“Las Vegas will come back stronger than it’s ever been. I think we just have to accept that we’re not in charge of the timing. International travel is obviously an important piece. Getting back to hero from zero will happen.”
—Andre Carrier, chief operating officer of Eureka Casinos in Mesquite, Southern Nevada on the future of the industry post-Covid
“The challenges that puts on people in an isolated situation … I don’t think any amount of mental health support is going to address that, when people are alone, gambling money away.”
—Robert Hendersen, member of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly, criticizing the potential social risks of online gaming, which the Atlantic Lottery Corp. introduced earlier this year
“This is the deepest trough the European land-based casino industry has ever experienced. The financial impact of the pandemic on the land-based casino sector has been extreme, and these numbers show the economic realities of Covid-19 on the European land-based casino sector.”
—Per Jaldung, chairman of the European Casino Association, on the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on European gaming operations
“Experience shows us that online gambling monopolies inevitably fail, and Norway should look to Denmark and Sweden where multi-licensing—while not perfect—proved to be a much more optimum model.”
—Maarten Haijer, European Gaming and Betting Association, on the migration of Norwegian players to illegal online betting markets from the two state-run state providers
“It has been very frustrating, candidly, to hear commentary that the government was disinterested in the subject—or the minister responsible was disinterested in the subject—because fiscal considerations took precedence. That’s just not true. I’ve had people on the phone in the last two years in tears because of the suggestion that that’s what happened.”
—Mike de Jong, ex-British Columbia finance minister, denying allegations by the Cullen Commission that lawmakers deliberately ignored casino money laundering
“Some analysts were speculating that it might take eight months to two years, but certainly two years is ridiculous. If they can’t get to suitability within two years, then we’ve got a real problem.”
—Philip Crawford, New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, on Crown Resorts’ efforts to prove it is suitable to hold an NSW gaming license
“I don’t think there’s any amount of mental health supports that are going to address that, when people are alone, gambling money away.”
—Robert Henderson, Prince Edward Island MLA, criticizing online gaming in British Columbia for allegedly overlooking the potential for harm of iGaming in the pandemic
“Our perspective on this is that the most irresponsible thing to do is nothing while these offshore illegal operators are taking money from Atlantic Canadians. Our citizens are already playing and frankly, for the well-being of Atlantic Canadians, including Islanders, we just want to provide a safe and regulated alternative.”
—Patrick Daigle, president and interim CEO, Atlantic Lotto, refuting charges that online gaming poses a threat to BC residents
“It was so emotional. We’ve been waiting 400 days for this to happen. All I can say is I feel relief, and I went through a lot of happy emotions. … I saw a lot of tears in the eyes of our people that were tears of joy.”
—Daniel Lamarre, CEO, Cirque du Soleil, on the return of Cirque shows to Las Vegas this summer
“I think it sends the message to everybody in the region that the casinos are back up and running, and they need staff, and we have people coming today getting hired.”
—Jim Plousis, New Jersey Casino Control Commission, on an Atlantic City job fair that hopes to employ 1,800 veterans in local casinos. “It’s the least we can do to give them an opportunity to get gainful employment,” he said
“Since hospitality workers were most impacted during Covid, now potential employees are saying, “If I go back to hospitality I could lose my job the minute there’s another shutdown.’”
—Geoff Wohlsen, gaming industry consultant on the dearth of applicants for hospitality jobs in Australia
“In the end only the black market profits from this. No other country in Europe taxes the stakes in virtual slot machine games…In this way, Germany becomes a wrong-way driver in tax policy.”
—Mathias Dahms, president, DSWV, the German sports betting association, on what he considers onerous and counterproductive iGaming taxes
“We are taking baby step to reopen. Everyone around the country knows how hard Navajo Nation was hit. Visitors, I just ask for your patience and consideration. We are focusing on our Navajo citizens. We will reopen but we are doing this very slowly.”
—Jonathan Nez, president, Navajo Nation, on the slow return to business. Some businesses have opened at half-capacity, but casinos are closed to all but residents
“Gambling and smoking seemed to go hand in hand, but what we found out was 70 percent of our clientele was in favor of us going smoke-free.”
—Missy Tracy, municipal relations, Ho-Chunk Casino Madison in Wisconsin on going smoke-free in 2015. Tracy said traffic went down, but coin-in went up
“It is logical to have the same basic requirements for the marketing of games as on the marketing of alcohol based on the risks associated with the products.”
—Swedish Gambling Inspectorate (Spelinspektionen) on recommended limits on gaming ads in the country
