Prof. I Nelson Rose assesses a potential 'own goal' from Sheldon Adelson
The gaming industry won most of its battles at the ballot box, but lost the public relations war.
In Maryland, voters passed Question 7, 52 per cent to 48 per cent. This will not only allow the five previously authorised slot casinos to add table games, it permits a giant sixth Las Vegas style casino, right next to Washington, DC. MGM’s Prince George's County casino will have as many as 3,000 slot machines.
Rhode Island voters approved adding table games to the slot halls at Twin River and Newport Grand, giving the state two full-scale casinos. Geneseo, Illinois, voters narrowly recommended the city have video gaming. Oregon again voted against privately owned casinos. But that is mixed news, since it would have meant competition to the state’s Indian casinos.
The continuing Democratic majority in the US Senate means Nevada casinos keep one of the best friends they have ever had, Harry Reid (D, NV), as majority leader. Tribal gaming also keeps its friend, Barack Obama, as president, and added individuals like Heidi Heitkamp (D, ND) to the upper house. For internet gaming, die-hard supporter Barney Frank (D, MA) may have retired, but so did opponent Jon Kyl (R, AZ).
Read the full article in the February issue of InterGaming
