“Every day, we see more and more evidence that our rationale for the acquisition is tremendous and that the combination has created a company that is distinctly differentiated from any other.”
—Global Cash Access CEO Ram Chary, to Casino City Times on his company’s acquisition last year of Texas-based slot manufacturer Multimedia Games
“It’s 1 percent business travel into this market and 99 percent leisure. We want to see the business traveler introduced here in a meaningful way.”
—Michael Massari, senior vice president of Caesar Entertainment, commenting to the Associated Press on the operator’s hopes to use the half-built $126 million conference center at Harrah’s Atlantic city will capture more of the Northeast meetings market, of which Atlantic City currently controls only 1 percent
“I think REITs make a lot of sense for shopping malls, but casinos are in an industry that requires a high amount of maintenance. Once they are split off, then the two companies have different objectives.”
—Wall Street gaming analyst Jason Ader, on the possible negative long-term effects of placing gaming properties in real estate investment trusts, subject to negative impacts on real estate values as interest rates rise
“You may have some doubts as to what I’ve been doing because of the reports in the press, including Reuters and Asahi Shimbun. These are all misunderstandings. They portray me as if I’m a bad person but that’s not the case.”
?Kazuo Okada, casino magnate and chairman of Universal Entertainment, on allegations of bribery in connection with his Manila casino project
“Approximately 20 percent of the content will be devoted to local news and events in Hong Kong and Macau.Our Chinese audience has grown enormously through cn.NYTimes.com, and we are excited to complement our digital offerings by bringing high-quality coverage of world affairs, business and culture to our Chinese readers in print.”
?Craig Smith, managing director, New York Times, on the publication’s new Chinese monthly
“Despite the difficult and uncertain circumstances we face, we have made a decision to provide a five percent increase in the basic salary for all of our non-management colleagues in Macau. Our people have shown, and continue to show, dedication and commitment to our company, and we thank them for their loyal service.”
?Lawrence Ho, co-chairman and CEO, Melco Crown Entertainment, announcing a 5 percent pay raise for non-management casino employees in Macau
“The VIP room employees really don’t dare to seek help from the bureau, because they fear that once the bureau intervenes, other VIP rooms won’t hire them anymore. So they’d rather look for another job on their own.”
?Ieong Man Teng, Macau union chief, on the reported loss of some 1,000 jobs in the city’s VIP rooms
“Even though the economy has faced major difficulties and challenges, the overall fundamentals of the economy are good. The pace of the economic growth has slowed, prompting us to accelerate economic diversification.”
?Fernando Chui Sai On, Macau chief executive, who predicts the gaming industry will drop 32 percent this year
“I don’t like casinos, but the world has changed and if we don’t have an integrated resort like the ones in Las Vegas, we’ll lose. So let’s go. Let’s try and still keep it safe and mafia-free and prostitution-free and money-laundering free. Can we do it? I’m not sure, but we’re going to give it a good try.”
?A statement made in a 2007 interview with the New York Timesby Lee Kuan Yew, politician and former prime minister of Singapore, who passed away March 23 in Outram
“Previously, it was estimated that in 2020 the Chinese middle class would be 400 million people. Now, predictions are that the Chinese middle class will be around 700 million people in 2020. We are very confident because we have a very secure client base.”
?Francis Lui, founder and chairman of Galaxy Entertainment, who says reports of Macau’s demise have been grossly exaggerated
“If I have to get off the table every hour to smoke a cigarette, that’s 20 percent of the time I would be playing that I’m not.”
?Tim Craighead, Bloomberg analyst, on the drop in gaming revenue that is likely to follow a full smoking ban in Macau’s casinos
“This opening introduces a new industry to the state and marks the beginning of a new era for Massachusetts. There are sure to be growing pains, but it’s very exciting.”
—Lance George, general manager of Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, which will be the first casino to open in Massachusetts when it officially opens on June 24
“We’re not asking for a subsidy. We’re not asking for a handout. We’re not asking for preferential treatment. We’re just asking for a level playing field.”
—Josh Rubenstein, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club chief operating office, arguing for the inclusion of California racetracks in any bill that legalizes online poker in the Golden State
“This is one step of many that we have to take in order to get this to the governor’s desk,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Duff, D-Norwalk. “Certainly we’ve won this battle, and we continue to fight the fight for Connecticut jobs.”
—Robert Duff, Connecticut Senate Majority Leader, commenting on the passage of a bill in the Senate that would allow for three more tribal casinos in the step.
“What our research has shown in New England is that the people who are looking for the big bells and whistles, the Mohegan Sun, they will drive right past a small casino like Twin River [Casino in Lincoln, R.I.] to get there,”
—Northeast gaming expert Clyde Barrow, discussing the difference between the appeal of a destination casino and a so-called “box of slots.”
“I hope they do what anyone should do which is dial up their game and get more competitive in their existing casinos rather than just diluting casinos throughout the state of Connecticut.”
—MGM CEO Jim Murren, commenting on the likelihood that Connecticut will add small “convenience” casinos to combat the arrival of the MGM Springfield in Massachusetts
“If new gaming centers sprout up on short notice in northern Connecticut, they will do so without the exhaustive vetting process that occurred in Massachusetts. That’s a recipe for public backlash.”
—Editorial, the Republican, a Springfield, Massachusetts newspaper, reacting to the possibility that Connecticut will build three new casinos to defend against the opening of the MGM Springfield in two years
“Letting local people directly decide on allowing casinos in their towns is, unfortunately, not part of the new casino bill that’s quickly moving through the legislative system. It should be.”
—Editorial, Hartford Courant, reacting to the legislature’s move to authorize three more casinos in Connecticut
“The people we’re dealing with now are the real thing. This firm has built hotels all over the Metroplex. They do a first-rate job.”
—Robert Cluck, Arlington, Texas Mayor speaking on a potential hotel deal in place with MGM Resorts International
“As some have said, it’s easier to find a gun in the area than a job.”
—Andray Domise, former city council candidate for Ward 2 in Rexdale, Ontario, on the grim job prospects in the area, who is in favor of a casino in the area.
