Politics

John McCain Introduces Legislation to Block Arizona Casino Project

PHOENIX (Associated Press) -- Arizona's two U.S. senators are proposing legislation to block construction of a Phoenix-area casino planned by a southern Arizona tribe.

If enacted, the bill introduced Monday by Republicans John McCain and Jeff Flake would block the casino resort project planned by the Tohono O'odham Nation for a site on unincorporated land adjacent to Glendale.

The senators said in an announcement that their bill is a companion measure to House legislation approved by that chamber and sponsored by Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks.

Submitted by Associated Press on, Tue, 07/29/2014 - 10:42

State Senator Will Attempt to Get Around Sports Betting Ban in New Jersey

New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) will attempt to get around a sports betting ban by pushing through legislation with strong bipartisan support in hopes that Governor Chris Christie signs the bill into law.

Christie has long supported the legalization of sports betting in New Jersey but the professional sports leagues and NCAA successfully blocked such efforts in the court.

From the Newark Star Ledger:

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Mon, 07/28/2014 - 10:16

Convicted Casino Lobbyist Questions Rick Perry Online Gambling Stance

The biggest casino lobbyist and an individual who served time for that activity, Jack Abramoff, has spoken out regarding Texas Governor Rick Perry’s stance on Internet gambling.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Sat, 07/26/2014 - 16:57

William and Kate Expecting Again? Bookie Suspends Betting as George Turns One

British bookmaker Coral has suspended wagering on whether Prince William and his wife Kate are about to announce the arrival of a second royal sibling for one-year-old Prince George.

Coral halted all bets last week ahead of George’s first birthday.

Submitted by Jordan Bach on, Tue, 07/22/2014 - 09:45

Disgraced Ex-Utah AG John Swallow Court Dates Set: Ties to Poker’s ‘Black Friday’

Former Attorneys General John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff are due to appear in court on on July 22 and 30, respectively, after the two men were charged last week with racketeering following a sweeping public corruption investigation.

Swallow faces 11 felonies and two misdemeanors, including a pattern of unlawful activity, receiving or soliciting a bribe, evidence tampering and making false statements.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Sun, 07/20/2014 - 21:31

Former Rep. Connie Mack Added to Adelson Arsenal

Former Rep. Connie Mack has been brought on to help lobby in favor of a bill to ban online gambling across the USA.

Mack, who lost his Congressional seat in 2012, will lobby on behalf of Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Adelson has been on a crusade to abolish Internet gambling for the better part of a year now. The GOP mega-donor had his lobbyists help draft anti-online gambling legislation introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) earlier in the year.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Wed, 07/09/2014 - 13:02

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Sheldon Adelson: ‘Don’t Pick on Him’

Speaking to MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came to the defense of casino billionaire and GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson, this after blasting two other Republican mega donors, Charles and David Koch.

"Sheldon Adelson, don't pick on him," he told NBC's Chuck Todd. "He's not in this for money. He's in this because he has certain ideological views."

That comment has raised eyebrows amongst those in the online gambling sector. While Reid has supported legalizing Web gambling at the federal level, Adelson is staunchly opposed.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Thu, 06/26/2014 - 13:07

Elizabeth Warren Endorses Tierney: Wife Served Time in Offshore Gambling Case

Massachusetts Senior Senator Elizabeth Warren has endorsed eight-time Democratic incumbent Congressman John Tierney, who is expected to fight a tough primary this upcoming November.

Gambling911.com readers became familiar with Tierney after his wife Patrice was charged for her role in the operation of her brother Robert Eremian’s offshore gambling enterprise. She served as an accountant for the long established Antigua-based gambling business, Sports Off Shore.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 06/17/2014 - 16:34

William Hill Takes £400,000 Bet on Whether Scotland Leaves the UK

The United Kingdom’s largest bookmaker, William Hill, has offered odds on whether Scotland will leave the UK. The odds are a bit steep at 1-4 for Scotland to vote against independence.

One man, said to be English, has wagered £400,000 on the “No” with the payoff being £100,000. It is the largest political bet in William Hill’s long history.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 06/10/2014 - 21:52

Election Betting in Nevada Opposed by Governor Sandoval

CARSON CITY, Nev. (Associated Press) — Gov. Brian Sandoval has come out against a proposal to make Nevada the first state to permit betting on federal elections.

The Republican governor described himself as "more of a traditionalist" when it comes to betting.

"As I think through it, unless I'm convinced otherwise, it is not something I would support," he told the Las Vegas Sun (http://bit.ly/RQjFSE ) on Friday. "The state has done fine on sports and horse-race betting and other events."

Submitted by Associated Press on, Sun, 06/01/2014 - 20:31

Nevada May Soon Permit Betting on the 2016 US Presidential Election

Nevada State Senator Tick Segerblom wants to push for legislation that would permit betting on US Presidential elections in the Silver State.

This is hardly a new concept. US Presidential elections in the past have taken in more money for international online gambling establishments than any other single non-sporting event.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 05/27/2014 - 11:55

National Governors Association Sends Letter in Opposition to Web Gambling Ban

The National Governors Association on Tuesday submitted a letter in opposition to a bill that would outlaw online gambling on the federal level (a copy of which appears below).

The letter was sent to both majority leaders in the House and Senate along with the minority leaders.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Tue, 05/20/2014 - 20:45

Lindsey Graham Confronted Over Online Gambling Bill, Adelson Donations

What happens when you take one of the wealthiest men in the world and make him one of the biggest backers of a political party?

Well, you have politicians doing his bidding to eliminate business competition.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Thu, 05/15/2014 - 13:16

Attorney General Hopeful Gives Up Stake in Online Gambling Firm

Massachusetts Attorney general hopeful Warren Tolman confirmed Sunday he has severed all financial ties with an online gaming company.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Tue, 05/13/2014 - 21:42

Massachusetts Attorney General Hopeful has Ties to Online Gambling

Massachusetts Attorney General hopeful Warren Tolman reportedly promoted technology that would make online betting more appealing to young people.

From the Globe:

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Mon, 04/28/2014 - 11:47

Fit News Exposes Lindsey Graham, Nikki Haley Online Gambling Agenda

FitNews.com, a site that purports to expose the “unfair” and “unbalanced” in South Carolina politics, has blasted Republican Senator Lindsey Graham along with Governor Nikki Haley for their sponsorship of a bill to prohibit online gambling at the federal level. This is an excellent piece exposing what really lies behind their efforts.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Fri, 04/25/2014 - 11:09

Lobbyists Are Big (and Only) Winners Thus Far in US Online Gambling Battle

States like New Jersey are not yet seeing the promised revenue numbers for their fledgling Internet gambling sector even though growth appears inevitable. Likewise, the sites themselves are not exactly going gangbusters (not even NJ market leader PartyPoker). But alas, there is one group benefiting big time from the efforts to both legalize and prevent online gambling from taking shape in the US: The lobbyists.

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 04/23/2014 - 12:42

China Officials Publicly Put to Shame for Online Gambling and Other Infractions

The intimidatingly-named Communist Party’s Discipline Inspection Committee has begun shaming Chinese officials who have been found to engage in illicit behaviors others in the world might view as minor infractions.

The Committee's most recent report cites 200 officials for activities that include playing mah-jongg or gambling online while at work.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 04/16/2014 - 23:08

Hillary Clinton Has Shoe Thrown at Her at Sheldon Adelson’s Mandalay Bay (Video)

Former First Lady, Secretary of State and expected front runner for the 2016 US Presidential race, Hillary Clinton, had a shoe thrown at her while speaking at a hotel owned by casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson. He just happens to be among the GOP’s biggest donors.

No, Adelson didn’t throw the shoe.

The woman who did, it’s not clear what the motive may have been.

Clinton took the incident lightly while speaking at an Institute for Scrap Recycling Convention, asking “Was that a bat?”

The video appears below.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 04/10/2014 - 19:12

Ladbrokes Made £1Billion in One Month From 'Crack Cocaine' of Gambling (Video)

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his administration is about to embark on a crackdown of the so-called “crack cocaine” of gambling, high speed, high stakes gambling machines that have, until now, proven especially profitable for bookmakers.

Just how profitable?

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, Sun, 04/06/2014 - 21:16

Angry Birds a Gateway to Gambling Addiction New Adelson Ad Claims (Video)

Casino magnate and GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson has released his latest ad to help stymie the move towards legalized online gambling in the US.

The ad makes the claim that the uber popular gaming mobile app Angry Birds acts as a “gateway to gambling addiction”.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Wed, 04/02/2014 - 15:17

The Sheldon Adelson Some in the Media Have Forgotten: Bribery, Islamophobia

As casino billionaire and GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson mulls his options for a “winnable” 2016 US Presidential candidate, Media Matters provided a glimpse into some of Adelson’s dark side – so to speak.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Mon, 03/31/2014 - 21:19

Senator Engaged in Automatic Weapons Sale Deal While Preaching Gun Control

A California state Senator indicted last week for his alleged role in a money laundering and gambling scheme, attempted to broker an international arms deal with a US Federal agent all the while pushing gun control in the state.

The FederalBureau of Investigation arrested Yee last Wednesday morning, along with infamous Chinatown gang leader Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow and 24 other individuals.

Perhaps empowered by the series of successful multi-thousand-dollar transactions, Yee upped the ante — and in the process dug himself a far deeper hole with the FBI.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Mon, 03/31/2014 - 16:08

Crimea to Become Russian Gambling Zone Following Annexation

Following Russia’s controversial annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine in recent weeks come word that the Kremlin has decided to make the region a “gambling zone” perhaps similar to something along the lines of China’s Macau.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Mon, 03/31/2014 - 10:56

California State Senator Charged as Part of Gambling, Murder-for-Hire Case

26 individuals have been indicted in an unsealed criminal complaint in San Francisco with charges that range from drug trafficking to gun running to illegal gambling to even murder-for-hire.

Among those arrested, California state Senator Leland Yee.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Thu, 03/27/2014 - 11:59

Dianne Feinstein Support of Online Gambling Prohibition Bill has Many Baffled

California Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein stunned many folks when it was revealed she would be backing legislation introduced Wednesday to prohibit online gambling.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Wed, 03/26/2014 - 21:27

Russia Placing Sanctions on Internet Gambling Sites: Mostly From UK

Russia has apparently declared war on Internet gambling.

Though the blacklist was implemented some 16 months ago, it has only expanded dramatically in recent days to include the likes of UK-based sites such as Ladbrokes and William Hill along with a number of other European online wagering firms.

This move comes as the European Union has imposed sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea.

Coincidence?

Submitted by Ace King on, Wed, 03/26/2014 - 12:01

Off Message: Republicans Attack on Internet Gambling Gets in Way of 2016

(Reuters) - Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson became a major player in Republican politics in the 2012 elections, when he spent more than $90 million in an unsuccessful effort to oust Democratic President Barack Obama.

Now the 80-year-old billionaire wants something from Washington: a ban on Internet gambling, a growing industry that Adelson says could hurt the casino industry. On Wednesday, some of Adelson's allies in Congress, including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, plan to propose legislation that would do just that.

Submitted by Reuters on, Wed, 03/26/2014 - 11:24

Internet Gambling Control Act of 2014 Introduced by Graham, Chaffetz

South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Representative Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah, introduced the Internet Gambling Control Act of 2014 Wednesday morning. It is a measure that would prohibit all forms of Web gambling in the US at the federal level while enforcing state governments to cease offering the activity as well.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Tue, 03/25/2014 - 22:11