“Connecticut is already suffering from declining revenues, forcing the legislature to repeatedly trim spending and add or increase taxes. It should not let more revenue walk out the door.”
—Editorial, New London Day, urging that Connecticut move forward in allowing the two gaming tribes to build a third casino to blunt the effects of casinos in Massachusetts
“The state and tribes should not allow MGM to gain an initial foothold in the Greater Hartford region by opening first in 2018. The fact is, East Hartford is second to none when it comes to the ‘speed-to-market’ factor.”
—Developer Anthony J. Ravosa Jr., of Silver Lane Partners LLC, arguing why his company’s East Hartford land would be the best location for Connecticut’s third tribal casino
“Our goal is to have a homeland for our tribe. Our tribe has been landless for 150 years, minimum.”
—Crista Ray, spokesman for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians near Vallejo, California, about their plans for a $700 million casino
“Revere residents know how to separate a good idea from a bad idea.”
—Brian M. Arrigo, mayor of Revere, Massachusetts, commenting on the city’s rejection of a slots parlor
“I think that New Mexico casinos are head and shoulders above others in Indian gaming, and I think I’m directly responsible for that.”
—Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, being interviewed by NMPolitics.net
“We have to look at that and figure it out, and skins wagering is the prime example. We have to make a determination, like with daily fantasy sports, whether, at least as far as Nevada law is concerned, is it legal? Is it illegal? How do we want to address that?”
—Karl Bennison, chief of Nevada’s Gaming Control Board Enforcement Division, to commenting to the Las Vegas Sun that the board is examining the legality of so-called skins wagering online
“We’ve launched a new game design studio here in Las Vegas. We’re pretty much focused on creating new, innovative content at the moment—certainly, for the North American market, but also as part of our international growth strategy to broaden our offering. Merkur Gaming is excited about what the future holds for us in North America.”
—Charles Hiten, CEO of Merkur Gaming, to Yogonet on the German slot manufacturer’s launch in the North American market
“In your hands is a failure report of the BJP-led government containing a list of U-turns, broken promises, brazen scams and a saga of bad governance. BJP through its faulty policies has ensured that inflation hit the roof, unemployment figures are soaring, casinos have multiplied manifold, drug menace has proliferated and corruption has been institutionalized in every domain of public administration.”
—Luizinho Faleiro, Congress Goa, slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party for allowing the gaming industry to grow on and offshore in Goa, India
“The war on drugs signals to tourists the administration’s resolve in solving the country’s problem on drugs and criminality. The objective of this drive is to instill law and order and result in a peaceful society, which may help improve perception on the country as a safe and secure destination.”
—Jan Paul Custodio, C.B. Richard Ellis, who says Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s law-and-order campaign could mean a more welcoming climate for tourists
“The focus is not gaming, it is our dissatisfaction. We have a small population, few votes, no influence. I am 60 years old this year, and even if we want to build casinos it would take some 10-odd years so I wouldn’t be able to see it for myself anyway. But what is important is Taiwan’s development.”
—Hsiao, Penghu resident, who voted to bring casinos to the island off Taiwan. The measure was defeated, however, by an overwhelming 81 percent of voters
“Certainly in Davao, the sentiment and business establishments support a smoke-free Davao. The president sees it as something that’s not ideal for health and this is part of the public well-being.”
—Ernesto Abella, spokesman, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who as mayor of Davao forced a man caught smoking to stub out the butt and eat it
“People of Penghu have shown their collective will. The government will work to help Penghu develop tourism with its own characteristics.”
—Democratic People’s Party of Taiwan, in a statement on the defeat of a ballot initiative to bring casinos to the archipelago
“We are here to do business. We don’t want any trouble because illegal gambling businesses like these are often backed by mobs.”
—Shop owner, Kuala Lumpur mall, on alleged illegal gambling halls that operate alongside retailers
“Barring any hitches or God forbid a catastrophe like a typhoon, they would finish right on schedule. Last year, when Saipan was hit by Typhoon Soudelor, there was a shortage on cement and other stuff.”
—Edward Deleon Guerrero, Saipan casino commissioner, on the expected grand opening of the Imperial Pacific casino resort in 2017
“We are encouraged by what seems to be growing momentum for integrated resorts in Japan.”
—Steven Tight, president of international development, Caesars Entertainment, on longstanding hopes that gaming legislation will advance in Japan
“Parks, bus stations and even in vehicles. All these are considered public places.”
—Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, Philippines health secretary, on the scope of a proposed public smoking ban
