FreedomAtStake's Blog

LV Sun: Neither candidate supports online gambling

By FreedomAtStake | View all Posts
Posted Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:00 PM   9 comments
The LV Sun has actually been providing better than half-decent coverage of online gambling lately.

Today, they featured a story by Jeff Haney, who tackles the obvious fact that online gambling is such an insignificant issue that neither candidate can be considered a pro or anti online gambling crusader.

The article quotes Jay Lakin from PokerSourceOnline, who seems to spend most of his days providing quotes for newspaper articles. Anyway, Mr. Lakin provides a nice analysis of the situation.

Of particular note, and what is revealing to me, is the fact that Lakin brings up when discussing the Frank-Paul bill which stalled in committee a few months ago after a 32-32 deadlock:

Of the 32 lawmakers voting against it, 28 were Republican.

“It’s pretty much split down party lines,” he said. “Republicans don’t want gambling legalized, Democrats do, and Republicans will do or say whatever they need to do to make sure it stays illegal.”

That about sums it up.

This article follows another nice article the LV Sun published a few days ago, titled "Loyalists, until it comes to Internet gambling", which explains the bizarre situation brewing within the Poker Players Alliance, which is comprised mainly of Republican-leaning poker players, who are growing concerned that their party of choice is working against their beliefs and is turning America into a nanny state.

Are they just figuring this out now?

9 comments
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KOAJ says:
08/27/08 12:13PM
Democrats do
---------
i find that hard to believe when the leader of the Senate, Harry Reid D-Nevada will do everything he can to protect the gambling industry in vegas keeping the revenue home for his constituents

Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, also supports the study bill, but

doesn’t envision a pro-gambling plank coming this year in the

Democratic Party platform.

lemonsky says:
08/27/08 12:51PM
Why so many politicians feel the need to grovel before the Religious Fourth Reich confounds me. Actually, I understand why McCain would do it because he needs to rally the base.

Obama will not get these votes but seems to think that pandering to them will get them to change their minds.

Sadly, Obama is just another spineless power-grabbing narcissist. Though I'll vote for him, it's due to avoiding a worse alternative.
LeRinkRat says:
08/28/08 01:38PM
the Poker Players Alliance tend to be Republican? isn't that like a Chicken voting for Col Sanders?

I will agree with the last sentence in "lemonsky"s post. once again in this election, I'm forced to vote for Obama as "the lesser of two weasels"

grdred944 says:
08/28/08 02:38PM
The PPA is pretty much down the middle when it comes to political demographics. Most of the one million+ members have other issues on their plate in addition to online gaming. Things like the war and the economy will affect their vote more than legalized poker or sports betting online.

Where most people miss the boat on this is that the real issue for Democrats is banking, not whether they feel some sense of glee at providing a level of freedom to online gaming zealots. They want U.S. banks to control the money flow (which they want because the banks want them to want). In order for U.S. banks to be involved the operatiors of online gaming interests will have to be established companies doing business in the U.S. (read: Harrah's = good, Bodog = bad).

It really is that simple. If Obama wins (shudder) then look for a move to legalize under s structure of running your cash through a Bank of America and placing your bets through Harrah's and MGM/Mirage. It'll be taxed and Congress will be happy. If McCain wins things will remain the same until Hillary wins in 2012. Then we can revist it all over again.

cyearian says:
08/28/08 07:58PM
Obama "the lesser of two weasels" - WOW, who is he running against? Polosi? You must either be in college and not "GET IT" yet or your only source of income is illegal gambling or some other source of tax evasion.
MrMannix says:
08/29/08 12:14AM
Vote Bob Barr
LeRinkRat says:
08/29/08 12:53AM
keep drinking the "RepusiveCan't" KoolAid, cyearian. you must obviously think that George Bush's policies have been great for America because John McCain's own record shows he would be four more years of the same.

and btw, he tried to outlaw betting on college sports here in Nevada in both 2000 and 2001 which in itself is enough for me to vote against him. the tourists that come to Las Vegas for "March Madness" alone bring in tens of millions of dollars every year so I "GET IT" when it comes to my state's economy.

and that's not to mention the weekenders that come here during football season. College Football is second only to the NFL in handle at our LEGAL Nevada sportsbooks.

Megamaniak says:
09/02/08 01:52AM
I'm scared of all fake politicians, claiming this that and the other.

It's all Socialism and Socialism Light, take your pick partners.

I'm gonna smoke a hooter and than bet on the NFL, let's go U.S.!!!!

thespeculator says:
09/03/08 09:36AM
we need to accept this is not likely to change for long time, these sports leagues are the most anti - online gambling , yet they have no problem going to england , where not only is online legal, they actually have books in the stadiums.
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