“The next president is going to have that issue of legalizing sports betting on their desk, and I’m confident they’ll make the right decision.”
—American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman, at one of the organization’s Gaming Votes events in Pittsburgh, predicting the next president will sign legal sports betting into law
“This is the Goa which we want to tourists to come to? Goa has become a sin city of India with its casino industry. Prostitution is also rampant in the state.”
— Luizinho Faleiro, president, Goa Congress, on repeated delays in relocating casino cruise ships from India’s River Mandovi to another site
“I do not think our people are aware. This is just another way for our beloved politicians to make money.”
—Survey respondent, Nagaland, who opposes a bill that would regulate online gaming in the Indian state
“Any state government that is chasing economic development off the back of a boom in gambling is really chasing fool’s gold because of the negative consequences.”
—Nick Xenophon, Independent MP, on the rise of gaming in Adelaide, Australia
“While it looks like a fantastic property, it may be opening at the wrong time in the market. It will be a fantastic asset, it will do very well, but probably would have done a lot better if the market was at a different time in the cycle.”
—Ken Barton, CEO, Crown Resorts, on a slowdown in the Western Australian economy as the company opens its $645M Crown Towers, the largest hotel in Perth
“Considering the financing required for these projects… it is clear that a gigantic windfall is anticipated. It seems inevitable that China’s crackdown on wealth leaving the mainland will expand beyond Macau to ensnare those spending big in Australia.”
—David Neustein, architect, on Tony Fung’s $8B Aquis development on the Great Barrier Reef
“As China continues to advance, its citizens will continue to travel. If we have casinos in multiple areas, it creates choice.”
—Deborah Edwards, University of Technology Sydney, who does not expect a slowdown in Chinese tourism
“In over 90 percent of the hands, you can make a decision within that time. And it makes it more fun for players, the dealers and everybody watching.”
—Mike Sexton, WPT announcer to the Miami Herald on a 30 second clock for players to be introduce at the World Poker Tour Tournament of Champions April 22
“Our economy has experienced one of the slowest recoveries from the Great Recession in the entire country. One force behind that is the downfall of the casinos’ pre-eminence in the gambling world, and with their decline, so have gone the fortunes and the jobs of our area.”
—Rodney Green, a restaurant owner in Norwich, Connecticut, commenting on the relationship between the economy in New London County, and the Foxwoods casino, which opened 24 years ago
“The Court’s unanimous ruling leaves no doubt that the Nation has the right to move forward with Class III gaming. We call on our opponents to drop all outstanding, misguided challenges so that we can work together in partnership to create positive economic development for the Tohono O’odham Nation, the West Valley, and all of Arizona.”
—Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Edward D. Manuel reacting to a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the tribe had the right to open its casino in Glendale, Arizona
“As we explore our legal options, we again call on the U.S. Congress to take up the Keep The Promise Act, a measure meant to hold the Tohono O’odham to its promises.”
—Manuel Johnson, spokesman for the Gila River Indian Community, reacting to the opinion by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the Tohono O’odham Nation’s right to operate a Class III casino in Glendale, Arizona
