“While there is a potential seamy underside and chances of point shaving, (sports gambling) is not going away. Keeping it regulated and in the open, I think, will make it more above board.”
—Ohio University associate professor David Ridpath, president of the Connecticut-based Drake Group, which supports legalization of sports betting
“We are building a team of seasoned industry operators, entrepreneurs and global designers who bring a fresh, new approach to what we think the future of Las Vegas should be.”
—Andrew Pascal, partner with James Packer in the 34.6-acre Alon Las Vegas megaresort project on the north Las Vegas Strip
“I’m too old to train for something new. I’m not going to apply for a minimum wage job doing the same thing I’ve been doing for years.”
—Employee, Grosvenor Casino, Portsmouth, U.K., on the casino’s planned closure. Staff may apply for jobs at a second Portsmouth casino
“You should have seen the cars: Porsches, brand new Mercedes’, even a McLaren F1. Now all you get are bored grandmothers.”
—Valet parking attendant, Club Casino Loutraki, Greece, on austerity measures that limit cash withdrawals in the country to 60 euros a day
“You think this is funny. It’s my money, and I want it now.”
—Giorgios, Greek retiree and casino patron, after exhausting his daily cash withdrawal limit
“It is very likely that allowing Vietnamese to enter casinos will initially be done as a pilot project … If that’s the case, we think we are very well-positioned to be called upon to work with the government to set up a pilot project to look at how they would open casino gaming to nationals.”
—Colin Pine, general director, Grand Ho Tram, Ho Chi Minh City, on growing support to open Vietnamese casinos to locals
“It’s not a fast track bill, but I think we can probably get a hearing on it. The thing that will eventually make it happen is if California, New York, and some of the big-population states allow it, and begin to see some revenue. That would encourage us to do the federal bill, because the revenue opportunity would be significant enough that it might make the decision to go ahead and allow it.”
—Joe Barton, Texas Congressman to Cardschat on his House bill to legalize and regulate online poker at the federal level
“As the Court of Appeal aptly analogized, ‘whether a deck of cards was shuffled the day before, or at the moment the player sits down at the table and places a bet, it is still a matter of chance whether the ace of spades is the next card dealt.’”
––Associate Justice Ming Chin of the California Supreme Court, writing for the court which held that sweepstakes games offered by sweepstakes cafes are the equivalent of slot machines offered in Las Vegas style casinos, and therefore illegal in the Golden State
“This is a step forward and represents a win on several fronts, but not all. If the spirit of the intention behind the new regulations is actually followed, the process will be greatly improved.”
—Pastor John Norwood, co-chairman of the National Congress of American Indians, reacting to the just released new rules for granting federal recognition to Indian tribes
“It’s a one-two punch, giving current video poker and keno players more variety, while also bringing new penny slot players in the door. We expect this to be a knockout.”
—Steve Arntzen, president and CEO of Century Gaming Technologies, confident his company’s new Buffalo bartop multi-game machine will be a big hit
“You could literally lose your home from your couch. I don’t think that’s a good thing for the future of Michigan, but I understand they are doing everything they can to make money.”
—Rick Jones, Michigan senator, criticizing the accessibility of Michigan’s new online lottery program
“Even a one-year delay is an expensive price for a city that needs help now. But, if the casino opens under undesirable conditions and falls short of its potential, the long-term loss for Springfield, its residents and the state will be much greater.”
—Editorial, theRepublican, supporting the request by MGM Springfield to open its casino resort a year later than planned due to unforeseen delays created by the I-91 viaduct
“It is sad that we complain about no revenue coming in, but all of this is going to the other states. I would rather see this casino money staying in our state, not filling the coffers at out-of-state locations.”
—Dick Patten, a New Hampshire state representative, on why he supports casinos for the Granite State
“It’s not known how many of these individuals would shift to a legal poker website if one was offered. That shift, however, would generate revenue for the state.”
—Anita Lee, senior fiscal and policy analyst for the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, commenting on what the effect of legalizing online poker in the Golden State would be
