“In no way has this company moved off of its commitment to being a good corporate citizen, and anyone suggesting otherwise is being disingenuous. We opened a casino and hotel in the middle of the Great Recession, created more than 2,500 jobs and have been very active in the community. We remain committed to having the best resort casino on the East Coast, and we’re disappointed in any view that suggests otherwise.”
—Sands Bethlehem spokesman Ron Reese, responding to criticism from Pennsylvania lawmakers that Sands’ refusal to pay local-community host fees on the basis of a law found unconstitutional makes the company a bad corporate citizen
“If in 2016 we were patient in summoning local officials, this year our patience runs out. DILG Task Force Agila should be more aggressive this time to actively pursue those who are not cooperating in the probe and file the appropriate cases, if necessary.”
—Ismael Sueno, Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government, promising strong consequences for Philippine drug dealers and illegal gaming operators
“Asia is the main growth market for the global gaming industry with Japan being the jewel in the crown. We can’t emphasize enough how important Japan is for Hard Rock and will dedicate our full resources to bring a Hard Rock integrated resort in Japan a reality.”
—Daniel Cheng, head of new business for Hard Rock International in the Asia Pacific region, reiterating the U.S. firm’s commitment on a Japanese casino license
“Women are raped. Women are exploited. Prostitution, gambling and every kind of crime occurs in these casinos. Goans are tired of casinos. The Bharatiya Janata Party cheated Goans because it is corrupt, and Congress is also corrupt. Only an honest party can stop casinos.”
—Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister, who says Goa’s casinos are cheating the state government of Rs4,000 crore in taxes every year
“Employees working in casino security and housekeeping only earn about 10,000 patacas (US$1,250) per month. Outsiders may think they earn a lot. But they’re wrong. I hope the gaming operators will be more appreciative. After earning money in Macau, don’t simply take it away.”
—Cloee Chao Sao Fong, head of the New Macau Gaming Workers’ Rights Union, who organized a march for higher wages that drew 300 demonstrators
“There will not be a huge impact, especially by 2020, or 2022, when Macau’s casino industry will have already entered a new phase.”
—Angela Leong, executive director, SJM Holdings Ltd., who is unconcerned about possible competition from casinos in Japan
“Having kicked famous flame Mariah Carey to the curb, Packer is apparently looking for some activity with which to fill a billionaire’s idle hours.”
—CalvinAyre.com, having some fun with James Packer’s return to the board of directors at Crown Resorts
“MGM wants nothing more than to distract from the only single point that really matters: if MGM wins, Connecticut loses. It’s that simple.”
—Andrew Doba, spokesman for MMCT, a consortium of the Connecticut gaming tribes, replying to criticisms of MGM that the process for choosing a site for a third tribal casino isn’t transparent enough
“We have the most superior location when it comes to interstate highway frontage and visibility, I’ll be as bold as to call it unmatched.”
—Anthony Ravosa, would be developer of a third, tribal casino in Connecticut, arguing for his location in East Hartford, which has been passed up
“These persons abused and corrupted the tribe’s institutions of government and terrorized its members. The victims included elders who lived in fear of losing the income that they depended upon to meet basic needs and who, in some cases, had such income taken from them for speaking out, leaving them destitute.”
—Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians Tribal Chairman Andrew Alejandre, describing activities by three former tribal officers accused of looting the treasury of the Rolling Hills Casino for more than a decade
