“This is really going to be bad news for other convention markets.”
—Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International chairman, confident the Las Vegas Convention Center remodel will be a boon against competitors.
“I would love to hear his ideas for Atlantic City. We all want to see Atlantic City move along on the path to success and increase its revenue. We want to see more investment in the Caesars properties, as well as all of the properties on the Boardwalk and in Atlantic City.”
—New Jersey Casino Control Commission Chairman Matthew Levinson, after the commission approved Mark Frissora as the new CEO of Caesars Entertainment
“Atlantic City reminds me of Glasgow. There’s something raw about Atlantic City.”
—Gordon Ramsey, celebrity chef, to the Press of Atlantic City at the opening of his new Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill at Caesars Atlantic City
“A repeal would discourage other businesses from investing in Idaho for fear of having the rug pulled out from under their feet. Don’t forget the agricultural importance of the industry and the enormous negative impact that comes with the repeal.”
—Senator Bob Nonini of Idaho, opposing a bill that would repeal the law that allows the state’s three racetracks to deploy “instant racing” machines
“I cannot escape the fact that these are electronic simulations of slot machines. I cannot escape that these machines don’t appear to be allowed under the Idaho Constitution. I sympathize with the impact that that has with Idaho racing, I cannot escape it.”
—Senator Eliot Werk, an Idaho lawmaker who voted last week to repeal “instant racing” machines at the state’s three racetracks
“At a time when our sister state is gearing up, the question is, can we be competitive with Massachusetts, with Rhode Island? I say absolutely.”
—Senator Lou D’Allesandro, remarking on the question of whether New Hampshire casinos could compete with casinos in neighboring states
“The societal costs of gambling are high. No community says that casinos make neighborhoods safer with less crime and less drugs.”
—Steve Duprey of Casino Free NH, who opposes a bill in the legislature that would allow two casinos in New Hampshire
“There’s got to be a lot of give and take on all our parts. There will be some things we don’t like.”
—Bo Mazzetti, chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, calling for compromise on a online poker bill in California
“What is important is whether this process in the gaming industry is going to help Macau to become a world tourism and leisure center, as well as whether the industry is developing healthily. I think these are what people should pay attention to.”
?Lionel Leong, Macau’s secretary for Economy and Finance, on the evolution of the world’s dominant gaming location
“Our theory is that there is a correlation between the hold rate in mass and the smoking ban, because the casino hold rate in mass has always been highly correlated to the length of play. And with players having to go outside or go to smoking lounges to smoke, I think inevitably there will be an impact.”
?Lawrence Ho, co-chairman and CEO, Melco Crown, on the planned full smoking ban in Macau casinos. Ho supports what he calls “airport-style smoking lounges” in the casinos
“My Lords, I am a fairly even-minded person, but we are dealing with a question where, in 2000, there were no FOBTs and, by 2010, there were 30,000 FOBTs. That is the situation that this government now seek to address. The deputy leader of the noble Lord’s party has admitted that what happened was a mistake, and we are now dealing with that.”
?John Gardiner, Britain’s House of Lords, on the rapid proliferation of FOBTs (called “the crack cocaine of gambling”) in the UK
“My Lords, will the minister confirm that, despite the new measures, it will still be possible for a gambler to spend £100 every 20 seconds? What further inducement could one give to people who have social difficulties and who are problem gamblers than to make it so easy to lose so much money?”
?Alf Dubs, Britain’s House of Lords, in a legislative debate about the dangers of FOBTs
“I have no promises to make today. I do wish the people of Las Vegas good luck in this venture and we will be interested in seeing the results.”
—Gary Bettman, National Hockey League Commissioner speaking on whether or not Las Vegas will be awarded an expansion team.
“I am taking a new approach with how to regulate it. It has been a unique exercise to say the very least. We are taking a lot of feedback.”
—Tyson Larson, Nebraska politician, who recently wrote a bill to legalize poker in his state, which currently bans all games of chance.
“I don’t like expanding gambling, and I do not believe it’s appropriate to divert profits from the education fund.”
—Shap Smith, Vermont, House Speaker, on the recent permission of video gambling machines in 25 Vermont bars and other establishments.
