Libertarian Ron Paul blasted Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, a huge donor to the Republican Party, for “cronyism” in trying to push for a bill that would outlaw online gambling. Paul wrote an op-ed piece printed in the Eurasia Review, accusing Adelson of pushing his interests with a heavy hand.
He wrote, “Mr. Adelson, who is perhaps best known for using his enormous wealth to advance a pro-war foreign policy, is not using his political influence to turn his online competitors into criminals.”
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One may wonder if by “pro-war foreign policy” Paul is making a dig at the Adelson-sponsored free newspaper, “Israel HaYom” which has caused such controversy in Israel, because the right-wing paper is given away for free and attracts a wide readership, that law is being proposed in the Knesset to require a minimum amount charged for papers.
But back to gambling. Paul addresses the argument that those who support the bill claim that legalizing gambling online will encourage criminal activity. He counters that with, “instead, passage of this legislation will likely guarantee that the online gambling market is controlled by criminals.”
He says no one is making the argument whether gambling is moral or not. If moral or immoral, argues Paul, it is all the same, whether someone wishes to place bets online or do it at a bricks and mortar casino.
It is hard to know whether Paul is a proponent of online gambling, or simply dislikes the fact that Adelson is behind the ban. Adelson spent $93 million on political campaigns in 2012. Ron Paul commented, “It’s no more appropriate for gambling opponents to use force to stop people from playing poker online than it would for me to use force to stop people from reading pro-war, neocon writers.”
