“I thought he was doing a great job. His charge was to grow the business and he did that. I’m just not sure what’s going on over there anymore. I’m going to miss him.”
—Bethlehem, Pennsylvania South Side Task Force Chairman Roger Hudak, on the surprise resignation of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem President Mark Juliano
“If Congress is able to provide a prescription for the incongruities of the reorganization act, we would be pleased to see the Mashpee’s land-into-trust affirmed. And despite our opinion that casino gambling’s promises are far from a sure thing, we support the Mashpee Wampanoag right to use their land as they choose.”
—South Coast Today, in an editorial supporting the right of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts to put land into trust for a casino in Taunton
“You now have all these people drinking all but four hours a day, filtering into the neighborhood. It just changes everything.”
—Celeste Myers, anti-casino activist in Boston, criticizing a new law that allows Bay State casinos to serve alcohol until 4 a.m., instead of 2 a.m.
“This was just another small hurdle on our path toward self-sufficiency,” Hitchcock said. “This decision solidly confirms the placing of land into federal trust was valid and that we have every right to continue forward with our economic development plans.”
—Raymond Hitchcock, tribal chairman of Wilton Rancheria in Northern California, reacting to the Department of the Interior’s denial of an appeal of a decision putting land into trust at Elk Grove for the tribe
“We don’t believe a single member of Japan’s assembled Expert Committee has as much as one day’s experience planning, building, or operating an IR or a casino. This is a problem as there seems to be a growing disconnect between what sounds good on paper vs. how things will actually play out in real life.”
—Grant Govertsen, Union Gaming, on the growing dread that Japan policy makers are about to blow their chance to build a legal casino industry
“In people’s minds, and especially children, the concept of sports and gambling have become so intertwined that they can’t think about one without the other. That’s what people regard as really dangerous.”
—David Rowe, professor, Western Sydney University, on the uproar after a spate of gambling ads aired during a recent rugby league finale
“Pokies rip billions of dollars from Victorian communities each year and the government’s freeze on pokies isn’t going to do anything to reverse that trend.”
—Nina Springle, South East Metropolitan state Greens MP for the city of Monash
“There is no longer any excuse for a company that is this profitable. If you look at how this company is growing, they have to pay.”
—Ros Phearun, deputy director-general, Cambodian Finance Industry Department, on taxing NagaCorp’s non-gaming operations
“They overcooked the pudding. While it’s a very clearly defined demographic they aim at, the general sporting public finds the advertising overbearing and annoying.’’
—Malcolm Speed, Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, on millions in Aussie TV ads pitching gambling
