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The American Gaming Association (AGA) has issued a statement in the wake of casino magnate and GOP bigwig donor Sheldon Adelson’s threat to launch a media blitz against legalization of online gambling in the USA.
The AGA state:
“Time and again, government efforts to prohibit use of everyday products have failed. In 2012, Americans spent nearly $3 billion gambling with rogue offshore operators. The Internet cannot be forced back into the bottle — nor can market demand. We support pragmatism and strong regulation of online gaming that protects consumers, prevents underage play, ensures the integrity of the games and empowers law enforcement. New government efforts to prohibit online gaming will unintentionally strengthen black market providers, create more risk for American consumers, including children, and drive U.S. jobs and potential revenues overseas. We appreciate divergent viewpoints and welcome a healthy discussion on this complex issue.”
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Adelson’s plans are to blanket the airwaves with messages about the ills of online gambling and how under age children and impoverished minorities could ultimately be exploited. In January, Adelson plans to roll out an advocacy group, the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, that reportedly will include advocates for children and others groups viewed as vulnerable to online gambling addiction.
Adelson has referred to Web gambling as a “cancer”, “train wreck” and a “plague”.
“You would think the chairman of the world’s largest gaming company would pursue any aspect of gaming which could increase profits, right?” Adelson wrote in an opt-in piece for a handful of publications over the summer, including Forbes.com.
“Ordinarily that is true—but online gambling is ‘fool’s gold.’
Whether it is full casino gaming, poker only, or anything in between -this is a societal train wreck waiting to happen.”
He added: “On top of the negative economic impact, the plague it could bring to our society is even more far-reaching.”
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
