“I read the same news reports you do but I have no inside information on that at all. Nobody’s talked about it to me, no.”
—Stephen Crosby, chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, commenting on whether Wynn Resorts might sell the Wynn Boston Harbor it is building
“Dr. Ho has justifiably been acknowledged as the founding father of Macau’s gaming industry, which has for some time been the largest in the world in terms of revenue.”
—Statement from SJM Holdings on the retirement of Stanley Ho as the operator’s chairman
“There was never any question in my mind that Steve Wynn needed to leave the company. But, barring more revelations, stripping the company of its license seems like an unwise move to me.”
—Adrian Walker, columnist for the Boston Globe, arguing that Wynn Resorts shouldn’t be forced to sell the Wynn Boston Harbor
“MGM still has not put their cards on the table. They have some really glossy pictures of a Bridgeport casino. MGM has its hands in multiple pots. If they want to put something in Bridgeport, they need to stop promising and participate in some kind of study.”
— Joe Aresimowicz, Connecticut Speaker of the House, calling on MGM Entertainment to provide a comprehensive proposal for a casino in Bridgeport
“Legalization of casinos within China remains highly unlikely. However, in a black swan scenario where casinos are legalized in Hainan, we think the impact to the Big 6 concessionaires would be negligible.”
—Sonny Lo, professor, Hong Kong University, who says the Chinese island of Hainan is not a convenient destination for many of Macau’s customers
“Even if they open up to gambling, it would not have a big impact on Macau. The city is on its way to becoming a diversified convention center with entertainment shows, exhibitions and expos. It aims to become the next Las Vegas.”
—Clement Chan Kam-wing, managing director, accounting firm BDO, who says expanded gaming on the Chinese island of Hainan will have minimum impact on Macau and Hong Kong
“The Gold Coast is a new global sporting hub with unparalleled sports hosting ability. The games may be over, but the Gold Coast is only at the starting blocks.”
—Shelly Winkel, Tourism and Events Queensland, on the success of the 21st Commonwealth Games, and the Gold Coast’s potential as a sporting destination
“A hydra-like three-headed co-chairman group and the elevation of entrenched management is not an indication that any shakeup at the company is forthcoming (as some bulls of the stock have hoped).”
—Vitaly Umansky, Zhen Gong and Cathy Huang, Bernstein analysts, on the reshuffling of the executive tier at Macau casino operator SJM Holdings
“We will make the necessary investments, even if severe conditions are imposed and the world’s strictest regulations are put in place.”
—Ako Shiraogawa, president, Melco Japan, on the company’s commitment to the emerging market
“The large number of people gathering is due to growing anger. A strong sense of crisis is spreading—people now sincerely feel they have to speak out for what is right.”
—Takeshi Suwahara, one of the leaders of a protest against beleaguered Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
“They all sucked. We haven’t been able to see what a real integrated resort could do.”
—Grant Govertsen, of previous resorts on the South Korean island of Jeju, now the site of several billion-dollar projects in development
“If the U.S. side disregards opposition from China and the international community and insists on carrying out unilateralism and trade protectionism, the Chinese side will take them on until the end at any cost.”
—China Ministry of Commerce, in a statement about a trade war with the United States
“Counteracting China’s growing economic influence requires trade policy developed through negotiation and diplomacy, not social media. His chest-thumping and trade wars with China will cause more harm than good.”
—U.S. Rep. Ruben Kihuen, Nevada Democrat, calling on President Trump to negotiate seriously with China instead of poking the government on Twitter
“Even when the revised smoking law comes into effect in 2019, the gamblers will not be willing to leave their tables to smoke in the smoking lounges. For these gamblers, especially the VIP players, the existing fine is a small amount for them and not a deterrent at all.”
—Cloee Chao, Macau labor activist, who wants smokers who light up in casinos to be blacklisted, not fined. The current fine is MOP1,500 (US$186)
“I was thinking that we should maybe have a James Bond casino, a Casino Royale.”
—Wilfred Wong, president, Sands China Ltd., on the company’s planned rebrand of Sands Cotai Central into the Londoner
“Can I touch your boobs? Should we have an affair when the budget is enacted? I will tie your hands.”
—Recorded remarks attributed to Junichi Fukuda, Japan’s former administrative vice minister of finance. Fukuda resigned but said he does not recognize the voice on the tape as his own
“If the police ask you something, just tell them you thought it was a gaming cafe, and you’ll be off the hook.”
—Tsuyoshi Fujita, writing in the Mainichi about widespread illegal gaming in Osaka, Japan
