Harry Reid, a Friend and Foe of Internet Poker, Dies at 82

Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader and Nevada’s longest-serving member of Congress, died at his Henderson home at the age of 82.

Reid died Tuesday, “peacefully” and surrounded by friends at home in suburban Henderson, “following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer,” according to family members and a statement from Landra Reid, his wife of 62 years.

“Harry was a devout family man and deeply loyal friend,” she said. "We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support from so many over these past few years. We are especially grateful for the doctors and nurses that cared for him. Please know that meant the world to him,” Landra Reid said.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in coming days, she said.

Reid was both a friend and a foe to internet poker.

In 2012, he rushed legislation that would make the activity legal at the federal level.  The bill was a "work in progress" that didn't get very far that session.

In 2015, Reid appeared to support efforts by the late GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson to prevent most forms of online gambling.

"I think, for the state of Nevada, online gaming is not the direction we should go," Reid said during a radio interview.

- Ace King, Gambling911.com