“None of my friends will return my calls anymore.”
—Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, joking about his new role as finance chairman responsible for raising money for the Republican National Committee
“During the Senate hearing on the alleged bribery at the Bureau of Immigration involving casino tycoon Jack Lam, I asked PAGCOR officials what will happen to these fees and they said, ‘Ay wala na po iyon, fees po iyon.’ Imagine that vague answer, they don’t even know what to do.”
—Chiz Escudero, Philippines senator, who says online gaming taxes are not ending up in government coffers
“It’s not often that you get to beat the house, but a successful class action can do that for shareholders wanting accountability and better standards of corporate conduct from Crown.”
—Julian Schimmel, class action lawyer, on a lawsuit brewing against Crown Resorts following the arrest of employees in China that sent share values plummeting
“Despite its flimsy conclusions, this willfully misleading document gives the bogus veneer of an official and independent parliamentary report and risks causing considerable damage to our industry and a negative impact on the shareholders of some of our members.”
—Malcolm George, CEO, Association of British Bookmakers, on a parliamentary study calling for lower maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals
“This action would be damaging to not only the Atlantic City tourism industry, but the meetings and convention industry as well. The Meet AC team has been working hard to place a positive image of Atlantic City, while booking record-breaking business. The proposed bill would put another road block into the process of selling the destination.”
—Jeff Albrecht, board chairman of Meet AC, Atlantic City’s convention bureau after the board passed a resolution opposing a $2 hotel room tax designed to fund public safety in the resort
“The project would not only horrendously affect the environment, but change Palm Springs forever, and not for the better.”
—Frank Tysen, owner of a hotel in Palm Springs, commenting on a proposed redesign of the entertainment district owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
“It’s not our brand. We’re about parks, we’re about schools, we’re about marching bands, band reviews.”
—Joe Texeira, a resident of Elk Grove, California, who opposes a casino proposed for the town by the Wilton Rancheria tribe
“With two casinos, we have an opportunity to create hundreds of jobs, bring in hundreds of millions of dollars into our state, and help our struggling communities. The majority of the people of New Hampshire are in favor of gaming and it’s time for the Legislature to listen.”
—Lou D’Allesandro, a state senator in New Hampshire, who has introduced a bill that would allow two casinos in the Granite State
