“When Mainland China began to ramp up its anti-corruption efforts in 2014, many corrupt officials, including some state-owned enterprise leaders, were afraid to gamble in Macau, which had a direct and seriously negative impact on Macau’s VIP gaming revenue.”
—Study on China’s VIP crackdown, which implicates government officials for much of the high-roller gambling in Macau
“I will not bow down to intimidation, and I will not back off from this legal battle. This fight isn’t over.”
—Kazuo Okada, billionaire casino magnate, who was arrested last week in the Philippines on charges he illegally seized control of the Okada Manila IR in May
“The epidemic is a big test. If the epidemic can be prevented, the economy can be stabilized, people’s lives can be safe and secure, and economic and social development can be smooth and healthy.”
—People’s Daily, the publication of the Chinese Communist Party, on the rationale behind the country’s rigid zero-Covid policy
“It makes me angry that they can treat people in such an inhumane way. I have a new appreciation for people who are incarcerated.”
—Andrew, a visitor to Macau who spent 24 days in quarantine after a relative tested positive for Covid
“The government’s request is clearly out of step with the actual situation, as the bidding companies are not expecting too much return on their investment in an uncertain economic environment.”
—Eilo Wing-Yat Yu, associate professor, University of Macau, who says the Macau government is “out of touch” by asking concessionaires to invest heavily in non-gaming in a weakened economy
“A single customer view could dramatically help reduce harm and that is why we will not accept progress at the pace of the slowest on this work either.”
—Andrew Rhodes, the chief executive officer of the U.K. Gambling Commission, on trials of a single customer view system that could monitor players’ activities across multiple properties and operators
“It’s very simple for me, it’s about building a sustainable business. We don’t want customers for 10 minutes; we want them for 10 years No one wants to benefit from others’ misfortune.”
—Conor Grant, chief executive for the U.K. and Irish Division of Flutter Entertainment, on why the subsidiary Paddy Power is spending more than €100 million annually on safer gaming measures
