“I’m not a dummy. I recognize that harness racing is a dying business. The only thing that will save me at the Meadowlands is a casino.”
—Jeff Gural, owner of New Jersey’s Meadowlands racetrack to the Press of Atlantic City on his continuing fight to bring a casino to the track even after voters in the state rejected casino expansion
“They did a beautiful job on the boardwalk in Long Branch. But why didn’t they do that here? Couldn’t you have done that on Texas Avenue?”
—Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, complaining in an interview with the Press of Atlantic City that the casino revenues from the state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority are doing much more for cities in North Jersey than for Atlantic City itself, which is in dire need of reinvestment
“South Carolina’s roads are in terrible shape, and we desperately need sustainable infrastructure funding. But the idea of building a casino in Myrtle Beach to help fund statewide road improvements is not a solution.”
—Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce chief Brad Dean, in a statement opposing a bill in the South Carolina House that would create a casino in the resort town
“The state condemns the existence of illegal gambling activities as a source of widespread social menace and source of corruption as it has become an influential factor in an individual’s disregard for the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift.”
—Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines president, in an executive order calling for an end to illegal gambling in all forms
“I did not offer anything. I have never been involved in any wrongdoing. If anybody can prove that I am a middleman or I know Jack Lam, I don’t need a hearing anymore, I will go straight to prison.”
—Wally Sombero, former chief superintendent, Philippines Bureau of Immigration, now under investigation for alleged bribery
“It’s time the amusement arcade industry cleaned up its act and got its house in order. Arcade owners should be doing far more to support responsible gambling. This research from the Gambling Commission clearly shows that people can lose more money, more quickly in an amusement arcade than a betting shop.”
—Association of British Bookmakers, calling for arcade operators to catch up with other betting shops on consumer protections and problem gambling
“As mayor I am all about jobs, jobs, jobs for Gold Coasters. As part of our plan to revitalize investment throughout the city, the council is committed to making the necessary decisions to revive the Gold Coast’s ‘have a go’ spirit and economic prosperity.”
—Tom Tate, Gold Coast mayor, in a statement welcoming Aquis Australia’s investment in the vicinity
“We are now the proud owners of a bankrupt outlet mall.”
—Raymond Hitchcock, chairman of the Wilton Rancheria, announcing the purchase of 36 acres owned by the Howard Hughes Corporation that is part of an unfinished mall in Elk Grove, California
“This is a big deal. It’s a great day for the tribe, for Elk Grove and for Sacramento County.”
—Jim Cooper, California state assemblyman commenting on the purchase of land in Elk Grove by the Wilton Rancheria for a $500 million casino
“I’m no fan of casinos. But I do believe in fairness, and Native Americans in Massachusetts have been denied justice for decades. It’s partly because the tribe is going through a federal process that doesn’t involve the state, and partly because competitors are working to stop its casino.”
—Joan Vennochi of the Boston Globe, commenting on the continuing saga of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s efforts to build a casino in Taunton, Massachusetts
“Over the past years, we’ve seen nearly every state get into the gambling business. We’ve reached an oversaturation point, where the only way to grow that business is to create more addicted gamblers.”
—State Senator Tony Hwang of Connecticut, who opposes allowing the state’s two gaming tribes to build a third, satellite casino on non-tribal land
“The casino floor is going to change. The games are going to change. The people inside the casino are going to change.”
—Steve Stallings, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA,) on the changing technology of gaming
“Not all new visitors to Queensland will want to stay in a casino. Our project’s unique beachfront location will make the Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches the star attraction. We will be targeting travelers that want to experience the best restaurants, the best beaches and the best accommodation away from the hustle and bustle of the integrated resorts.”
—Tony Fung, Aquis Resorts, who opted against opening a casino on Australia’s Gold Coast when the licensing process stalled and is now talking it up as a plus
“From my experience with the operators throughout this whole process, they have been professional. So I can only say: trust my judgment, I am bound by my code of conduct. I’m an academic, a scholar, and I’m responsible for my field. The facts are here.”
—Desmond Lam, UMacau associate professor, whose poll, commissioned by casino operators, suggests casino employees don’t want a full smoking ban
“There is no way this would pass the pub test. The optics aren’t great: a firm run by Andrew Demetriou awards deal to company he is a board member of.”
—Anonymous source, on a deal between Crown Resorts and ClubsNSW that was brokered by Beyond Boundaries, owned by Crown board member Demetriou
