“In one sense you are a competitor, but in other ways you are also a colleague-operator, where both are trying to accomplish the same thing: create an attractive destination; offer a quality product; offer entertainment and the kind of services that will make us competitive with other areas and other regions.”
—Tim McNally, chairman, NagaCorp, on the need for a cluster of casinos in Russia’s Primorye gaming zone. Currently only one gaming resort is open there
“I think the key is really in macro-economics and geopolitics. Assuming the U.S.-China trade war, that there will be a Phase I resolution to it, I think that will give a lot of confidence to the travelling consumer that there is an end to this thing, an improved economy and a stabilization of the renminbi. I think these are all positive impacts for Macau in the coming year.”
—Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO, Melco Resorts, who looks to improved operating conditions for Macau’s operators in 2020
“In Danske Spil we will only bet with adults. Compliance with age limits has long been a focus area for us, and with the playing card we have an important and powerful tool in hand. Gambling is for adults and not for children.”
—Susanne Mørch Koch, CEO, Danske Spil, on newly established ID cards designed to keep youngsters from gambling
“It felt like a used car salesman is telling me I need a vehicle, and I’m saying, ‘No, I don’t. I have a good vehicle.’”
—Gary Batton, chief, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, on Governor Gary Stitt’s push to rewrite the state tribes’ gaming compact. The tribes say the compact automatically renews in 2020; Stitt says it expires
“We have been conducting a careful evaluation of multiple locations, and have been an active and willing partner with many cities, prefectures and government agencies.”
—Francis Lui, vice chairman, Galaxy Entertainment Group, which has responded to Requests for Concept (RFC) or Requests for Information (RFI) in eight Japanese prefectures and cities, and is currently preparing a ninth
“The tribal gaming industry represents an American success story.”
—Sequoyah Simermeyer, newly appointed chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, in a statement made during his confirmation hearing
“Will I legalize casinos in Brazil? Can you believe such a lie? We know that the casino here in Brazil would be a big laundromat, would be used to launder money and also to destroy families. A lot of people would indulge in gaming.”
—Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil, in a statement made during his 2018 election campaign
“People don’t talk until they’ve hit rock bottom.”
—Sarah Campagnolo, Problem Gambling Foundation, New Zealand, who says up to 80 percent of problem gamblers don’t get help “because of the shame”
“One of the things we think we’re going to see from a geopolitical standpoint—and we’re already seeing the noises coming through—is China really not liking online gambling.”
—Paul Leyland, Regulus Partners, in a keynote speech at the KPMG Gaming eSummit in Malta. Leyland says China could exert pressure on iGaming around the world in the coming year
“The Poarch Creek offered us a quid pro quo. They offered Alabama $1 billion if we would give them a monopoly of gambling in Alabama. Quid pro quo in Alabama is just not reasonable. We don’t need to give anybody a monopoly on any issue where there’s competition and where we can get a better deal for the state of Alabama.”
—Gerald Dial, executive director, Poarch Creek Accountability Now, which opposes the tribe’s bid for exclusive rights to Class III gaming in Alabama
“Systems like PlayOn, that, according to the company itself, are designed to increase time and money players spend at the table, inherently are likely to negatively impact individuals with gambling problems.”
—Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, on the PlayOn system by Automated Cash Solutions, which allows players to withdraw money from accounts in the form of chips fight at the table, currently on test at Red Rock Resort and Casino
“It’s great to see another state legalize sports betting. Providing a licensed and regulated alternative to the black market creates jobs and raises vital tax revenue. I think we’ll see more states choosing this path in the months and years ahead.”
—Joe Asher, chief executive officer of William Hill, commenting on the passage by Colorado voters of Prop. DD, which legalizes sports betting in the Centennial state
“Realistically, only the largest companies with the deepest pockets have chances of succeeding.”
—Chris Grove, an analyst with Eilers & Krejcik Gaming who opined about who will succeed in operating sportsbooks in an era of consolidation.
