If online poker proponents were hoping that Sheldon Adelson would quietly go away after losing his bid to end US iGaming last year, they are unfortunately mistaken. Like the mask-wearing murderer in a horror movie, Adelson just keeps getting up no matter what’s thrown at him. Case in point, the 81-year-old billionaire has already had a private meeting with GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee to start 2015. That said, let’s discuss what this meeting was about and if it furthers Adelson’s chances of abolishing iPoker.
Strategy Discussion
As TownHall.com explains, the reason why the Las Vegas Sands Chairman wanted this private meeting was to talk strategy for 2015 efforts to ban iGaming on a federal level. He also wanted updates from Republican politicians on how his anti-online gaming agenda is progressing.
There’s no word yet on whether Adelson’s lobbyists or actual members of the judiciary committee came up with the idea for the briefing. But the fact that it was held in any form assures that the casino magnate still poses some sort of threat.
Money Talks
One doesn’t have to look hard for reasons why GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee were willing to meet with Adelson. Last year, he donated over $90 million to Republican candidates, and this amount won’t dwindle much as the 2016 Presidential Race draws nearer.
Rep. Jason E. Chaffetz (R.-Utah) and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R.-S.C.), who’ve penned anti-online gaming legislation on Adelson’s request, both sit on the judiciary committee. Adding in the fact that they have also received generous campaign donations from Adelson, the latter is definitely gaining some political sway with the millions he’s spent.
Will the Meeting have an Impact?
While any well-backed effort to end US iGaming is troublesome, it doesn’t seem like most politicians are willing to back Adelson’s campaign – even if he has given them campaign money. Here’s one excerpt from TownHall on the matter:
“The effort has also created the awkward situation, where conservatives and libertarians—often the beneficiaries of the $100 million Adelson has contributed to GOP candidates and campaigns—have to tell the man that they cannot outlaw his online competition, even if it is the only thing he ever asked them to do for him.”
The article goes on to discuss how most of those whom Adelson has funded either don’t have a problem with online gaming, or they don’t want to trample states’ rights with a federal online gaming ban. So for the time being, it seems that Adelson still has lots of ground to cover if he ever wants to get online poker banned.