“I can now say for the rest of my life that I was the first person to have a scholarship for gaming, ever. It’s always been cool to help something I’m passionate about develop into something people didn’t think could ever happen.”
—Derek Micheau of Olympia, Washington to the local Kitsap Sun on his 2014 eSports scholarship to Robert Morris University in Chicago in 2014, the first eSports scholarship program in the country
“I do not want people in the government entering the casino. You are in the government with a measly income and yet you’ll be seen in a casino?
—Rodrigo Duterte, new president of the Philippines, who has banned all government workers and their families from gambling in casinos
“Best Sunshine has the sole license for a casino. If Donald Trump wants to come in and open up a casino, can he do it? No. That’s why they paid $15 million. Otherwise, we could have opened up the market and anybody could have opened up a casino here. It’s not a tax, it’s a licensing fee for exclusivity.”
—Rep. Edwin K. Propst, Saipan, who says the Best Sunshine casino in Garapan should not be obligated to pay a tax increase after less than one year in business
“I understand greyhound racing in New South Wales needed to be cleaned up, but is banning necessary? The New South Wales government could take control of the industry to clean it up, or if it proceeds with the ban, at least provide some form of support for those who have been doing the right thing.”
—Ernie Bennett, mayor, Richmond Valley, NSW, who fears a pending ban on the dog races could mean 10,000 job losses and $254 million in annual lost revenues
“That’s not our business model. That’s not what interests us in Korea so we are not moving forward with that kind of project. What we are looking to do is to create a MICE-focused resort that is more substantial than MBS.”
—George Tanasijevich, head of global development, Las Vegas Sands Corp., who is actively wooing the Korean government to build a casino in Seoul
“We want people to be happy and keep their mouths shut and not demonstrate, because we don’t like that too much. That’s the way it’s being done here in Macau, and it seems like it’s working.”
—José Pereira Coutinho, Macau lawmaker, on an annual $1,100 cash payout to residents
“In name of development, the state government first destroyed our fields, then they destroyed the hills, and now they want to destroy our rivers. This is not development for the people but development of those in power. We feel that instead of shifting casinos to any other site, the state government should throw casino culture out of Goa as the same has been destroying the identity of Goa and Goans.”
—Father Michael Fernandes, who opposes casino cruises off the coast of Goa, India
“We have been opposing casinos since the first one was allowed to open shop here. Today, Goa is known for all the wrong reasons, including drugs, prostitution, mafia, gambling and alcoholism. The BJP government should take a bold decision and stop all casino operations.”
—Auda Viegas, anti-gaming activist, who opposes the Goa casino boats and wants the Bharatiya Janata Party government to ban then
“Actually, Las Vegas is a copy, so Macau is a copy of a copy. I suddenly realize there are a lot of places where I think, this is not Macau anymore. The atmosphere is a little bit fake.”
—Bianca Lei, gallery curator in Macau, cringing at the sight of themed resort palaces rising on Cotai
“Sometimes no deal is better than a bad deal. I’m walking away from it. Four hundred people are going to be out of a job. I’m here making a sensible request. You’re going to make more money with me with these two casinos than you ever made before.”
—Larry Flynt, new owner of the Normandie card club in Gardena, California, reacting to a tax proposal by the city council that he considers unfair
“Compared to the combative and litigious approach of some tribes, our respectful, collaborative, transparent approach has earned the support and respect of our county government officials, chambers of commerce, and neighbors.”
— North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians Chairman Maryann McGovran, criticizing an lawsuit by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, who seek to stop her tribe from operating a casino in Central California
“We are here to contemplate the potential to do so much more if given a better location with more gaming and entertainment options, a casino easier to get to and in close proximity to more customers.”
—George Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, supporting an initiative that would authorize a slots casino in Tiverton, Rhode Island
