“I’m not going to respond to the gossip. It’s what you’re publishing in the media, what you’re speculating about. We as the government are not going to respond until the results of the gambling tender are announced.”
—Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s chief executive, who refused to hint about likely winners of the city’s gaming concession retender
“We continue to expect all six incumbents to have their licenses renewed, while the only feasible scenario for Genting would be via equity investments or via a joint venture structure.”
—DS Kim, JP Morgan gaming analyst, speculating on the outcome of Macau’s gaming license retender, with results expected by the end of the year
“Today it is an operation in Cambodia, but tomorrow a gang under pressure uproots and shifts to Myanmar, Laos or the Philippines—this has happened.”
—Jeremy Douglas, U.N. Office for Drugs and Crime, who says illegal casinos that traffic in foreign workers may move from Cambodia to other jurisdictions and continue operating
“The reality is, we still have challenges, but it’s a combination of either finding different ways to do things or doing things with different things, or just not even noticing it anymore because it’s normal now. We just have to be more patient and plan things further out.”
—Steve Neely, general manager of California’s Rolling Hills Casino, on a possible imminent end to pandemic-induced supply-chain issues in the industry in comments to PlayUSA
“It is a priority for us to move towards leaner and more efficient processes, to remove unnecessary bureaucracy which introduces burdens on the industry without providing added value, and to become more effective in achieving our regulatory priorities.”
—Carl Brincat, Malta Gaming Authority chief executive officer on new regulatory changes anticipated to deal with virtual tokens, virtual financial assets and Innovative Technology Arrangements
“We’re not strangers to this kind of start-and-stop scenario.”
—Paul Hannon, PointsBet’s senior vice president of corporate development, speaking about the Maryland Lottery making all the approved licensees go through a demonstration phase before going live with sports betting
“They are absolutely welcome, and more than that they’re absolutely crucial to us being able to make real progress.
—Cassie Stratford, president of Global Gaming Women, explaining that while there is a push to involve women from outside the U.S., the organization, participation from men is important
