## A High-Stakes Wager: Gaming Sector Aims to Ante Up in Election
With the US presidential race intensifying, the casino sector is upping the ante in its bid to sway the result.
The selection of the Wynn Las Vegas, the crown jewel of casino tycoon Steve Wynn, for the inaugural Democratic primary debate raised eyebrows. Wynn, of course, has been a vocal critic of President Obama on crucial matters such as healthcare and the national economy. Yet, given the lengthy and intertwined past of gambling and presidential campaigns, the decision to host this pivotal event at a glamorous Vegas establishment isn’t entirely unexpected. Indeed, considering the undeniable connection between the gaming industry and the 2016 election, the venue seems almost preordained.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is placing a significant bet on elevating the industry’s visibility in the impending election. Their “Gaming Votes” campaign seeks to guarantee that presidential contenders grasp the purported financial influence of casinos, particularly regarding “employment generation and financial expansion.” Simultaneously, the AGA wants to ensure casino employees are informed about each candidate’s stance on gambling-related topics.
Jeff Freeman, head of the AGA, has penned letters to all the candidates, imploring them to publicly express their backing for the gaming sector. The message is unambiguous: in this high-stakes match of political maneuvering, the house always desires a place at the table.
He deemed Nevada a “pivotal battleground state” and stressed that contenders “should possess knowledge of the contemporary gambling sector, a $53 billion industry sustaining roughly 425,000 positions in Nevada and yielding nearly $8 billion in fiscal receipts.” The correspondence proposed that the addressee interact with elected representatives in Nevada, frequent casinos or vendors, and convene with individuals directly profiting from the sector.
Furthermore, Nevada isn’t the sole focus. Previous October, the American Gaming Association escorted Senator Cory Gardner, Congressman Scott Tipton, business and civic leaders from the Denver vicinity, and testing engineers to tour and conduct a roundtable dialogue at Gaming Laboratories International’s central office in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. “We’re not your ancestor’s casino sector, but a national economic engine generating well-compensated employment opportunities in every part of Colorado,” stated Freeman. “While most Coloradans don’t patronize a casino daily, the industry significantly contributes to education, tourism, and more for the state and its inhabitants.”
**The Matters at Hand**
Upon examining the particular gaming topics, conversations, and allusions that have surfaced in the presidential race thus far, we observe our attention primarily on the Republican faction. At the second Republican debate, hosted in Simi Valley, California, contenders Jeb Bush and Donald Trump sparred over the latter’s purported aim to introduce casino gambling to Florida.
In a fiery clash aired by U.S. news organizations, Bush and Trump openly clashed.
“He desired to establish gambling venues in Florida…” Bush declared.
“I did not—” Trump countered.
“Indeed, you did,” Bush maintained.
“Utterly untrue,” Trump snapped back.
“You wished for it, and you were denied because I opposed—” Bush carried on.
“I would have secured it,” Trump interjected.
“—gambling establishments, then, presently, or ever,” Bush concluded.
“I guarantee, I would have acquired it,” Trump vowed.
“—I am not beholden to anyone,” Bush stressed.
“I assure you, if I had wanted it, I would have obtained it,” Trump repeated.
Politifact.com, a prominent fact-verification platform, scrutinized the altercation. Their verdict? “We unearthed no proof that Trump directly sought gaming privileges from the state, but abundant evidence suggests Trump was pursuing an agreement to manage casinos on Seminole territory in Florida. Simultaneously, Trump contributed to Bush and the state Republican Party during Bush’s 1998 gubernatorial campaign.”
The heated dispute illustrated both individuals’ temperaments and their dedication to their positions. Nevertheless, during the subsequent debate at the University of Colorado, another contender for the Republican candidacy, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, was less welcoming when the subject of Daily Fantasy Sports oversight arose. Christie, who had been combating a federal prohibition on land-based sports wagering in New Jersey, appeared almost perplexed. “Are we truly discussing government intervention in fantasy football? Hold on,” he remarked, seemingly struggling to comprehend the notion of DFS.
The nation is buried in debt, citizens are jobless, and dangerous individuals aim to inflict damage. Why are we squandering time discussing a trivial game? Let’s prioritize significant issues! Fantasy sports are prevalent enough, allow individuals to partake. What’s the concern?
Within the GOP sphere, speculation abounds regarding the chosen candidate of tycoon Sheldon Adelson. He expended a considerable sum supporting Romney and Gingrich in the 2012 election. Rumors suggest Marco Rubio is his favored contender in the current race. Republican hopefuls are practically imploring Adelson for his endorsement, aspiring for his wealth to facilitate their journey to the presidency. Rubio has been frequently observed with Adelson, even appearing to heed his policy recommendations. For instance, Rubio co-authored legislation to prohibit internet wagering, a cause close to Adelson’s heart. It seems Rubio might secure a substantial windfall in campaign donations.
Although the United States gaming sector couldn’t predict the victor of the 2016 Presidential race, and even a wealthy CEO such as Sheldon Adelson could merely endorse a Republican candidate and not secure the election through financial means, it undoubtedly had an impact. This sway wasn’t solely due to Adelson’s significant wealth, but also the financial influence of the casino sector, as highlighted by the American Gaming Association, and the infrequent, yet consistent, emergence of particular topics during the campaign. In reality, the industry’s presence was noticeable until the very conclusion, with the last presidential debate preceding the 2016 election occurring at the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas – a short distance from the Las Vegas Strip.
**What are their positions on wagering?**
**An examination of the viewpoints on gaming held by several presidential contenders:**
**Hillary Clinton (Democrat)**
In 1984, then-First Lady of Arkansas Clinton embarked on a speaking engagement tour opposing the introduction of casinos in her state. Nevertheless, by 2000, she was advocating for proposals for casinos in the Catskills and Niagara Falls. Regarding the latter, she stated: “If Niagara Falls believes that a casino is a component of their future to attempt to draw more visitors to a region that was once one of America’s premier tourist destinations, I am in favor of that.” Clinton cast her vote in favor of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, but in 2008 expressed her support for an investigation to ascertain whether internet gambling could be regulated.
**Bernie Sanders (Democrat)**
In 2006, Bernie Sanders demonstrated his endorsement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) not solely through statements but also through his ballot. He supported a modification intended to cease all internet wagering, encompassing those involving expertise. Although that modification ultimately did not pass, it reveals his position at the time.
Marco Rubio, a member of the Republican Party, has consistently resisted the growth of betting. As a joint sponsor of the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA), which endeavored to prohibit online gambling, he labeled it a “levy on the impoverished” that does not aid the financial system. Nevertheless, he has recognized that online poker might be distinct due to the skill required. He even deemed Florida’s efforts to broaden gambling “ill-advised” and morally wrong in 2009.
Donald Trump’s past with wagering is more intricate. While he constructed his Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts domain, he hasn’t been directly engaged since 2009, although he allegedly still obtains a portion for the utilization of his name. Of his three Atlantic City casinos, one (Trump Plaza) shut down in 2014, one (Trump Taj Mahal) remains operational, and the final one (Trump’s Marina) is now the Golden Nugget. He also momentarily possessed a 10% share in the Las Vegas Riviera casino in 2004.
*This article was initially published in the January/February edition of Gambling Insider magazine.*
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