, it’s safe to say that the number is in the hundreds, if not thousands of brands.

How Many Trump Casinos Went Bankrupt

Trump is no stranger to the bankruptcy process. In fact, his businesses have gone bankrupt a total of six times since 1991. Here’s a rundown of the casinos and properties that went bust under his leadership:

• Trump Taj Mahal (1991)
• Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino (1992)
• Trump’s Castle (1992)
• Trump World’s Fair (1992)
• Trump Marina (2005)

Conclusion

If you’re thinking about going to a casino, it is important to do your research first. You don’t want to waste any time or money on a place that might go bankrupt. If you do want to gamble, there are plenty of other options out there besides these bankrupt casinos. Simply do your research online, and you can easily find reliable brands with a long history of stable growth. That way, you’ll know that you’re gambling with a brand that can pay out all your winnings, no matter how high they are.