“It is estimated that the reforms in this bill could disrupt up to .7 billion in fraud and drug crime over the next 10 years. Estimates also suggest they may prevent up to billion in broader criminal activity and reduce about 0 million in social harm related to the illegal drug trade.
—Amy Adams, New Zealand justice minister, on extending anti-money laundering laws that to include sports and race betting
“Those are obscene losses. For me, if anybody can sit there for that long and lose that much money, they’re not being watched and there is no intervention.”
—Carolyn Harris, UK lawmakers, on a report stating that seven gamblers lost £10,000 in one sitting over a 10-month period. Harris recommends cutting the maximum stake on FOBTs from £100 to £2
“It’s competition that drives up state revenue from casinos. If you have multiple offers on the table, then you’ll know you got the best deal.”
—Uri Clinton, legal counsel for MGM Resorts, urging the Connecticut legislature to open the casino process to proposals outside of that of its two gaming tribes
“Someone from Las Vegas is telling you they don’t want to be in your town but they want to tell you how to run your town. It’s insulting.”
—Connecticut state Senator Tim Larson, reacting to advice from MGM Resorts urging the state to open its casino process to commercial bids
“We know this for certain: thousands of jobs are going to go away and $70 million in state slot revenue will disappear immediately.”
—Kevin P. Brown, chairman of the Mohegan tribe, arguing for a third tribal casino in Connecticut to blunt the effects of the MGM casino in Massachusetts
“It’s an addiction, often, gambling. And there are definitely people who can gamble who are not addicted, who are not in danger of spending their last paycheck. But there are also people who have that struggle.”
—Michelle Cares of the Missoula City Council reacting to a new casino joining the 20 already operating in the Montana city, which she thinks may be too many
