Despite Growing Up in Vegas, Presidential Candidate Marco Rubio Hates Gambling

Written by:
Thomas Somach
Published on:
Oct/15/2015
Despite Growing Up in Vegas, Presidential Candidate Marco Rubio Hates Gambling

Things are shaking out in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Jeb Bush and Chris Christie have flamed out.

Scott Walker and Rick Perry have dropped out.

But one candidate who has been making out well of late is Florida senator Marco Rubio, whose appearances in recent candidates' debates have elevated his standing in the polls.

If Rubio were to win the Republican nomination and then go on to be elected President of the United States, would that be good or bad for the world of gambling?

As part of its continuing series on the 2016 candidates for President and where they stand on gambling issues, Gambling 911 examined Rubio's record as a politician and can reveal that if he becomes America's next chief executive, it will be a disaster for the gambling industry!

(To view previous installments of the series, go to the Gambling 911 home page and click on the Thomas Somach link on the left side of the page.)

Rubio, 44, from suburban Miami, started his political career as a local legislator, serving as a Miami City Commissioner.

He then moved up to the state legislature, serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and eventually rising to the post of Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

In 2010 he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

And now he's running for President!

So what exactly is his record when it comes to gambling?

Most recently, he has been on a jihad against all forms of Internet gambling.

He is a co-sponsor of the Restore America's Wire Act (RAWA), a bill introduced into the U.S. Senate last year that if made law would outlaw online poker and all other online forms of gambling.

The bill was simultaneously introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives but is currently languishing in committee in both houses of Congress.

RAWA is supported by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who doesn't want competition from online gambling for his land-based casinos in Nevada, Pennsylvania and China and who has made large political contributions to Rubio and other politicians who support the bill.

It's not just Internet gambling that Rubio abhors, however.

He's against all gambling, no matter where it occurs, online or offline.

And to think, he spent much of his childhood (ages 8 to 14) living in Las Vegas!

As a local Miami pol, Rubio didn't have much interaction with gambling issues.

But as a member of the state legislature for nine years (including several as Speaker), he amassed quite a record on gambling and it ain't pretty: he opposed gambling in the State of Florida at every turn

Despite that, however, he didn't mind accepting large political donations from gambling entities in the state, such as horse- and dog-racing tracks.

In 2007, Florida's then-Governor Charlie Crist signed into law a bill that expanded gambling within the state.

The legislation, among other things, allowed bingo halls to sell instant lottery tickets similar to tickets offered by the state-run Florida Lottery, permitted racetracks to add slot machines and automated teller machines (ATMs) and allowed poker rooms to increase hours and limits and add dominoes as a form of gambling.

Rubio, then Florida's Speaker of the House, vigorously opposed the legislation and issued a statement blasting it.

That statement read in part: "A terrible hand is being dealt Florida's families and the dealers are dealing from the bottom of the deck. The gambling industry in Florida, emboldened by the departure of Governor Jeb Bush, has pushed aggressively to expand their enterprise...

"I spent six years of my childhood in Las Vegas. I know the people who play slot machines and they aren't the high rollers glamorized on television and the movies. In Las Vegas, there are slot machines in every grocery store and 7-Eleven. It's the most sinister form of gaming, because they literally nickel and dime the least among us down to their last dollar.

"No matter, say the pro-gambling forces. 'We can tax it,' they say. I believe this logic is flawed and, more importantly, morally indefensible. It is wrong for those of us elected to serve the common good to disregard the mounds of evidence and research against gambling, look the other way, and give an ends justifies the means argument for expanded gambling...

"Moreover, we know the negative and illicit satellite industries gambling generates (such as) crime, drug use, divorce and addiction...Despite the fact that I vocally opposed legislation expanding gambling and voted against these measures, the gambling industries convinced enough legislators to pass pro-gaming bills. I will be more steadfast and diligent in my final term as Speaker to oppose gambling legislation..."

Later in 2007, Crist negotiated a deal with Florida's Indian tribes that allowed expanded gambling at tribal casinos.

The casinos, located on Indian reservations, offered poker and bingo and little else--the new deal allowed them to add games such as slot machines, blackjack and baccarat.

In exchange, the State would collect in taxes a large chunk of the tribal casinos' profits.

Rubio opposed the deal and as Speaker sued Crist on behalf of the House, saying the governor didn't have the right to unilaterally negotiate such a deal without the state legislature's input, especially since the deal allowed the tribes to offer forms of gambling not allowed elsewhere in the state.

In 2008, the Florida State Supreme Court sided with Rubio and voided the deal Crist made with the tribes.

Rubio later told the Miami Herald: "There is a real moral issue with asking government to expand its operations to be increasingly dependent on an activity we should be discouraging, not encouraging. It's fool's gold. Gambling appears to be an easy solution to a big problem. Those who support it misunderstand.

"Unlike taxes, this isn't about government telling people what they can do with their own money. This is about government becoming an invested partner in encouraging people to undertake an activity that we know disproportionately affects people who make less money and who are elderly. I don't want to live in a state where the government encourages people to gamble in order to fund more and more government operations."

Considering all of Rubio's efforts to block gambling in Florida, one would think he'd shun campaign donations from gambling interests, lest he'd be expected--or at least perceived--to be in the gambling interests' pocket.

But that's not the case--Rubio loves gambling money as much as Tom Brady loves deflated footballs.

For example, according to public documents examined by Gambling911.com, Rubio in the 2006 campaign cycle received $500 donations (the maximum allowed under law) from two horse tracks and two dog tracks.

Asked to explain the discrepancy between opposing gambling but accepting gambling monies, Rubio told a Florida political blog: "My contributors buy into my agenda. I don't buy into theirs. I have consistently opposed gaming and they chose to contribute to my efforts nonetheless."

And despite his unwavering opposition to all things gambling, Rubio four years ago made a very public wager.

As the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls prepared to meet in the NBA's 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, Rubio and fellow Florida Senator Bill Nelson bet Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk on the outcome of the series.

If the Heat won, the Illinois pols would have to pony up a selection of local Chicago delicacies, including cheescake and deep dish pizza.

If the Bulls won, the Florida politicians would have to deliver Miami delicacies, including key lime pie and Cuban pastries.

Fortunately for Rubio, the Heat won and he didn't have to pay off.

But is was still a huge display of hypocrisy--if he's so against gambling, why gamble on anything, even if it's just pizza pies vs. key lime pies?

Marco Rubio has opposed the expansion of gambling at every turn, all through his career, and there's no reason to expect that to change should he become President.

President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty.

And President Ronald Reagan declared a War on Drugs.

Don't be surprised if a President Rubio declared a War on Gambling.

By Tom Somach

Gambling 911 Staff Writer

tomsomach@yahoo.com

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