Trump Running Mate Vowed to Limit Gambling, Then Helped Casinos After Donations
In a collaboration between MapLight political reporter Andrew Perez and International Business Times investigations editor David Sirota, the two report that US GOP nominee Donald Trump’s running mate once promised to limit gambling in his state of Indiana then went on to help the casinos following donations made by them.
Gambling911.com’s own Thomas Somach had previously analyzed Pence’s stance on gambling, determining his position to be negative regarding the activity.
Somach wrote this summer:
The highly conservative Pence is about as anti-gambling as a politician can get, including opposing expansion of casino gambling in his state while governor and, before that, opposing legalizing online gambling while a congressman.
During his 15-year political career, Pence, 57, has opposed gambling at every turn.
According to VoteSmart.org, a non-partisan website that tracks the votes of politicians on various issues, Pence while a congressman consistently voted against pro-gambling-related bills and for anti-gambling-related bills.
Perez and Sirota offer a different take heading into the US Vice Presidential Debate Tuesday night.
As casino industry cash went around Indiana’s anti-corruption laws and into groups supporting Pence’s campaigns, the GOP governor used his power to help gambling interests. While Trump has promised throughout the 2016 presidential campaign that his personal wealth would insulate his administration from donor influence, the actions of his running mate on the gaming issue challenge that pledge.
They added:
During much of Pence’s term, he was serving in a leadership and fundraising role at the Republican Governors Association while the group raised money from Indiana gaming operators. Meanwhile, casinos hit a legislative jackpot at Indiana’s state Capitol: Pence signed tax legislation benefiting the gaming industry; and, by not vetoing the bill, he allowed for the passage of separate landmark legislation permitting riverboat operators to move casinos on shore. His administration also helped a major RGA donor from the lottery industry, GTECH. (That company has since merged with a competitor, International Game Technology.)
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
