RAWA Sponsor Lindsey Graham Considers 2016 Presidential Run
Lindsey Graham for President? The internet gambling opponent has formed a committee that may evaluate whether a 2016 GOP presidential run would be viable.
Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senator for sc, who, along with Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), is co-sponsor of Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA), is weighing the possibilities for a 2016 run during the presidency.
Graham this week established a committee known as ‘Security Through Strength’ that will explore whether a bid for the GOP presidential nomination is viable.
‘What we’m looking at is, is here a pathway forward on the ground in Iowa and New Hampshire for a man like me? I have no idea until I look,’ said Graham.
Graham’s RAWA bill, if passed, would effectively ban all types of online gambling at a level that is federal apart from horse racing wagering and dream sports. No exemptions will be created for the states that have previously legalized and managed Internet gaming within their borders, making its passage seem like a long shot at most useful.
And Graham isn’t the opponent that is only of gambling with his eyes on the candidacy. Former nyc Governor George Pataki, co-chair of Sheldon Adelson’s Coalition to cease Internet Gambling, announced earlier in the day this that he is ‘seriously considering’ a run month.
Backed by Adelson
Both guys may be emboldened by the chance of backing and campaign efforts from Adelson, that has donated over $100 million to Republican causes over the years.
In 2011, the LVS chairman and his spouse Miriam Ochsorn donated $15 million towards the pro-Gingrich action that is political ‘Winning Our Future,’ while Mitt Romney was the recipient (to no avail, of course) of Adelson’s help in 2012, towards the tune of $30 million. Romney has stated he will not look for a 2016 presidential campaign spot this go round.
Graham, meanwhile, had shown interest that is little the online gambling question until 2013, when Adelson and Ochsorn cut $15,600 in checks for his campaign for reelection to Congress. Graham is also known to have attended a fundraising party at Adelson’s house.
Meanwhile, a study from townhall.com suggests Adelson recently came across with a group of Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill to renew his efforts to have online gambling banned in the US. The briefing that is private members of the home Judiciary Committee, including Chaffetz, was described by sources as both a strategy meeting and an update.
RAWA on the Rise
At this week’s confirmation hearing for Loretta Lynch, Graham quizzed the Attorney General candidate on her feelings toward on line gambling, and in particular the DoJ’s 2011 opinion that is legal the Wire Act, which effectively exposed the home for state-by-state regulation. Lynch neatly sidestepped the question.
Both Graham and Chaffetz have actually returned to the latest session of Congress with an increase of political capital than they held year that is last. Graham is now member of the Republican majority and Chaffetz was recently made chairman of the Government Oversight and Reform Committee.
Graham is a policy that is foreign who matters Senator John McCain as one of their closest allies. Announcing his intention to run, he cited the battle against Islamic extremism as their top priority.
He joins a list of more than 15 Republicans who’re considering running for president, including a third bush dynasty possibility in former Florida governor, Jeb Bush. Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, under whose administration online gambling has been legalized in the Garden State, in addition has been linked with a push for the GOP candidacy.
Paul Phua has Sports Betting Conviction in Malaysia
Paul Phua had been arrested in Malaysia for his role in a soccer ring that is betting in 2004, says the country’s press. Meanwhile, he awaits test in the United States having been arrested at Caesars Palace in June. (image: cardplayer.com)
Paul Phua, the high-stakes poker player who’s standing trial in the US accused of masterminding a global Cup wagering operation from Caesars Palace, has a conviction in Malaysia for equivalent offense, it has emerged.
Malaysian media reported this week that Phua had been arrested in 2004 for his participation in a ring that is betting regarding the European Champion soccer competition of that year.
According to the Malaysiakini newsprint, Phua received a sizable fine and left the national country for Vietnam briefly a while later, allegedly to escape those who have been owed money after the operation was busted.
He was barred from entering Malaysia, where on the web gambling had been strictly prohibited during the soccer World Cup in 2008.
The Phua instance has received a complete large amount of publicity in Malaysia, due mainly to the actions of country’s Home Affairs Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In December Zahid wrote to Deputy Director for the FBI Mark Giuliano to refute allegations that Phua was a member of the 14K Triads, despite the FBI having been informed of his connections to the notorious organized criminal activity group by Malaysian police in 2008.
Political Stink
In the letter, which was later submitted being a court document by Phua’s defense team, Zahid stated that Phua had, in yesteryear, assisted the Government of Malaysia on ‘projects impacting our national security,’ and as such the government was ‘eager for him to return to Malaysia.’
However, the page was deemed to be a serious breach of protocol and the federal government asked that it is withdrawn from court records.
Phua had been arrested with eight other people, including his son Darren and fellow high-stakes player Richard Wong, in June after an FBI operation on three of Caesars’ luxury villas unearthed the thing that was described as ‘an illegal wire room,’ the hub of a multi-million-dollar online World Cup operation that is betting.
Investigators turned off internet access to the rooms and posed as technical repairmen in order to gain use of the villas and evidence that is gather.
The protection team has asked that this evidence is struck through the record as they believe it was obtained illegally and without having a search warrant, and thus violates the defendants’ Fourth Amendment rights.
Macau Bribe Allegation
Five of Phua’s associates plead guilty and had been sentenced to unsupervised probation and fines, while Paul and Darren Phua keep their innocence.
Just weeks before these people were arrested in Las Vegas Phua was one of 22 individuals arrested in Macau in what authorities there called the biggest unlawful activities betting breasts on record.
Prosecutors in the US believe that Phua bribed police that is local order to secure their release, allowing him to fly to Las Vegas to carry on operations due to the fact 2014 World Cup, the biggest sports gambling event in history, gathered momentum.
The trial is currently delayed while the judge assesses whether evidence gathered through the FBI’s covert surveillance operation is admissible in court.
Nevada Sands Corp Reports Record Income
The cat that got the cream: Sheldon Adelson’s LVS reports record revenues inspite of the economic lull in Macau. (Image: telegraph.co.uk)
Las Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) reported accurate documentation year of net income this week.
Despite falling earnings in Macau since the region faces an intense tightening of financial controls from mainland China; and despite a suspected Iranian cyber-attack in February that did untold economic harm to the company’s systems; and despite unsteady share costs in the latter part of the year, Sheldon Adelson’s casino giant is rude health.
LVS stated that its web revenue increased by 6 percent on final 12 months to unprecedented most of $14.58 billion.
Comparison this with Caesars Entertainment, which has lost cash each year since 2009, while struggling to repay the attention on its industry-high $20 billion-plus debt, because it attempts to place its main running unit it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Macau ‘Still Wonderful’
Unlike LVS, Caesars failed to purchase Macau whenever the location started itself up to operators that are foreign and this is where the earnings are coming from, despite the softening of the area’s gaming market.
‘ The Macau that is new is little different than the old Macau, but still a wonderful Macau,’ Robert Goldstein, Las Vegas Sands president and COO told CNBC. ‘We believe very much in this market.’
However, LVS’s Q4 revenues were much lower, year on year, due mainly to Macau poorer performance in the latter part of the year. LVS, which has four casinos in Macau, stated the Sands Asia business reported a 16 per cent decline in net revenue to $2.12 billion, and the Venetian Macao saw revenue that is net by 23 per cent to $880.3 million, but this was offset by lower operating costs, the company said.
Turnover from Macau still dwarfs the revenue of LVS Vegas’ properties, however, which took a combined 362 million in Q4. Total operating expenses across all properties were down 14 % to $2.39 billion.
Prudent Management
‘The wise handling of our cashflow, including the ability to increase the return of capital to shareholders while maintaining a strong stability sheet and ample liquidity to invest in future growth possibilities, remains a cornerstone of our strategy,’ stated Adelson. ‘We remain focused on the constant execution of our global growth strategy, which leverages the power of our unique convention-based built-in Resort business design.’
This comes as Adelson seeks to redouble his efforts to stamp out online gaming in the US. Sources say that Adelson recently met with Republican users of the home Judiciary Committee in order to discuss pressing the problem through during the brand new session that is legislative.
Adelson has vowed to spend ‘whatever it takes’ to rid the globe of online gaming.
