“I recall walking through the Waterfront Casino in Manila about a decade ago and spying a Manny Pacquiao-themed slot machine—and it was a well-worn slot machine at that.”
—Andrew Klebanow, founder, C3 Gaming, who describes Philippine presidential candidate and ex-boxer Manny Pacquiao as a “pro-gaming guy”
“The reason I’m optimistic about Macau is because I cannot find any better place.”
—Edmund Loi, associate professor, Macao Polytechnic Institute, who says Macau is still the world’s most promising gaming market despite the scourge of Covid-19
“People in the shops care about integrity, and if you lose the faith the customer has in the operator, the sport or the medium, that faith could be lost very quickly.”
—Bill South, board member, International Betting Integrity Association, who says integrity in sports betting is pivotal to the industry’s success
“It is my duty to put everything I have into taking on the remaining issues, bringing the seeds I’ve planted to bud and blossom and then returning the fruit to the people of Nagasaki.”
—Hodo Nakamura, governor of Nagasaki, Japan supports Nagasaki’s IR plan, basically announcing he is running for reelection in February
“We are following closely the troubling arrests of NagaWorld union members for their peaceful expression and urge authorities to hear citizens, not silence them. Freedoms of speech, assembly and association are guaranteed in the Cambodian constitution.”
—U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, in a tweet expressing concern over the arrests of striking workers outside of NagaWorld in a dispute over layoffs and severance
“This chapter needs to be closed and we need to move on.”
—Robert Restaino, mayor, Niagara Falls, on the Seneca Nation’s refusal to contribute casino revenues to Niagara Falls, two other cities and New York State
“He’s an over-the-top guy. I expect over the top.”
—Marty Small Sr., mayor, Atlantic City, describing developer Bart Blatstein, who is developing a water park at the former Showboat Casino
“Are you telling us that when he leaves the company, he will no longer be held accountable personally for any acts that occurred during that time period?”
—Lidia Stiglich, justice, Nevada Supreme Court, on a lawyer’s contention that former casino king Steve Wynn is no longer accountable to the state gaming board
“There are a lot of religious groups that don’t like gambling. Obviously, we’ve got lottery here, which is contradictory. Until the state needs money, I don’t think there’ll be much of a push for sports betting or casinos. If I had to bet the over/under, I’d bet over 10 years.”
—Jim “Mattress Mack” Mclinvale, noted Texas gambler, on chances that sports betting will become legal in the Lone Star State
“This is a momentous day for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. While the injustices inflicted upon us cannot be erased, we can look to the future — a future of freedom, a future of prosperity, and a future of peace.”
—Brian Weeden, chairman, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, on a federal decision restoring the tribe’s right to put land into trust for a Massachusetts casino
“A lot of it has to do with Everi increasingly becoming a player in the market and getting more attention. I think a lot of these things inevitably follow.”
—Kate Lowenhar-Fisher, Everi general counsel, on a suit filed by Sightline Payments alleging that Everi is using patented technology developed by Sightline.
