Sheldon Adelson Steps Up Anti-Online Gambling Efforts

There are reportedly 10 states in America that are currently debating the possibility of legalizing online poker. The two states that are most likely to make a decision in the coming months are California and Pennsylvania, although there is no clear indication as to what the final decision will be.

Las Vegas Sands Chairman and billionaire Sheldon Adelson has been against the legalization of online poker in America because he believes there are insufficient regulations and a lack of proper technology to manage the industry.

Adelson has also sighted moral reasons for him being so aggressive against the legalization of online poker as he believes minors could access the platform and develop serious gambling addictions which will be harmful for society.

Many have accused the Las Vegas Sands Chairman of having double standards and opposing the campaign for selfish business interests. Adelson has been extremely vocal of his anti-online gambling views and is personally funding an aggressive anti-online gambling campaign in America. Recent reports suggest that Adelson has decided to target the residents of Pennsylvania through an e-mail campaign that spammed out his anti-online gambling views.

A member from the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) recently stated that residents of Pennsylvania reported receiving an email encouraging them to stop internet gambling. The mail provides them with info from a poll that has been discredited stating that three out of four Pennsylvanians do not want online gambling to be legalized. The state of Pennsylvania is currently reviewing one anti-online gambling bill and three pro-online poker bills.

A lawmaker in Pennsylvania who wanted to be anonymous stated that Sheldon Adelson’s email campaign promoting his anti-online gambling stance was based on falsified information and was sent out to sway Pennsylvanians into supporting his campaign. A recent survey conducted in May 2015 revealed that more than fifty eight percent of Pennsylvanians are in favour of regulating online gambling and only twenty six percent were against the legalization of online gambling.

Sheldon Adelson and his Las Vegas Sands Corporation are currently in a legal battle with his former CEO, Steven Jacobs who was in charge of the Las Vegas Sands Macau operations. Jacobs is suing the company and Adelson for sacking him after he failed to comply with orders that required him to keep illegal tabs on Macau officials. Jacobs accuses Adelson of forcing him to resort to illegal means to further the company’s business interests in Macau.