The Casino and the Campaign: Gambling’s Influence on the 2016 Election

## A Presidential Wager: Rolling the Dice in the Political Arena

The contest for the Oval Office is intensifying, and the realm of wagering is paying close attention. The inaugural Democratic debate transpired at the opulent Wynn Las Vegas, a shimmering edifice owned by casino tycoon Steve Wynn. This selection might appear peculiar given Wynn’s prior censure of President Obama on matters such as healthcare and financial affairs. Nevertheless, staging such a pivotal gathering in a Vegas megaresort shouldn’t elicit astonishment. In reality, the setting makes absolute sense considering the undeniable connection between wagering and the 2016 election, a bond founded on a captivating network of sway.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) is increasing its bet on the sector’s significance in this electoral cycle. Throughout the preceding year, they’ve been promoting a substantial undertaking linked to the presidential campaigns. “Gaming Votes” aspires to guarantee that the contenders comprehend the weight of the gaming sector – particularly its input to employment generation and financial expansion. It also endeavors to apprise casino personnel about where each contender aligns on gambling-related strategies.

To underscore the message, Geoff Freeman, head and CEO of the AGA, dispatched a message to all the contenders imploring them to “reveal their position” and endorse the gaming industry. The wagers are substantial, and the establishment invariably triumphs – but in this contest, it’s the American electorate who possess the upper hand.

He deemed Nevada a “pivotal battleground state” and stressed that hopefuls “should possess knowledge of the contemporary gambling sector, a $53 billion industry that furnishes Nevada with roughly 425,000 positions and yields almost $8 billion in tax receipts.” The correspondence urged addressees to interact with Nevada’s chosen officials, frequent casinos or vendors, and convene with individuals who directly profit from the sector.

Furthermore, the concentration extends beyond Nevada. In the preceding October, the American Gaming Association escorted Senator Cory Gardner, Congressman Scott Tipton, Denver-area commerce and civic leaders, and testing engineers on a tour of Gaming Laboratories International’s central laboratory in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, succeeded by a roundtable dialogue. “We are not your forefather’s casino business, but a nationwide economic engine that delivers well-compensated employment across the spectrum in Colorado,” Freeman stated. “While a majority of Coloradans do not patronize a casino daily, the industry makes substantial contributions to education, tourism, and more for the state and its inhabitants.”

**The Matters at Hand**

Upon examining the particular gaming topics, dialogues, and allusions that have surfaced in the presidential contest thus far, we discover our concentration directed chiefly toward the Republican faction. At the second GOP debate, hosted in Simi Valley, California, contenders Jeb Bush and Donald Trump participated in a heated altercation concerning the latter’s supposed aspiration to introduce casino wagering to Florida.

A fiery back-and-forth during the US Republican primary debates repeatedly grabbed the news cycle. It centered on contenders Jeb Bush and Donald Trump, and their past dealings with gaming permits in Florida.

Bush asserted that Trump had desired to introduce casinos to Florida, an allegation Trump strongly refuted. Bush stood firm, declaring that Trump had attempted but failed to secure authorization because Bush, then Florida Governor, had blocked it. Trump retorted that he could have obtained it if he wished. Bush concluded the altercation by stating he wasn’t for sale, a clear dig at Trump. Trump, in his typical self-assured way, merely stated, “I guarantee you, I would have secured it.”

Subsequently, fact-checkers examined the dispute. Although they couldn’t uncover proof of Trump directly requesting a gaming license, there was ample indication he was keen on an agreement that would permit him to manage casinos on Seminole Tribe territory in Florida. Intriguingly, during Bush’s 1998 gubernatorial race, Trump had contributed funds to both Bush and the Florida Republican party.

This wasn’t the sole instance gambling arose during the primaries. In a subsequent debate in Colorado, Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey and another Republican hopeful, held a much more receptive position on the matter. Christie, who had been battling to overturn a national prohibition on land-based sports wagering in New Jersey, challenged the government’s function in overseeing fantasy sports, inquiring, “Are we truly going to have the administration entangled in fantasy football? Please.”

Our nation is sinking in debt, citizens are jobless, and the danger of terrorism remains a constant. Yet, we’re preoccupied with fantasy sports! Shouldn’t we prioritize more pressing matters? Let those invested in it relish their pastime, but who else is concerned?”

Although the potential GOP presidential candidate is undeniably a significant subject, another critical question lingers within the party: who will secure the Sheldon Adelson endorsement? This gambling tycoon invested heavily in the 2012 election and is anticipated to follow suit this cycle. Speculation abounds regarding his allegiances, with recent rumors hinting that Marco Rubio might be the fortunate recipient.

Republican contenders are practically falling over themselves to woo Adelson, vying for his backing and, more crucially, his wealth. Rubio appears to be a leading candidate, even seeking Adelson’s input on policy matters. This, coupled with Rubio’s positions on issues close to Adelson’s heart, such as prohibiting internet gambling, has fueled conjecture that he’s the prime contender for Adelson’s financial support.

The 2016 United States Presidential Election will not be determined by Las Vegas bookies. Although wealthy individuals like Sheldon Adelson, with his significant sway in the GOP, will certainly have an impact, not even he would declare victory before the votes are cast. However, the gaming industry’s influence on the election extends beyond Adelson’s fortune or the financial effects the American Gaming Association highlights. The reality that the concluding Presidential debate preceding the 2016 election will occur at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV, a short distance from the Las Vegas Strip, is very telling.

What are the candidates’ positions on wagering?

**Hillary Clinton (Democrat)**

Clinton’s perspective on gambling has shifted. In 1984, as the First Lady of Arkansas, she opposed gaming establishments in the state. Yet, by 2000, she backed casinos in the Catskills and Niagara Falls, contending that if it would enhance tourism, she was in favor. Her stance on internet gambling is more intricate. She endorsed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 but subsequently conveyed a willingness to explore its oversight.

**Bernie Sanders (Democrat)**

In 2006, Senator Sanders openly supported the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, casting a “yes” vote for an amendment (which ultimately did not pass) intended to prohibit essentially all internet gaming activities. This amendment sought to eliminate certain existing exemptions for skill-based games.

Senator Rubio co-sponsored the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, legislation crafted to make online wagering illegal. He has frequently stated his opposition to the expansion of gambling, contending that internet gambling primarily functions as a “regressive tax” and provides no benefit to economic growth. Notably, he later suggested that online poker differed slightly due to its element of skill. In 2009, he characterized Florida’s efforts to broaden gambling as an illusion of prosperity.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump established Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts but has not been directly involved in its management (now known as Trump Entertainment Resorts) since 2009. Rumors persist, however, that he continues to receive a portion of the profits in exchange for the use of his name. Of the three Atlantic City casinos formerly under the company’s ownership, Trump Plaza closed its doors in 2014, Trump Taj Mahal remains operational, and Trump Marina Hotel Casino was rebranded as the Golden Nugget Atlantic City under the ownership of Landry’s, Inc. It is also worth noting that in 2004, Mr. Trump acquired a 10% interest in the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which he subsequently sold after a mere nine months.

*The source of this information is the January/February edition of *Global Gaming Business Magazine*.