Padlocked? Former US Vice Presidential Candidate Closes Shop

A former US Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate running alongside Bob Barr has called it quits... at least in the sports handicapping call center business.  Wayne Root has reportedly shut down his brisk sports picks business in Las Vegas this week.

"He told us that the parent company, Bet Brokers made him shut the business down but Bet Brokers no longer ran the place," claimed one fired employee who wished not to be named.

We were told that a padlock was on the door but Root later insisted to Gambling911 that was not the case. 

 Read Wayne Root's Future Plans Here

Those close to Root insist that, while his business may not have been generating substantial revenue, Mr. Root still easily took in at least a million dollars of income in 2008 from various deals including the leasing of a television studio he owns.  Root once referred to himself as the "Millionaire Republican" prior to joining the Libertarian party. 

On May 25, 2008, Root made it to the fifth ballot at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention before being eliminated and endorsing Bob Barr, who went on to the party's presidential nomination. In the third round of voting, he was successful in the race for the vice presidential nomination, beating Steve Kubby.

In September 2008, Root offered to give up his VP slate on the Libertarian ticket to make room for Ron Paul, as the LP received feelers that the former Republican presidential candidate may have been interested in getting on a strong third party ticket, as there remained a strong following behind him. Paul declined the offer, and denied any intention of running on a third-party presidential ticket.

The Libertarian party is generally considered the biggest in the U.S. after the Republicans and Democrats, though the party receives little recognition by mainstream media outlets. 

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher