Adelson’s battle against online gaming faces opposition

Adelson, who is also chairman of casino and resort company Las Vegas Sands Corporation, is a long-term critic of internet gaming in the country and has regularly stated that the form of gambling cannot be properly regulated in the US.

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, joined 10 other conservative group leaders this week to send a letter to lawmakers urging them to reject the proposed ban. According to the Washington Post newspaper, Norquist said US states do not need “the federal government babysitting them” and is hoping that lawmakers “preserve the authority of the states”.

Although declining to respond to criticism from conservative parties, a spokesperson for the Adelson-backed campaign said change in online gaming laws “remains an important goal for our coalition and for families across America”.

Despite Adelson’s opposition against online gaming, other casino operators do not share his view, with both Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts having said that regulated internet gaming would be safer than unregulated games hosted by offshore companies.

In addition, the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) recently issued a statement in which it declared its opposition to RAWA: “RAWA would prohibit the transmission by wire communication of any bet or wager or of information assisting in the placement of any bet or wager, including internet gaming,” the organization said. “It would effectively undermine New Jersey’s successful regulation of internet gambling that has been in place for a year now."

“CANJ is asking the NJ Congressional delegation to take all action to oppose the RAWA and preserve the State of New Jersey’s authorization and strict regulation of internet gambling and the right of all states to determine whether or not they desire to allow or prohibit specific forms of gambling.”