Another Las Vegas gaming giant has once again publicly stated his opposition to online gambling, this time during a recent keynote address at G2E.
When asked what he thought of online gambling during a Q+A period, Steve Wynn responded “not much”.
Wynn praised his competitor Sheldon Adelson for his stance against online gambling and stated he agreed with his views- at least when it comes to online gambling.
See link to article below.
Read the whole story at Las Vegas Review-Journal
In his recent keynote address at G2E this week, Sheldon Adelson reiterated his absolute disdain for online gambling.
His criticism didn’t end there. He used the term” lawbreakers” when referring to Pokerstars and stated he didn’t believe anything changed with the acquisition of the company by Amaya, stating “it’s the same organization- just different stakeholders”.
Adelson also made known his interest in developing a billion dollar+casino project in Northern NJ in the Meadowlands area assuming NJ would allow casinos outside of AC.
See link to article below.
Personal issues central to Adelson’s opposition to online gaming | iGaming Business.
Another NJ Assemblyman has publicly stated his opposition to allowing Pokerstars to enter the NJ online gambling market.
In an open letter to the Asbury Park Press, Assemblyman Ron Dancer of the 12th Legislative District and a member of the Tourism, Gaming and Arts Committee, outlines his reasons for prohibiting Pokerstars from coming into the NJ market.
“Now is not the time to allow PokerStars to enter the Atlantic City market — no matter how much money they promise to deliver. The immediate benefits may seem appealing, but they do not outweigh PokerStars’ checkered past.”
I am unsure what weight, if any, the DGE will give these comments, but regardless it seems that Pokerstars does have a few detractors in the NJ political arena and this does not bode well for them.
As I said before, I think it is highly likely that Pokerstars will be approved and coming this fall NJ residents will once again see the familiar black spade logo on computer and mobile screens in the Garden State.
To read the letter click on the link below:
NJ State Assemblyman, Ralph R. Caputo, Chair of Tourism, Gaming and the Arts, is no fan of Pokerstars.
Caputo publicly cheered Pokerstars’ previous failures in NJ when they first were trying to get licensed and subsequently when they were shut out of the Atlantic Club Casino purchase.
Caputo does not mince words. His distaste for the previous activity of Pokerstars in the US is very clear.
“To allow Amaya, which may be a legitimate company, to simply purchase assets and people that are the fruits of the poisonous tree — an enterprise that drew indictments from federal law enforcement while profiting handsomely — and let them operate in New Jersey would be an insult to everyone who has gone under scrutiny to work or do business in the casino industry over the past 30 years.”
Compare this to the open arm treatment of Pokerstars by NJ Senator Ray Lesniak who has constantly praised Pokerstars and has publicly gone on the record stating that they would be most welcome in NJ.
“I think PokerStars gaining approval would be the best thing to happen to the New Jersey Internet gaming industry, the biggest possible boost, because PokerStars has shown to be the biggest and the best online poker site.”
If we look at recent history, Nevada’s Gaming Commission faced a similar situation in the late 1960’s when Howard Hughes and his Summa Corporation acquired many of the mobbed up casinos in Las Vegas and paved the way for corporate ownership and the Las Vegas mega-resorts we know today.
At that time, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved the sales and Las Vegas has never looked back.
In light of the dismal poker revenue figures from NJ and the fact that they will at minimum in the short term get a boost from the market entry of Pokerstars , and in light of the fact that Amaya is only applying for a supplier license, I would venture to say that Amaya will be approved and we will see Pokerstars/Full Tilt in NJ this fall.
The only caveat is whether or not some of the other suppliers or the AGA begins to sound the alarm as they did previously but since the “bad actors” are out of the way, I doubt this will happen.
N.J. should put a magnifying glass on PokerStars: Opinion | NJ.com.