Billionaire and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson is making political news again and appears set to spend more money on a long-running political fight.
This time, Adelson is ready to challenge an issue that hits closer to the industry that helped him make his billions. It is being reported by The Washington Post that Adelson is preparing to front his riches for a fight against the legalization of online gambling.
The Washington Post notes that “Adelson is preparing a public campaign to portray online gambling as a danger to children, the poor and others who could be exploited by easy access to Internet betting.” He is already working with lobbyists in Washington to begin vocalizing his point of view and plans to unveil a coalition advocacy group in January which will enlist children advocates and other groups that may find harm by the legalization of online gambling.
Other casino owners and advocates for the legalization of online gambling are aware of the power and finances Adelson can bring to the fight and have taken note of how serious and dedicated he appears to be towards his cause but they seem ready to fight back.
When speaking about Adelson, executive director of Poker Players Alliance, John Pappas, said, “We don’t make a habit of picking fights with billionaires, 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.”
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