“The only place we can go with our program is to great cities with a great culture. So the size and the richness of the Japanese market make it the perfect place in which we can plant our flower. Our flower is not suited to every place.”
—Steve Wynn, on why he likes Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka as possible casino locations
“Considering potential dangers and safety issues, we emailed our colleagues who were on duty to partake ‘of their own free will’ which was misinterpreted by some colleagues as ‘free labor.’ There’s a difference between ‘volunteer’ and ‘free labor,’ but it is one and the same word in English.”
—Buddy Lam, Galaxy Entertainment Group, on the uproar that erupted on social media after casino employees were asked to help clean up a pool area after Typhoon Hato, and Lam calls it “a big misunderstanding”
“I started playing the pokies when I was 17. Poker machines took over my life for the next 14 years. This case is not about seeking compensation for what I lost—I just want to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
—Shonica Guy, plaintiff in a federal case in Australia against Crown Resorts and Aristocrat; Guy wants the slot machines she lost on removed from Crown properties
“The gambling industry is well aware of the research outlining the harmful effects of problem gambling on vulnerable people. Our concern is that despite these known risks, the industry continues to exploit vulnerable problem gamblers by knowingly designing machines that are misleading and deceptive.”
—Jennifer Kanis, lawyer, Maurice Blackburn, who is trying the Shonica Guy case on a pro bono basis
“It’s the machine. It’s designed for addiction, it’s built for addiction. This case will show that it’s misleading, it’s deceptive, it’s rigged.”
—Tim Costello, anti-gambling activist, on the lawsuit filed by Shonica Guy against Crown Resorts and Aristocrat, claiming the latter’s slot machine tricks gamblers
“There has been no consideration of a bowls club which has been here for more than 100 years, or of the easy access to car parking that bowlers enjoy when they come to this magnificent bowls club.”
—Eddy Sarroff, former Gold Coast councillor and bowling enthusiast, protesting a possible development at a Southport bowls club
“There is no such thing as luck. If you’re not willing to commit then don’t even think of starting.”
—Stephen Hung, the billionaire behind the 13 Hotel in Macau, which still has not opened five years after it was first announced
“It’s not going to happen overnight. The deals are quite complex so we have to piece it out and see what is the best deal for the government.”
—Carlos G. Dominguez III, Philippines finance secretary, on the planned privatization of casinos owned by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“Life has such realistic demands. We’ve got to go with the flow and work out an appropriate management mechanism.”
—Phung Quoc Hien, vice chairman, Vietnam National Assembly, in a cryptic comment on the possible legalization of prostitution in casino zones. He supports the plan
“Vietnam is still short of the highest political will to legalize prostitution, but to be fair, Vietnam’s relevant policies on prostitution have made some significant headway.”
—Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives in Hanoi, who calls legal prostitution in Vietnam a way to combat human trafficking
“They made a last-ditch effort yesterday and today to try to change people’s minds on changing our bill or slowing it down. The card rooms did some nasty commercials again, as they did earlier in the city of Elk Grove referendum campaign.”
—Raymond Hitchcock, Wilton Rancheria tribal Chairman, commenting on the opposition that formed to the Assembly Bill that approved his tribe’s gaming compact with California
“The proponents shouldn’t start popping champagne corks just yet.”
—Cheryl Schmit, director of Sand Up for California, commenting on her group’s court challenge to a casino resort proposed by the Wilton Rancheria in Elk Grove
“The settlement agreement ensures that the tribe’s assets and operations, as well as the interests of the public, are protected. The goal is that people may return to work and vital programs and services can be restored to all tribal members.”
—Jonodev Chaudhuri, chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, commenting on an agreement between the federal government and the Nooksack Tribe of Washington that allows it to reopen its casino
“Let’s come together this fall and do it again, proving to the rest of the country that our democracy in this state isn’t simply for sale to the highest bidder.”
—Maine activist Jim Fossel, calling for the defeat of Question 1 in November, an initiative that would allow a casino in York County, Maine
“Being a partner is something that we’ve gotten pretty good at. To the extent that more of those come along down the road I think we’d definitely be open to it.”
—Mario Kontomerkos, newly appointed CEO of Mohegan Gaming, attributing the company’s improved financials over the last few years to expanding its number of properties from one to seven
