LVS’s Sheldon Adelson Is a Notable Republican Donor, But Gives to Causes around the Globe
A bill pushed by the Las Vegas Sands to limit online poker in Nevada failed to leave committee by a deadline date this week. Las Vegas Sands, owned by 80-year old Republican donor Sheldon Adelson, called for AB414 to be passed this legislative session.
The bill, which would have changed the wording of a previous bill and perhaps redefined interactive gaming in Nevada, failed to leave the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. AB414 had a May 15 deadline to move beyond committee or be removed from the list of active bills.
Definition of Interactive Gaming
Currently, NRS 463.016425 defines the meaning of “interactive gaming” in the state of Nevada. The bill describes it as including “without limitation, Internet poker.”
In legal terms, that meas that poker is specifically included as a legalized and regulated form of online gambling. Under that definition, though, other games might also be considered. Sports betting and race books are specifically excluded, but online casinos, lottery sales, and bingos are not.
The language of AB414 would have defined interactive gaming as “any gambling game other than Internet poker.” That definition would have applied to interstate liquidity sharing agreements, which have become a point of debate over the past 6 months or so.
Steve Ruddock on AB414
Noted online gambling writer Steve Ruddock said in a post last month that the goal of AB414 is unknown at the time. Las Vegas Sands Corp apparently wants to preclude any chance that online casino betting might ever be legalized, though no groups are clamoring for the regulation of such activities at the moment.
House-banked games usually do not require liquidity, so such a specific definition of interactive gaming is somewhat mystifying. Nevada’s legislature has never approved online casino games, though it could approve such games in licensed casinos. Already, Internet casino table games are approved within licensed brick-and-mortar gaming establishments.
Theories on Why LVS Pushed Legislation
Speculation has surrounded the banning of online interstate lottery ticket sales in Nevada. If AB414 had been passed, it would have taken a constitutional amendment to allow online Mega Millions and Powerball ticket sales.
Another source suggested that LVS’s plan was to ban live casino games being streamed live from Nevada to international online gamblers. At present, online casinos and mobile casinos offer live blackjack, craps, baccarat, and roulette. Players use Skype-type camera interfaces and the kind of streaming Netflix and Hudu use to provide live dealer games to players elsewhere in the world.
Live Casino Games on the Internet
With the many gaming employees and facilities available, live casino games online might one day become a big money maker for Nevada. Under this theory, Las Vegas Sands would want to limit the amount of income its competitors might be able to collect in the state of Nevada. Sheldon Adelson realizes that money equals influence, so keeping out the powerful multi-state lottery associations or live dealer gaming from the state might have been a power-move.
Skill-Based Slot Machine Bill
Three other gaming bills passed the Nevada Senate this week. SB9, which involves skill-based slot machines, passed in the senate. Las Vegas casinos want to add slot machines with video game-style skill aspects to them. The millennial generation is not as interested in pure games of chance, so the casino companies believe these games might lure more gamblers from the younger generation into the casinos.
The wording of SB9 said, “The State of Nevada depends on the fostering of a business and regulatory environment that promotes continued advances in the use of technology in gaming, which improves the entertainment experience, encourages innovation and supports expansion of the domestic technology sector of the economy of this State.”
Betting Like It’s a Mutual Fund
Another bill (SB443) was passed in the Nevada Senate which would allow companies to register with the state for gambling purposes. The idea behind this measure is to see companies stake skilled gamblers with money, investing in those wagers like they are a business investment. Such gaming has been compared to investing in a mutual fund.
A second bill (SB445) also affects the sports betting industry. SB445 would allow sportsbooks to employ a “central global risk management system”. In layman’s terms, this would allow Vegas sportsbooks to streamline their business model. The law is meant to take advantage if the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is struck down by the court system. New Jersey is currently challenging the PASPA in court, after the American sports associations sued Jersey and its Monmouth Park over their plans to legalize sports betting. While New Jersey has lost in 4 different legal venues, an appearance before an appellate court in May or June is thought to be its best chance of striking down the current federal laws on sports betting.
