“My view is that daily fantasy should be a regulated industry in New York and elsewhere, and I think ultimately that should be a decision for the voters.”
—National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver, expressing support for regulated daily fantasy sports
“We do not know yet which candidate we are going to support. There are several good candidates and we are still discussing that matter inside the Adelson family. Any candidate is better than the one we have today as president.
—Sheldon Adelson, chairman and CEO, Las Vegas Sands Corp., asked who among U.S. presidential candidates he might support
“Although Macau’s economy has witnessed a consecutive slowdown due to various factors, society remains stable and is facing new opportunities with a pressure-resistant economy.
—Xi Jinping, Chinese president, urging Macau to continue the “appropriate diversification: of its economy
“Although the economy is currently in an adjustment phase, its workings, in general, remain healthy. Public finances are stable and firm, the unemployment rate is at a relatively low level, the economy shows new dynamism and Macau is still in a stable and harmonious state.”
—Fernando Chui Sai On, Macau chief executive, towing the Chinese party line on Macau’s struggling economy
“(‘Pee with eyes wide open’) means you know someone is going to trip you up. You pretend you don’t notice and let it go.”
—Angela Leong, executive director, SJM Holdings Ltd., Asia’s largest casino company, on the cautionary motto she learned from husband Stanley Ho
“Dad was a pretty hard marker, probably the hardest marker I ever met. He may not give me a high distinction, but I think I would still scrape through with a pass mark from him, and on a really good day even a credit. It’s an absolute privilege to be his son.
—James Packer, billionaire casino magnate, waxing sentimental about his late father, publishing legend Kerry Packer
“We were at the Hercules premiere. We were talking and laughing and people were getting mad at us and stuff like that. So we hit it off. I’m lucky too. He really is great.”
—Mariah Carey, American songbird who’s made a pop-culture celebrity of her new beau, casino tycoon James Packer
“Incheon is it for Korea.”
—David Shim, chairman and CEO, Solaire Korea, speaking last summer about the growth potential of the Korean gaming industry. Interest in the jurisdiction has since plummeted
“Someone said I was killed. You see, I’m in good shape. You see how handsome I am.
—Kwok Wing-hung, aka Shanghai Boy, purported Macau junket operator and alleged organized crime figure who recently was punched in the face by an unknown assailant.
“The situation in Macau is like it was in the late 1990s. Something big is going to change. The power will shift.”
—Agnes Lam, president, Macao Civic Power, on turbulence in the city as it marks its 18th month of recession. Lam referred to a period just before Portugal handed over Macau to the Mainland Chinese government
“You look across the river, that’s a $1 billion casino. They’re going to have all kinds of stuff going on over there, and they’re so close, even though it’s in another state. I think there’s a lot of great things we can do together, and the folks from MGM seem very interested in that, so how do you make it a win-win for them and for Alexandria?”
—Joseph Haggerty, newly named CEO of the Alexandria, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, to the Alexandria Times on the potential benefits of the nearby MGM National Harbor casino opening across the river in Maryland
“We were able during the last year to coalesce the industry around the idea that current law is irrational and that this current law needs to be revisited. This is a significant step for the industry. We now need to work with other interested parties such as leagues, lotteries and many others to discuss what the right solution might be. We will be doing that behind the scenes. Those conversations have already begun.”
—Geoff Freeman, American Gaming Association president, on the association’s goal to redefine sports betting law in 2016
“Since our (October) election, the Tribal Council has worked every day with our government partners, casino management team and local business partners to get Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino ready to open.”
—Claudia Gonzales, chairman of the Picayune Rancheria of California, commenting upon the reopening of the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino.
“The commonwealth did this in order to get economic development. And it’s happening. The revenues are lower than they expected to be, true, but that doesn’t mitigate the fact that there has been enormous economic impact of the casino.”
—Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby, reacting to less than expected slots revenues from the state’s first casino to open, Plainridge
“It’s exciting to see how excited they are wanting to get in there; it’s a good feeling.”
—Edward D. Manuel, chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, commenting on the large, enthusiastic crowds who greeted the opening of the Desert Diamond Casino near Glendale, Arizona
“The people support the casino. The neighboring cities support it. It’s not the tribes that have broken faith, it’s your own elected officials. The ones you sent to Washington, D.C. and to the State Capitol.”
—E.J. Montini, writing for the Arizona Republic, criticizing the efforts of some of the state’s congressional delegation and state officials to stop the Desert Diamond Casino of the Tohono O’odham Nation from opening near Glendale
