World’s richest casino exec opposes online gambling

[Imperator]

LAS VEGAS — Sheldon Adelson, the world’s richest casino executive and chief of the industry’s largest publicly traded company, says he opposes online gambling because he doesn’t believe available technology is good enough to prevent young people from making wagers on the Internet, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Adelson’s opposition is a personal viewpoint, not a formal stance taken by the company that runs casino-resorts in Las Vegas, Macau, Singapore and Bethlehem, Pa., Las Vegas Sands spokesman Ron Reese said.

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...qcO_story.html

[BHL]

god yes the number of kids addicted to gambling is really a big problem nowadays :sarcasme mode off:
I'd like to hear what he thinks he himself is doing wrong.

Established by philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson, the Adelson Family Foundation focuses its support primarily on programs that benefit the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
source: http://www.adelsonfoundation.org/AFF/leadership.html

Philanthropists? I have nothing against jews at all, hell I don't even like to say the word jew, cause they're just people. But since when is Israel a place that needs philanthropy?
Throw a couple of hundred mill around to save the rainforest, and then you're welcome to smother us with your brilliant ideas of what the world should be like..

[Imperator]

"Frank Fahrenkopf, CEO of the American Gaming Association, said he met with Adelson on Monday and Adelson told him he’ll oppose legislation to legalize online poker in the United States."

This is the part that concerns me most. Apparently not all Vegas operators are All-in for the idea...

[cb24]

Imperator: ever thought if this being a substantial risk for the offline casinos ? Imagine their growth of turnover since online poker breakdown in the US - and I don't think they want to let it go down again

[Kasinas]

Yes, he only cares about the kids. He thinks only the money he would loose if online gambling would be legalized again. People are trying to do everything online without leaving their home so there would be less customers on real casinos.

[AFFcoins]

He's trying to save his own ass by delaying the inevitable

[Anthony]

I don't believe his moral opposition story at all. There is an earlier thread on this subject that is worth checking out.

http://www.gpwa.org/forum/sheldon-ad...er-202311.html

[cb24]

Most people think that the 'big guns' at the regular, especially Las Vegas, Casinos love the fact to go online. In fact, they hate it. Why ? Simple.

Going online for an established offline casino requires major investments. Setting up custom softwares / getting into deals with the existing software providers for poker & casino / setting up a supporting team etc. etc. etc.

In fact, it gets even worse for them as they lose a lot of incomes from people not staying at their hotels, not spending money on shows and drinks etc. etc. etc.

So as a summary, why should they have any intention at all to get online gambling / online poker legalized ? It's probably their only real selling point to attract as many tourists as Vegas does right now, the possibility to gamble a 100% legally - and this is something they aren't interested to lose.

[Kasinas]

Most people think that the 'big guns' at the regular, especially Las Vegas, Casinos love the fact to go online. In fact, they hate it. Why ? Simple.

Going online for an established offline casino requires major investments. Setting up custom softwares / getting into deals with the existing software providers for poker & casino / setting up a supporting team etc. etc. etc.

In fact, it gets even worse for them as they lose a lot of incomes from people not staying at their hotels, not spending money on shows and drinks etc. etc. etc.

So as a summary, why should they have any intention at all to get online gambling / online poker legalized ? It's probably their only real selling point to attract as many tourists as Vegas does right now, the possibility to gamble a 100% legally - and this is something they aren't interested to lose.

I think that those people who stay at the hotels and spend money on the shows will still go to offline casinos. Why? Because some people go there not to just try to win some money but to have fun, waste some money or time.

[cb24]

I think that those people who stay at the hotels and spend money on the shows will still go to offline casinos. Why? Because some people go there not to just try to win some money but to have fun, waste some money or time.

We are not discussing IF they will continue to go to casinos to spend money / have fun / gamble for fun / etc. But the average gambler has no other option if he wants to enjoy a 'big' gambling experience than to go to Las Vegas as for now. With online gambling allowed, he has tons of choices.

Try to look up for player numbers in the big poker rooms in Las Vegas - you'll notice a huge grow in numbers after the poker blow up in the US.

[usaonlinecasino]

Maybe online gaming is less likely controllable than land-based one. If online gambling is totally restricted in the US, traveling to Las Vegas will become hot again. But that means players need to pay more than what they do on the internet, e.g. flight tickets, hotel, and meal costs.

[FictionNet]

I don't believe his moral opposition story at all.[/url]

Totally. What a self-serving asshat.

I'll be in Vegas next year. I'll be sure to try to avoid this guy's casinos.