“Initially many believed that the visitation restrictions would only last a few months, so instead of retooling their business models, they opted to sweat it out in the hope that visitors would return. These enterprises quickly burned through their cash reserves and many have been forced to shut down.”
—Eric Coskun, director of casino operations, IGamiX Management & Consulting, on the devastating effect of the pandemic on small-to-medium-sized enterprises in Macau
“Prior to the takeover, we were optimistic on the company’s growth following the recovery from the pandemic. Though we continue with our desire to keep the business afloat, the future of Okada is now uncertain.”
—Michiaki Satate, ousted chairman of Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment Inc., which operates Okada Manila. Former TRLEI boss Kazuo Okada, ejected in 2017 on fraud charges, was recently reinstalled as head in a forcible takeover
“All employees in the gaming industry, hotels and related industries have expressed great concern and think the problem is very serious.”
—Cloee Chao, Macau labor activist, expressing concern that once gaming concessionaires get their new licenses, they will introduce pay cuts and layoffs
“Our corporate purpose to transform gambling by being a trusted source of entertainment that contributes positively to society sits at the heart of our ‘Unibet Impact’ program which is solely dedicated to foster a safer and more responsible online gambling industry.”
—Anne-Jaap Snijders, chief commercial officer, Kindred Group, upon the entry of Kindred into the Netherlands regulated market with its flagship brand Unibet
“By welcoming back international business and leisure travelers, the American gaming industry and our nation’s hospitality sector can fully recover. This move puts the United States on equal footing with other countries and will provide a major boost to our nation’s travel and hospitality industries.”
—Bill Miller, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association, commenting on the lifting of the pre-departure testing COVID-19 requirements for international air travelers to the United States
