Sheldon Adelson's War Against Online Gambling

When Sheldon Adelson, staunch Republican and wealthy casino magnate, launched his campaign against the federal legalization of online gambling earlier this year, many dismissed his efforts as naïve and misguided. People even thought it somewhat comical when he argued about the immorality of internet gambling, given the fact that he made his own fortune from land-based casinos! 

But half a year later, with only three states having passed legislation for online gambling, Adelson has seized the drop in momentum by getting the American Gaming Association (AGA) to stop supporting online gambling.  

The AGA had been actively supporting online gambling since March 2010, but their position had created a rift within the organization, with Adelson's Las Vegas Sands on one side and Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts on the other side. 

Now, Adelson has been able to get them to change their position, and has recruited high-profile retired politicians Richard Gephardt and Alphonse D'Amato to his cause. Adelson has also managed to recruit fellow casino billionaire Steve Wynn, former New York governor George Pataki and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

Setbacks to State Online Gambling

Concurrently, New Jersey's gambling numbers as of late have been disappointing, and California, one of the biggest states now considering online gambling, is facing considerable setbacks. Tribal casinos have been joining the fray in promotion of their own interests, which has essentially frozen any forward movement in the State.

While Adelson cannot be blamed for such setbacks as tribal interests, it is obvious that his role in the debate over internet gambling has put proponents of the issue on the defensive, and has pushed to the public forum issues such as cheating, underage gambling and gambling addiction.