“The NFL and its teams have successfully leveraged the increased ability to sign betting and gambling partners. It allowed the league to defy the odds and increase sponsorship revenue by a decent margin coming off a season of declining ratings in 2017-18 and no new stadiums opening in 2018/19.”
—Peter Laatz, global managing director of sponsorship consultant IEG, on the National Football League’s decision to add partnerships with gaming operators to its sponsorship revenue
“The hope that the Pansy Ho-Fok alliance can change the direction of SJM is just that at this stage—‘hope’. There remain strong imbedded influences in the SJM organization that leave us skeptical that real solid changes can manifest.”
—Sanford C. Bernstein, brokerage, in an analysts’ note on the Pansy Ho’s growing influence on Macau gaming operator SJM Holdings
“The bridge is a game-changer. The bridge makes it easier for people to get over and back over time. It runs all night. You don’t have to worry about a boat.”
—Rob Goldstein, president and COO, Las Vegas Sands Corp., on the positive impact on Macau casinos of the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge
“They are committed. From a business perspective, more options means that we can demand something great.”
—Ichiro Matsui, governor, Osaka Prefecture, on the number of suitors swarming to build one of Japan’s first integrated resort in the region
“The huge Chinese investment in Preah Sihanouk province has no benefits for the poor.”
—Sun Sophat, representative of Sihanoukville’s Spean Chheah community, which objects to the influx of Chinese development in the Cambodian city
“It is a diamond and golden chance for all. They bring money to invest because they see our potential.”
—Yun Min, governor of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on the massive influx of Chinese investment
“Notably, one key shareholder not in the agreement is Angela Leong.”
—Deutsche Bank, in a note about Pansy Ho’s takeover of SJM Holdings. Lawmaker Leong is the fourth wife of Ho’s father, casino giant Stanley Ho
“There is a paucity of attractions for non-gambling tourists, and government efforts to encourage economic diversification face formidable constraints.”
—Heritage Foundation, in its 2019 Index of Economic Freedom report. The U.S. think tank gave Macau a clean bill of “fiscal health” and pointed out room for improvement
“Gaming seems to be the sunrise industry now in Asia.”
—Andrea Domingo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chief, who is urging President Rodrigo Duterte to ease his restrictions on casino development
“Change is long overdue and while it will take years upon years to fix SJM’s operations, this could be the starting point.”
—Anonymous source, who told Inside Asian Gaming that the shift in control of Macau casino operator SJM Holdings is the prelude to positive change
“Most of our students are men with normal, salaried jobs, but there are many working women and housewives enrolled in the school as a whole. There is also one high school student and one junior high school student in seventh grade.”
—Takafumi Maekawa, director, Japan Casino Academy, which opened in 2014, two years before the country’s government legalized casino gaming
“Some people think Japanese high rollers may not come to Korea, but Japanese high rollers may be very cautious about their playing. I think Japanese high rollers won’t go to their local casino. Our VIP clients in Japan will still come to Korea.”
—Park Pyung-yong, president and CEO, Paradise Group, who is hedging his bets by considering an IR partnership with Japan’s Sega Sammy
“The fact is, Tribal Winds is a shovel-ready project that will create much-needed jobs and revenue for our state, as soon as we are approved to break ground.”
—Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council chairman, on the viability of his tribe’s venture with the Mohegan tribe to build a casino in East Windsor, Connecticut
“We continue to grow the market with more than 15,000 visitors a day coming to our resort. We have a robust schedule of events and promotions planned for 2019 and look forward to welcoming many more guests in the months ahead.”
—Michael Mathis, president and chief operating officer of MGM Springfield, which opened in August
“Expanding Massachusetts’ developing gaming industry to include wagering on professional sports is an opportunity for Massachusetts to invest in local aid while remaining competitive with many other states pursuing similar regulations.”
—Charlie Baker, governor of Massachusetts, introducing a sports book bill
“The world has changed with fantasy sports, sports betting, casinos and online lottery in neighboring states,” Goldberg said last week. “We do not want to go the way of Sears or Toys R Us.”
—Deborah Goldberg, state treasurer of Massachusetts, calling for online lottery sales
