“The prize does not have any political considerations or affiliations. It transcends all national boundaries, ethnicities, regions, religions and beliefs. I hope these seeds will blossom someday and make the world a better place for everyone.”
—Lui Che Woo, chairman, Galaxy Entertainment Group, on the Lui Che Woo Prize for World Civilization, first awarded in October; among the first recipients was former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who got the “positive energy prize”
“Vietnam seems to have this deep insecurity that its natural beauty and scenic landscapes are not enough. They must be ‘improved’ with cable cars, casinos or loud karaoke.”
—Pamela McElwee, assistant professor of human ecology, Rutgers University, on two new Vietnam casinos that will be open to locals
“We’re open to tax revenue and jobs. I consider it more of an entertainment facility than a casino.”
—Bob Maynard, First Selectman of East Windsor, Connecticut on his view of a possible Indian casino in his town
“It was a big nothing burger for gamblers… Basically, the IRS got the casino industry worked up and nothing ended up happening.”
—Marissa Chien, co-author of Tax Help for Gamblers, on last year’s proposal by the Internal Revenue Service to lower the tax-reporting threshold on slot machines from $1,200 to $600
“The whole process of opening a third casino is flawed,” Harrington said. “We are pitting neighbor against neighbor and town against town. The only one that wins when two towns compete is the casino.”
—Paul Harrington, board of finance chairman of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, criticizing the process by which the state’s gaming tribes are identifying a site for a third tribal casino
“The redevelopment of this site also means jobs – hundreds of jobs, if not more. And the state remains a committed partner to seeing this project through.”
—Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut, hailing a proposed development of 400 acres by the Mohegan Gaming Authority in Preston, just across the river from its Mohegan Sun
