“The market conditions have more uncertainties, including the potential trade war escalation. High rollers are more cautious, betting less or reducing trips to Macau.”
—Andrew Lo, executive director, Suncity Group Holdings Ltd., on continuing market fluctuations in Macau
“With all the talk about the propensity to gamble, you just don’t see the Japanese in Asia’s casinos. It is going to be an interesting challenge for everyone.”
—Tim Shepherd, director, Fortuna Investments and co-founder, Silver Heritage Group, on the conspicuous absence of Japanese gamblers at Asia casinos
‘If license holders can’t partner with multiple online sports betting suppliers, there will be less competition in the market, and casinos will have less ability to target different market demographics.”
—Commentary in Legal Sports Report criticizing Pennsylvania’s preliminary regulation restricting sports betting to one “skin,” or domain, per licensee, a provision contrary to the online gaming law that was pushed by Penn National Gaming
“This selling off of the country is akin to treason.”
—Yukio Edano, leader of the Japan’s Constitutional Democratic Party and a staunch opponent of international IRs in the country
“This is something that’s been a $400 billion illegal business for so many years with offshore companies and bookies and mob-related ties. I’m sure they’ve been concerned about integrity for years. I don’t think they are going to have to spend a dime more to preserve integrity in the legal environment than they’ve done all along in the illegal environment. I think it’s all business at this point in time.”
—Dennis Drazen, spokesman for Monmouth Park Racetrack in New Jersey which opened the state’s first legal sports book to LegalSportsReport on the professional sports league lobbying for an “integrity fee” from state sports books
“The German report paints a troubling picture of government that didn’t respond effectively to pervasive money laundering in B.C. casinos. German found they didn’t effectively detect, prevent or prosecute it — they turned a blind eye to it.”
—British Columbia Attorney General David Eby on the Peter German report on money laundering at the province’s casinos
“I’m troubled that Congress is acting like a zoning board, micromanaging the affairs of residents 3,000 miles away. And I find it just plain wrong that through special interest meddling, Washington would open the door to unregulated development in one of California ’s most special places.”
—Pete Wilson, former governor of California, criticizing a bill by Rep. Doug LaMalfa that would put 1,427 acres into trust for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, owners of the Chumash Casino & Resort, and block any court challenges
“You are walking into an agency that has lacked the leadership, that has lacked the discipline. We really do need you to shake it up.”
—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, commenting on the arrival of Tara Sweeney, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
