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- Legislation revived one day after $20 million contribution made by Sheldon Adelson to super PAC tied closely to Senate Majority Leader
- Bill is revamped version of Adelson-backed measure that would ban Internet gambling
- Bill would prohibit financial institutions from processing online gambling transactions
Three Republican Senators have revived legislation that would ban online gambling in the USA just days after it was revealed that GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson had donated $20 million to a super PAC tied to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The contributions were made public on Sept. 20, per Federal Election Commission filings. The legislation was introduced Sept. 21.
Adelson, a casino billionaire magnate, has been pushing for online gambling prohibition in the United States over the past three years.
The bill is a revamped version of a previous Adelson-backed measure that would ban Internet gambling. The latest version was introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah). The measure would prohibit financial institutions from processing Internet gambling transactions though it should be noted that banks are already prohibited from allowing certain designated Web gambling transactions such as online poker, casinos and sports betting (horse racing is exempt from a 2006 federal law).
Banks are permitted to process payments for Internet poker and casino games in states where the activity is currently lawful such as New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada. Adelson has previously indicated he would like to roll back statewide legalization.
The bill must past by year’s end or otherwise be reintroduced in 2017.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
