“I simply cannot let my involvement in these critical deliberations be used by others to hamper the Commission’s ability to do its work, or to undermine the confidence of the public in that work.”
–Stephen Crosby in a letter to his staff noting his resignation as chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission
“With so much litigation flying, it’s bound to make some observers wonder whether someone isn’t trying to destroy the company despite its many successes and history of profitability.”
—John L. Smith, CDC Gaming Reports, remarking on the many challenges facing Wynn Resorts
“We wanted to make sure that anyone who got that valuable monopolistic license would be of the highest quality character.”
— Former Attorney General Martha Coakley of Massachusetts, who represents the Mohegans who are suing, urging that Wynn Resorts’ license to operate a casino in the Bay State be revoked
“I don’t think Macau can reasonably expect to reach 60 percent like Las Vegas, but I think 40 percent non-gaming is the goal in the mid-term.”
—Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Macao Government Tourism Office, on the mandate for Macau casino operators to generate more revenue from non-gaming attractions
“There’s a certain cultural characteristic of the Filipinos, the ‘Suki’ mentality. They’re so used to dealing with these people, the personalized service, the ‘hi, hello.’ They know each other’s first names. Those are what the IRs will never be able to take from PAGCOR.”
—Andrea Domingo, chairwoman and CEO, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., explaining that PAGCOR doesn’t compete in size and scale with integrated resorts, but in friendliness and familiarity
“The Peninsula attracts the hardcore, old-fashioned, value-conscious gamblers who prefer the proximity to the range of dining, shopping and entertainment amenities. Cotai attracts more status-conscious and family-oriented clients.”
—Ben Lee, managing partner, iGamix, who believes casinos on the Macau Peninsula, while older, have staying power
“I suggest, at this point, in the interests of fair play, Canada’s NHL teams should fight back by immediately selling sponsorships to newly legalized marijuana companies. The marketing campaign writes itself: ‘When the Winnipeg Jets want to fly higher, they choose only the finest sensimilla.’ Preposterous? Tell me how it would be any different than the incestuous relationship Canada’s hockey teams have had forever with the beer companies.”
—Commentator Paul Wiecek, in a column for the Winnipeg Free Press predicting that sports-betting sponsorships like those signed by the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights hockey teams will put teams in Canada, where sports betting is illegal, at a disadvantage
