“This isn’t MGM’s first rodeo. They are spending a lot of money and will ensure that they will build an entertainment complex that is the best it can be. It isn’t in their best interest to build something less than spectacular.”
—Carol Kerr, a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts’s South End, endorsing changes made by MGM to its plans for the $950 million MGM Springfield
“It’s fantastic news. You’re looking at a facility between 30,000 and 50,000 square feet and will employ 100 to 200 people. It will send some financial energy to the municipality. It’s a great story.”
—Taso Christopher, mayor of Belleville, Ontario, commenting on the likelihood that his city will be asked to host a casino by Ontario Gaming East Ltd.
“We hear a lot about property tax relief, limited government and the state not getting involved. If we care about those issues, here’s an outside-the-box opportunity to show that we take these things seriously. We can help our local communities and their fundraising efforts.”
—Senator Tyson Larson, urging a vote by Nebraska lawmakers to classify poker as a game of skill—a vote that ultimately failed
“The claim that ‘gambling is 90 percent a scam’ is what we hope to change. We hope Macau can become a city with honest gambling and a city of leisure tourism. We are able to minimize the possible negative effects created by the gaming industry.”
—Paulo Martins Chan, new director of Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau
“I have no crystal ball. I have no way to predict.”
—Lionel Leong Vai Tac, Macau’s secretary for Economy and Finance, asked if the city’s gaming industry has hit bottom
“The location of this new VIP slot parlor is within an existing third-party casino that offers few other amenities. We believe it is one of the lower performing third-party properties in Macau. As such, it could be a tough sell to attract and retain players based solely on having VIP slots on offer.”
—Grant Govertsen, Union Gaming, on the opening of a VIP slot area at Jimei Casino on the Macau Peninsula. Junkets in the city are trying to innovate to generate more revenues
“It’s clear that a federal ban on traditional sports betting outside of Nevada is failing. Illegal sports betting is reaching new heights of popularity in America.”
—AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman, urging the U.S. Congress to reexamine the possibility of legalizing sports betting
“We recognize this is a significant departure from a long-established paradigm in the Las Vegas market. However, after months of analysis, we believe these enhancements and new technology solutions will become welcome additions to our overall guest experience.”
—MGM Resorts International COO Corey Sanders, in a statement justifying MGM’s plan to charge for parking at its Las Vegas Strip casinos
“We’ll blow that away.”
—MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren, on how the suites at MGM National Harbor will compare to Donald Trump’s planned hotel 11 miles away in Washington, D.C.
