“It is being said that hosting an IR is about economic revitalization and the promotion of tourism, but is gambling really going to become our prefecture’s economic policy?”
—Excerpt from a letter to Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura from the anti-casino group called the Stop Casino! Prefectural Citizens Network
“We will not allow these venues to be arenas of crime that claim people’s lives.”
—Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo prime minister, who supported the shutdown of casinos after two workers were killed in separate robberies
“We can’t allow casinos that feed crime and gambling to determine the fate of individuals and our families.”
—Avdullah Hoti, Democratic League of Kosovo, also on board with a proposed 10-year ban on casinos in the country
“We see with great joy the engagement of this front, it is a very strong one.”
—Teté Bezerra, former Brazilian congresswoman, who anticipates that the proposal for legal casinos in the country will soon go to a vote
“My main thing is to make sure that we’re just responsible with it, and we think it through. Short-term success wouldn’t actually be the goal—we should make sure we do it well for the long term. I think one of the main things that’s being talked about is the integrity of the game.”
—Mark Davis, owner of the Las Vegas-bound Oakland Raiders, commenting to Yahoo Sports that the National Football League should move cautiously on embracing legalized sports betting
“Online gaming has taken off exponentially in recent years, be it playing themselves or watching other gamers. As this raises expectations for performance and security, it is of utmost importance that gaming platforms not only focus on creating engaging content but also ensure they deliver highest-quality online experiences that keep gamers playing longer and coming back for more.”
—Jaheer Abbas, regional director for South East Asia and India at Limelight Networks on the company’s new report that found Singaporeans spend more time playing video games and watching eSports than they do watching regular TV broadcasts
“It’s jobs. It’s the ability to watch economic growth. There’ll be a building, obviously that will take place, that will help our laborers, and I think it’s a real plus all the way around. It’s a little late in coming, but hey, it’s never too late.”
— Lou D’Allesandro, New Hampshire state senator, touting his bill that would create two casinos in the Granite State
“Today, betting on sports events is categorically illegal in New Hampshire, but we all know that many people in New Hampshire and throughout the country are engaging in sports betting notwithstanding.”
—Richard Ames, a state representative in New Hampshire, supporting a bill that would allow sports betting
“It’s not just the organized crime world where murder is part of doing business. There are communities that suffer from this. It’s also the drug money. The fentanyl. How many bodies have piled up?”
— Sandy Garossino, a former British Columbia prosecutor, calling for a public inquiry into a death linked to casino money laundering
