US elections: big campaign money not coming from Nevada gaming industry

According to Federal Election Commission filings, Nevada’s largest gaming companies so far haven’t given heavily to presidential candidates or the political action committees that support them.

So far, the gaming industry’s giving to presidential candidates and super PACs is low-profile, reaching only $113,261.

“

“

The biggest individual presidential giver at this point is Steve Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, who has given $65,800 — more than half the total

”

Wynn has given $25,000 to a super PAC that had supported New Jersey Gov. Christie when he ran and $25,000 to a super PAC that supported Fiorina. Wynn also has chipped in $2,700 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign; $7,700 to the Rubio Victory Committee; and $5,400 to the campaign of former candidate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

He’s followed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. chairman and majority shareholder Sheldon Adelson, who has given a total of $18,300 so far: $10,200 to the Rubio Victory Committee; $2,700 to Jeb Bush’s former campaign; $2,700 to Cruz and $2,700 to the former campaign of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

The Review-Journal reviewed the political contributions through June of the top six gaming companies in Nevada based on their total employees in Southern Nevada, as presented in the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance’s “Perspective,” an annual data book.

The analysis looked at the companies’ affiliated political action committees and the individual giving of the top four or five executives listed in Securities and Exchange Commission 14A filings for 2015 and 2016.

The contributions by gaming companies mirrors a broader trend of corporate donors, particularly on the Republican side, holding off on making big donations.

Two of those gaming companies, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts, said they have no plans to put their political action committees, Boyd Gaming Political Action Committee and MGM Resorts International PAC, toward backing Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.

“

“

At this time, MGM Resorts has no intention of providing financial support or official endorsement of any presidential candidate, Gordon Absher, spokesman for MGM Resorts International, said in a statement

”

“We do encourage all our employees, including our executives, to participate in the democratic process by learning about the issues and candidate positions and voting on Election Day.”

Boyd Gaming spokesman David Strow said there are no plans to endorse or donate to presidential candidates this election. Spokesmen for the other four companies didn’t respond to requests for comment.

A New York Times story, quoting anonymous Republican sources, reported earlier this year that Adelson, a widely sought after GOP megadonor, was willing to give upwards of $100 million to efforts backing Trump.

A separate, subsequent Los Angeles Times report on July 1 quoted an unnamed Adelson spokesman as saying there are no plans to start a super PAC supporting Trump, contrary to media reports.

For more information, you can visit the Federal Election Commission website here.