There could be quite a maelstrom surrounding internet gambling come 2014. According to the Washington Post, Las Vegas Sands CEO and staunch internet gambling opponent Sheldon Adelson (pictured) will launch theCoalition to Stop Internet Gambling next year. And, if you believe the Poker Players Alliance, Adelson could dump tens of millions of dollars into the cause.

Adelson’s top political advisor told the Post, “In my 15 years of working with him, I don’t think I have ever seen him this passionate about any issue.” The Coalition itself, according to the Washington, DC news outlet, will “include advocates for children and others who are considered vulnerable to the temptations and potential harms of online betting. The coalition hopes to enlist organizations representing women, African Americans, and Hispanics, all seen as likely to be sympathetic to the cause.”

In a thread on PocketFives, a message from PPA Executive Director John Pappas relayed what could be a startling outcome to Adelson’s campaign: “One of the centerpieces of this campaign will be model Federal legislation to ban online gambling (including poker) through a strengthening of the Wire Act (and presumably UIGEA). This would effectively prohibit states from moving forward with regulated iGaming.”

In June, Adelson launched StopInternetGambling.com, although PocketFives tried to access the site on Monday and was met with an “Error 403: Forbidden” message. The site featured text saying that the Las Vegas Sands Corporation paid for its construction. Earlier in June, Adelson penned an op/ed in Forbes calling internet gambling “fool’s gold” and a “societal train wreck waiting to happen.”

We mentioned the PPA believes Adelson will spend tens of millions of dollars on this endeavor. According to the Post, the amount that the casino mogul will drop into the campaign will represent his “biggest foray into a legislative debate directly related to his business” ever.

Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware all have legalized internet gambling and/or online poker. In fact, New Jersey’s soft launch starts on Thursday ahead of the full launch of internet gambling next Tuesday, just two days before Thanksgiving. Delaware and New Jersey permit full-blown internet gambling, whereas Nevada is solely online poker.

Pappas stressed the importance of activism, especially as Adelson reportedly pursues legislation to ban intrastate games: “This effort will be met with stiff opposition. I think that states, lotteries, and other gaming interests will rally to oppose this. But the most important voice in all of this will be the players and I hope that everyone will recognize this serious threat and will stand ready to defend their rights.”

Adelson appears to be building a small army of his own. The Post noted that the Sands CEO “has begun hiring lobbyists and public relations experts in Washington and in state capitals nationwide” and “has about two-dozen experts working nearly full-time on the issue.”

The reaction from the poker community on Twitter was, perhaps unsurprisingly, against Adelson’s actions. Jim Mr_BigQuesoCollopy wrote, “I wish Sheldon Adelson would play more golf.” Dave Behr added, “I guess LVS owner Sheldon Adelson wants to pretend the 10-year European history of online gaming doesn’t exist.”

Sands properties include the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas and Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. Sands also operates resorts in Macau, Singapore, and the Cotai Strip.

As for the actual makeup of the Coalition that Adelson is forming, Pappas said that it “will contain some of the usual anti-gaming suspects and be enhanced with some major spokespeople who be the face of the coalition, including, a former Republican Governor, a former Democratic Senator, and major city mayor.” According to the post, it’ll be Denver mayor Wellington Webb (D), former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and former New York Governor George Pataki (R).

We’ll keep you posted on the latest right here on PocketFives.

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