“But will Californians watching state after state get legal sports betting vote no on the only option presented for them to have it?”
—Brianne Doura, legislative director for National Council on Problem Gambling on efforts by California’s gaming tribes to legalize sports betting
“Illegal sports betting is widespread. It’s critical that we bring it out of the shadows to make it safer & generate funds for education. The Legislature’s job is to stand up for the public interest and ensure California adopts the best possible model.”
—California State Senator Bill Dodd, arguing for a bill that would legalize sports betting in the Golden State
“Rather than maybe go for a whole hog, let’s find places where we think we can get some agreement. I’d like a global agreement. I’d like to solve everything for world peace. But in the meantime, I’m going to take what I can get.”
—Ned Lamont, governor of Connecticut, discussing his goals for a simple agreement with his state’s gaming tribes on sports betting and online lottery
“I spent 12 years in Congress and this has always been a very cursed issue. I consider that now the discussion is more mature. There is a clear loss of currency for the country. In my understanding it is time for Brazil to try the casino opening. I think it has to be done prudently, even to evaluate over time. But it is necessary to introduce.”
—Otávio Leite, tourism secretary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the planned introduction of casinos in the South American country
“I believe that Brazil is behind in comparison to the world in several issues, but, regarding the gambling, we are living a hypocrisy, because the market already exists.”
—Alexandre Maier, co-founder, Aposta Certa (Right Bet), a social media site designed to promote gaming in Brazil
“Not everything is going to be applicable to Japan, but it’s a good framework to get started. I think Japan will be as strict. I think there are certain issues they’ll be stricter on.”
—Brendan Bussmann, Global Market Advisors, on how Japan is using Nevada’s gaming regulatory structure as a model for its own
“They want our industry to expand to their market. And I hope we’re wanting to do that. We have an industry that is slowly regressing; it’s slowly going down in overall numbers. Here’s a country saying, please come, please help us, please be a part of our industry.”
—Scott Rasmussen, attorney, Cooper Levenson, on Japan’s request for advice from U.S. gaming operators as it prepares to launch its own industry
“It is something you truly will have to see to believe.”
—Casino entrepreneur Derek Stevens on the new $32 million light and sound canopy above the Fremont Street Experience
“The Philippines is becoming a haven for Chinese criminals and criminal syndicates. China is ready to crack down on POGOs, it’s the Philippines that’s turning a blind eye.”
—Teresita Ang-See, chairwoman, Philippines watchdog agency Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order, on a spate of crime, including kidnappings, linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)
“These guys will come in, find a broker, lease a place, set up and operate without a permit. The visa upon arrival is a really big loophole. We need to cancel that procedure and go back to the old way where they apply in our Philippine embassy [in China] and there is vetting.”
—Sherwin Gatchalian, Philippine senator, on the reported proliferation of unlicensed offshore gaming operators in the country
“A bet is a commercial arrangement between two willing parties and there is no statutory right to bet. In the same way that a customer can decide whether or not they wish to place a bet, a gambling business is also free to decide who they accept bets from, and on what terms, to manage their business and financial liabilities, just as an insurance company may do when setting premiums.”
—Bet365, in a statement refuting claims that its business model, which purportedly bans skilled players, is unfair
“I can only say that it is a real shame. Frankly, I just have this feeling of, ‘Why?’”
—Hirofumi Iwakura, mayor of Tomakomai City, Japan, on the city government’s decision to opt out of the integrated resort bidding
“The Gaming Board has chosen to do the bidding of a competing terminal operator in their complicit effort to destroy Gold Rush, despite its record of transparency and compliance.”
—Randall Samborn, spokesman for Illinois gaming operator Rich Heidner, on allegations his boss made a $5 million “illegal inducement” to a gambling parlor chain that planned to remove Heidner’s machines
