“I walk into the clubs and I say to myself either we have attracted every moron in the world, or there’s something about the sound that allows normal people to check their human sensibilities at the door.”
—Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, on millennials generating millions in revenue at the Strip’s uber-nightclubs
“Gambling expansion is a better option than a tax increase. There are concerns about more gambling, but greater concerns about a massive, job-crushing tax increase.”
—Pennsylvania state Rep. Brad Roae, on stalled measures to legalize online gambling and expansion of slots to airports, bars and off-track betting facilities
“This provides compelling evidence that they are an Indian tribe.”
—Michael Anderson, a former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, who now specializes in tribal land recovery, commenting on the application for federal recognition by the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe to the BIA
“Eric can no longer be a player, no pun intended. It is a requirement in San Jose that you have a lawful state license to operate a card room, so he can no longer be an owner of the M8trix.”
—San Jose, California City Attorney Richard Doyle, commenting on the action by the California Gambling Control Commission action stripping Casino M8trix co-owner Eric Swallow of his gaming license and hitting him with a $13.7 million fine for alleged tax avoidance
“We’re prepared to go as far as we have to go. We’re not going to relinquish any legal option we have at our disposal, including appealing any further.”
—Somerville, Massachusetts Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, commenting on his appeal of an environmental permit by the state to the Wynn Boston Harbor casino resort along the Mystic River
“The San Manuel tribe’s purchase of the Arrowhead Springs Hotel property in the San Bernardino foothills is the best thing that has happened to the site in 50 years. If any buyer has the wherewithal to give the 1,900-acre parcel the attention it needs and deserves, it is the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.”
—Cassie MacDuff, columnist for the Press Enterprise, writing about the purchase of a hotel in Southern California by the San Manuel tribe
“The image of Macau in Japan is all about Chinese gambling. Some don’t want to go there because of that negative image.”—James Koh, Amway, on why he doesn’t want to take conventions to the MSAR
“It’s going to pay the expenses and do a little better, but it won’t be a big difference. Gaming is where all the money is.”
—Sheldon Adelson, LV Sands Chairman, on the contribution non-gaming will make to Macau’s economy
“In an environment where you are motivated purely by satisfying your customers, that would dictate that you would spend your investment dollars primarily on the gaming product.”
—Andy Choy, chief gaming officer, Melco International Development, on the “overwhelmingly” demand for gaming over non-gaming in Macau
“Most of our fixed junkets, it’s based on an end-of-the-month settlement… If there’s any new junket, we’re very careful from now on. We delay this process to double- and triple-check. For the new ones, we put them through severe checks.”
—Enrique Razon Jr., chairman, Bloomberry Resorts, on heightened security following a multimillion-dollar money laundering scandal in the Philippines
“There is a black market for different capabilities and you can actually assemble a team like in ‘Ocean’s 11.’”
—Sean Kanuck, former U.S. cyber-security official, on the cyber-criminals behind the theft of $81 million laundered through Philippine casinos
“India has a huge growing middle class, mobile penetration is going through the roof, every month sees 5 million new internet users, the banking system is developing and hasn’t been affected by the credit crunch, so there are a lot of benefits.”
—Albert Climent, gaming consultant, who say India offers the “last gold rush” in the gaming sector
