“What is it going to profit him to be having a public fight with the government? It seems incredibly inept and stupid. He comes off as an arrogant prick who simply does not know his place.”
—Bahamas Uncensored website, in a commentary criticizing Sarkis Izmirlian, CEO of the delayed Baha Mar mega-resort, for his complaints that the government has done a poor job in energy and education reform
“If slot hold is raised and patrons at a minimum think it was, does the operator run the risk of chasing them to the competitors, turn them off to the entertainment experience provided or have them ‘self-ban’ from the casino? This risk is exactly why this debate is so important.”
—Metavallo CFO Louis Rosa, in a report on the effect of slot hold on casino operations published by LinkedIn
“In Macau, when a problem gambler has used up all of his available funds, he can still get more loans immediately. But no one can gamble forever, whether they’re a millionaire or a billionaire.”
?Zeng Zhonglu, gaming expert, Macau Polytechnic Institute, who recently said the city’s decline was caused by out-of-control junket operations
“Coming into 2016, the slowdown is somewhat more structural. The measures implemented in Macau are quite far-ranging, quite serious and quite deep. Recovery from here, I think, will be much shallower than what we saw in the (global financial crisis) period.”
?ST Wong, Prime Value fund manager, predicting a slow turnaround for Macau
“The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of people think it is less than that, the only three or four people in the world that I actually respect on this thinks it is two or three times that. And it is growing.”
?Patrick Jay, gaming expert, on the value of the international sports betting market. Jay says the market is conservatively worth $1 trillion per year, but could be as much as $3 trillion
“International corporate bookmakers are increasingly taking bets on our domestic product without any benefit flowing back into the New Zealand racing industry, and without being subject to the same fees and taxes as NZRB. We would like to see a level playing field, where all betting placed on New Zealand racing results in an appropriate contribution back to support the development and growth of this industry.”
?Glenda Hughes, chairwoman, New Zealand Racing Board, on the proliferation of illegal online betting
“The lockout laws are working to reduce alcohol-related crime and these exemptions are only being allowed on the basis they will not do anything to undermine this outcome.”
?Spokesperson, Sydney’s Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, on seven exemptions for poker halls to “lockout laws” prohibiting overnight alcohol sales
“Yet again, the poker machine lobby gets its way.”
?John Kaye, Australian MP, criticizing Sydney’s lockout law exemptions
“I’m looking at is as a business, as long as the state is not involved in financing it,. We need more jobs in this state. … I wish they were manufacturing jobs, but I’ll take these jobs.”
—Sam Belsito, Connecticut state senator, arguing in favor of a bill that would authorize three more Indian casinos as a buffer against the MGM Springfield that will open in a few years across the border in Massachusetts
“I don’t think we need to extend gambling, but if we can keep 30 or 40 percent of that here, that’s what’s driving the bus.”
—Steve Cassano, state senator, supporting an expansion of gaming in Connecticut
“This is a proactive move to protect jobs in Connecticut. Both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are two of the top employers in eastern Connecticut, and they drive a lot of the tourism and hospitality businesses in the area.”
—Connecticut State Senator Catherine Osten, supporting a bill that would allow local gaming tribes to open three more casinos in the state
“Do we want to be at the tail end of a losing trend in an industry that is declining?”
—Rep. Susan Almy, a New Hampshire lawmaker opposed to a bill that would authorize two casinos in the Granite State
“I meet people from all over the world who talk about wanting to visit Maine when they hear how beautiful and pristine it is. No one has ever asked me if slot machines are readily available.”
—Columnist Steve Woods, reacting to proposals by some lawmakers in Maine to allow casino gaming in the state
“There are things we’ve done phenomenally and things we could be better at. We excel in our restaurant product and entertainment, and that is the lifeblood of the SBE brand.”
—Scott Kreeger, COO and President of SLS, speaking frankly about SLS, and their identity
“So when this opportunity came up with Westgate, it was just right. It was the International, the Las Vegas Hilton, and it just came together. I said, ‘Let’s go for it. Let’s take this opportunity.’”
—Priscilla Presley, on moving 28,000 square feet of Elvis memorabilia to the Westgate for a new Elvis exhibition
“The contest sits at the unhappy intersection of family dysfunction and corporate law. It’s the Kardashians, but with publicly traded stock.”
—Joseph A. Grundfest, law and business professor at Stanford University’s law school, speaking on the drama which has unfolded surrounding the battle between Wynn Resorts, LTD. and Elaine Wynn, after she was kicked off the board
“It’s kind of a free-for-all. There’s nothing holding these hotels back.”
—Vanessa Doleshal, Vegas.com business development manager, on Las Vegas hotels charging exorbitant rates for a room the weekend of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight
