Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is gearing up for a war on online gambling. According to an article this weekend in the Washington Post, the 80-year old baron of blackjack will soon embark on a public campaign to try to turn public officials and voters alike against internet gaming.
The first step: launch the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, which will include child advocacy groups. Adelson also hopes to recruit organizations that represent women, Hispanics, and African Americans. The coaltion’s message will be the simple idea that online gambling (not brick and mortar gambling, mind you) is dangerous, especially to children, the elderly, and other potentially vulnerable groups.
Three former elected officials have already been hired as co-chairs of the coalition: former New York governor George Pataki (R), former mayor of Denver Wellington Webb (D), and former United States Senator Blanche Lincoln (D – Ark). It is likely no coincidence that two of the co-chairs are Democrats. Adelson and his wife are perhaps best known to the general public for having spent almost $100 million to support Republican candidates in the 2012 elections. Having two Democrats on his team makes the coalition look apolitical.
He certainly convinced Webb, who told the Washington Post, “I don’t believe this issue is about him, because if it was about him, I wouldn’t do it. Unlike where he was in the presidential, he’s on the right side of this issue.”
Though someone with Adelson’s resources could be extremely intimidating to the competition, the fact that he was largely unsuccessful in his political dealings last year gives those who want to legalize online gambling confidence. “We don’t make a habit of picking fights with billionaires,” John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) told the Post. “But in this case, I think we’ll win, because millions of Americans who want to play online will oppose this legislation, along with dozens and dozens of states that want the freedom to authorize any kind of gaming they see fit.”
Those who oppose Adelson feel that he is taking the wrong tactic to protect children and other people perceives as vulnerable from online gambling. Nobody argues that gambling can’t be dangerous or be abused. What Adelson’s opponents argue, in part, is that a blanket ban on the activity will force it underground and those who do still end up playing will be at greater risk without the protections a regulated market could offer.
Last month, Adelson and his Las Vegas Sands Corporation commissioned a study which polled 2,200 “likely” voters in California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky to gauge their feelings about the legalization of online poker. The survey, which has been criticizes as flawed and biased, found that people generally were fine with land-based casino gambling, but were strongly against (in terms of percentages) online gambling. The survey will no doubt be used by Adelson as ammunition in his upcoming battle against internet gaming.