“Nobody seems to want this facility in their backyard.”
—U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Carla E. Craig, on lawsuits filed to prevent the bankrupt Suffolk County Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. from opening a video lottery casino at the Islandia Marriott Long Island Hotel
“They do look like slot machines; let’s be honest. But they are bingo machines. We operate legally and we believe we’re on sound legal footing.”
—Chuck McDonald, spokesman for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, on the attempt by the state of Texas to close the tribe’s Naskila Gaming Center based on the argument that its 365 Class II electronic bingo machines are really illegal slot machines
“This is great news and represents a call to action from all wings of the political spectrum. We look forward to the Labour Party applying further pressure on the government on this very important issue. Surely the Conservatives can’t hold back on meaningful action for much longer.”
—Derek Webb, founder, UK Campaign for Fairer Gambling, on possible policy changes on fixed-odds betting terminals endorsed by the Labour Party
“I’m thrilled we’ve got to the point where social responsibility is now at the heart of the government’s program. We can now get on with looking at these machines properly.”
—Tracey Crouch, MP, on Prime Minister Theresa May’s support of a review of FOBTs, dubbed “the crack cocaine of gambling” in the UK
“Vietnam is a beautiful country with 95 million people and lots of pristine beaches and resorts. The people are young and hard-working. They deserve a break and entertainment opportunities so they can try their fortune and luck. You’ll see local people staying in the country, playing in integrated resorts, because they don’t have to go to Cambodia, Singapore or Macau to be entertained.” —Augustine Ha Ton Vinh, gaming consultant, who says Vietnam’s Finance Ministry may gradually open casinos to domestic players
“The performance of the hotel developments in the Bay City area will be contingent on the performance of the casino developments, which we think will pick up due to the completion of the NAIA Expressway project. The expressway is expected to enhance the flow and movements of international visitors and arrivals and will likely enhance the performance of the casino developments and hotels.”
—Claro Cordero Jr., real estate analyst, on the expected boost to gaming resorts from the new Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway, which opened September 22
“Pickering wants the jobs and the revenue source that Ajax has enjoyed for the past decade, and that is natural. They’re, to put it bluntly, envious of what Ajax has … and they want to snatch it.”
— Ajax, Ontario, Mayor Steve Parish, commenting on the desires of rival city Pickering, which also wants to get the right to operate a casino under the aegis of the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corp. (OLG)
“The Tribe plans what is a massive development in a sensitive wetland in a natural environmental area of Star Lake on trust land that was originally intended for the noninvasive activity of wild rice gathering.”
—Star Lake Concerned Citizens opposing a tribal casino for Star Lake, Minnesota Shooting Star Casino by the White Earth Band of Chippewa Indians
“Would this be the first step in allowing them to open an Indian casino?”
— Pierluigi Oliverio, San Jose, California city council member asking what supporting the recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe would mean
“The Fire Department has been acting like a junk yard dog with a hub cap – he has no use for the hub cap, but won’t let us have it either.”
—John Mahoney, chief executive officer of German Days in Jordan City, Minnesota, who claims the city fire department’s opposition keeps the city from adopting a charitable gambling ordinance
