Only Ron Paul supports online poker
The Republican primary race continues to be the main story in the American media, with the candidates exchanging blows and fighting to win the delegates of the different states in their race to the presidency. The leading candidates have stated, or hinted at their opposition to legalized online gaming and only a long shot libertarian candidate would support the issue.
Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, who yesterday won a majority of the Republican votes cast in caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and in the Missouri primary calls online gaming “dangerous for our country.”
Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, was interviewed by news station ‘8newsnow,’ which concluded its article by stating: “Romney also said he doesn’t support legalizing online gaming. He’s says he’s against it because of the social costs and people’s addictive gambling habits.”
In an interview on the “Face to Face” program with Jon Ralston in Las Vegas, Romney was asked if he supported legalized online gaming:
“No, I’m not (a supporter). Gaming has a social effect on a lot of people. I don’t want to increase access to gaming and feel that we have plenty of access to gaming right now through the various casinos and establishments that exist. In some states, there are lotteries that are used to fund their schools and budgets and so forth, and I don’t think online gambl… gaming would encourage or improve that setting.”
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has strong ties with Sheldon Adelson, the casino and hotel magnate who has been the only casino industry figure to state his opposition to online gambling. Adelson doesn’t believe available technology is good enough to prevent young people from making wagers on the Internet. According to media reports, Gingrich has adopted Adelson’s opposition to proposals for legalized online gaming.
That leaves only libertarian Republican congressman Ron Paul. Interviewed on “Face to Face”, the Congressman was asked directly about legalized online gaming, and he said: “I think people should have legalized freedom. People should be free and make their own decisions. There should be no regulation on the Internet.”
President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has not spoken out as to whether he approves online poker or not, but most speculate that he is a supporter.
Tags: legalization
