“It’s time for us to modernize this compact, to meet the changing needs of the state and to increase the opportunities for tribal gaming.”
—Arizona Governor Doug Ducey calling for updating the 2002 state tribal gaming compact between Arizona and its 17 gaming tribes
“A good comparison is Plainridge Park Casino, where results of the first public safety impact report commissioned by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission are in. They show no significant increase in crime after the opening of the casino, and a decrease in some areas.”
—Editorial, the Republican, pointing out that there is no evidence that a casino causes increased crime
“There is a certain cache associated with MGM. There is a desire for people to work there.”
—James C. Dinegar, president and chief executive of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, remarking on the large number of applicants to work at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland
“If we believe in the dignity of our team members and community, we must walk our talk.”
—Greg Sarris, tribal chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, explaining why his tribe provides benefits to employees who work more than 20 hours a week
“The Australian public is ready for change. With any luck, our courts are, too. This is the kind of case where a well-aimed challenge to a predatory industry with the support of activists and advocates may finally succeed where governments have failed.”
—Australian human rights lawyer Lizzie O’Shea in an op-ed piece for the New York Times on a court case challenging casinos and slot manufacturers in Australia for alleged predatory design of games plaintiffs say is at the root of Australian problem gambling
“This is very disappointing. The judge effectively ruled that only losers are allowed in casinos.”
—Colin Jones, former leader of the “Church Team” of advantage blackjack players, commenting to the Player’s Advantage website that the October court ruling that professional gambler Phil Ivey was not entitled to $9.6 million in baccarat winnings gained through the “edge-sorting” technique
“Bookee is about simplicity. We invented this app because we became frustrated with how stuck in the past parts of the betting industry are. Where other betting sites have adapted a 100 year-old infrastructure to retro-fit the smartphone revolution, the Bookee app is specifically designed for mobile use only. We are the first people to provide this type of service in the betting world and our strapline is ‘Swipe. Bet. Done’ because it really is that simple.””
—Adam Kalmanson, co-founder and head of sales and marketing for sports-betting startup Bookee on the company’s new swipe-to-bet app
“Mayor Don Guardian is a friend, but I firmly believe this was the right thing to do. As a former mayor, I’m loathe to engage in state oversight, but I also believe, with Sen. Chiesa, that they will bring state resources. I think Atlantic City’s situation is unique with the shifting casino market, and we need the full measure of the state. We have to think outside of the box. How do we attract individuals with money and the middle class? How did we attract affordable housing in Atlantic City? A lot of the issues require state agencies.”
—Jim McGreevey, former New Jersey Governor on the state’s takeover of Atlantic City’s finances
“It’s now or never. Japan’s existing gambling market is already US$27 billion in GGR, mainly pachinko. Thus we believe that Japan’s gaming market could easily exceed US$10 billion in GGR for the metropolitan city IRs alone, with a potential to exceed US$30 billion upon full completion of the regional roll-outs. If the stars align, we forecast 2023 to be the earliest for an IR opening.”
—Jon Oh and Jay Defibaugh, analysts, CLSA, who say a verdict on casinos in Japan will likely be reached in December
“In the long run, Cambodia is a reasonable cost destination. It cannot just be gaming or a normal integrated resort, so our master plan will include non-gaming attractions that will draw a large number of people from the surrounding region.”
—Tim McNally, chairman, NagaCorp, on the expansion of the company’s NagaWorld casino in Cambodia, which may include a theme park
“Gaming success in Saipan, a U.S. Pacific territory, relies on visa-free access for Mainland Chinese, granted by special waiver from Washington. Brown’s Trump connection, plus Trump campaign national security adviser James Woolsey serving as a director of parent company Imperial Pacific International Holdings, plus traditionally Republican Saipan politics and support for Trump in the primary, suggest visa-free entry will continue.”
—Forbes, in an article about the link between President-elect Donald Trump and Mark Brown, former Trump exec, now president and CEO of Best Sunshine on Saipan Island
“It is an irrelevant issue if FinCEN is doing an investigation. You don’t need to be alarmed if you are complying. For the casino to die the quickest way is to violate the anti-money laundering laws.”
— Edward Deleon Guerrero, executive director, Commonwealth Casino Commission of the Marianas Islands, who says Saipan’s Best Sunshine casino has complied with all AML laws
“The anxiety over possible terrorist attacks or disruptions caused by refugee movements has not resulted in Chinese travelers staying closer to home, but rather choosing new destinations perceived as less dangerous and more interesting.”
—Wolfgang Georg Arlt, director, COTRI, on a record number of Mainland Chinese traveling abroad this year; top destinations include South Korea and Vietnam
“Mr. O’Connor would be having a very hard time. He would be broken by now. They cut you off from daily life and make you feel helpless. My advice to the O’Connor family is don’t go quiet, push James Packer to do something.”
—Matthew Ng, former inmate, on the arrests in China of three Crown Resorts employees, including VP Jason O’Connor
“While non-gaming will never be a significant component of Macau industry revenues, it is becoming a more important driver of visitation and mass growth.”
—Sanford C. Bernstein analysts, who say new non-gaming amenities are good for Macau’s long-term viability
“The average problem gambler that seeks treatment has gambling debt twice their average annual income. The vast majority of that does not come from formal casino credit. It’s either personal credit card or credit from a bookie, informal credit. The substance abuse is money. If you’re at risk for a gambling problem and you’re betting on unsecured credit, if and when you start to lose, you can rapidly find yourself in severe problems.”
— Keith Whyte, executive director, National Council on Problem Gambling, on the potential ills that could come with legal sports betting in the U.S.
