“We assume Crown Resorts retains its Melbourne casino license under supervision. This is not a political statement but rather a financial one: we think the Victorian government may offer a path for redemption.”
—Larry Gandler and Bradley Beckett, analysts, on the likely outcome of an investigation of Crown Resorts in Melbourne
“There are many people who support casinos, betting their lives, but I will not allow a casino in Yokohama. I will never allow it. If a casino happens, I will commit seppuku and die on its opening day.”
—Yukio Fujiki, the influential Don of Yokohama, who pledges to wield his considerable political influence to prevent an integrated resort in the Japanese city
“The days of New York state losing casino money to other states is over. I’ve officially declared it over.”
—Kathy Hochul, lieutenant governor of New York and likely successor to Andrew Cuomo, speaking at the 2018 opening of Resorts World Catskills
“As much as parents like to spend money on their kids, whether in Orlando and other locations, I don’t think anybody’s ever spent $10,000 on a bottle of apple juice.”
—Ed Pitoniak, CEO of real estate investment trust VICI, on why he prefers adult-style Vegas tourism to kiddie-style Disney tourism
“My nine-year-old can’t be vaccinated, and I do not want to bring the virus home to him.”
—Chris Moneymaker, former World Series of Poker main event winner, who won’t travel to Nevada for WSOP events this year because of rising Covid-19 rates
“Casino staff numbers and also the number of patrons have displayed a sharp plunge at casinos. It is as if the situation has returned to the period right after the first lockdown last year.”
—Cloee Chao, president, New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association, on employment uncertainty among Macau casino workers
“There will be no advertising in the stadiums, there will be no advertising on the shirts, there will be no celebrities promoting betting houses and games of chance, and there will be no advertisements on the radio, on television or in any type of advertising medium.”
— Alberto Garzon, Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, warning that all forms of sports advertising will soon be banned
“We know competitors have very deep pockets and in order to compete with them, we need the same thing. We have no shortage of investor interest.”
—Mark Thomas, CEO and founder of ZenSports on his startup’s interest in raising money to further expand its footprint in Nevada
