Democrats may not have been the only losers in the U.S. general election as analysts predict the new Republican-controlled Congress will be unlikely to move to legalize online gaming any time soon leaving online gambling proponents out in the cold.
The biggest loss for online gambling may have come in the U.S. Senate, which will now be controlled by Republicans. That means Nevada Democrat Harry Reid will lose his job as Senate Majority Leader. Reid had been a supporter of online gaming.
“I think the Senate transition away from Reid is, on the surface, bad for internet gaming,” Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Chad Beynon told the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Republican wins in various state contests could also block online gaming efforts in several states, especially since online gaming in New Jersey and Nevada have not produced expected revenue.
“There’s little interest amongst the states at this point given lower budget deficits and power moving back to GOP,” Beynon said. “California is still the big domino, in our view, but it doesn’t appear that they’re any closer.”
Somewhat ironically, Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial election went to Democrat Tom Wolfe—one of the few wins for Democrats—who has opposed online gambling. Incumbent republican Tom Corbett had been neutral on efforts to bring online gambling to the state.
The GOP win also bodes well for Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson, who has been financing a drive to ban online gambling in the U.S. Adelson has paid for lobbyists fighting online gambling bills and is a major backer of Republican candidates.
According to published reports, Adelson gave $10 million to Crossroads GPS headed by Republican political operative Karl Rove. The group funded GOP Senate candidates, many of which won election.
Republicans are not seen as backers of online gaming, making it unlikely any effort to legalize online gambling will come forward in the next two years. But a bill currently before Congress to ban online gaming could gain traction.
The Review Journal reports that a bill introduced in March that would restore a ban on online gaming by reinstating portions of the Federal Wire Act, could be attached to another piece of legislation next year.
The bill was introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Rep. Jacob Chaffetz (R-Utah) but was seen to have come directly from Adelson’s Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling.
The coalition released a statement saying the election results have bolstered their position and pointed out that 21 members of Congress were re-elected who were seen as against online gaming. Many of those candidates had been targeted by pro-online gambling groups.
“The tactics to remove the dissenters of online gambling from office have failed,” the coalition said in a statement. “Putting a stop to internet gambling is a worthy cause, long supported by the coalition, many lawmakers, and the public.”
Reports say that a hearing on the proposed ban may be held by the House Judiciary Committee during the lame duck session of Congress before the year ends. The majority of committee members are seen as being anti-gambling on many issues and the hearing could be a precursor to an attempt to pass the ban.
On the other hand, some analysts feel the hearing would be held simply to appease Adelson, and may be more symbolic than substantive.
Still, while Republicans won big, they still have to face a sizable Democratic opposition and President Barack Obama, who may not be too willing to support an Adelson-based plan.
Meanwhile, other reports have said that Reid may also move on a bill to allow online poker during the session before the Senate changes hands. But he still faces a Republican controlled House of Representatives even in the lame duck session.
The end result? Online gambling could be on the back burner for a long time.
