The man trying to eradicate online poker and internet gambling from the US – Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson (pictured) – claims he’s “very socially sensitive,” according to a Las Vegas Sun article published this week. Adelson gave his remarks during a talk at UNLV.

After describing his tough roots in which “he and his three siblings slept on the floor in the same bedroom as their parents,” the article noted that Adelson’s father “spent his earnings as a taxi driver at racetracks.” He told onlookers, “I see what exploitation of poor, vulnerable people does to a family. I was part of it.”

Despite managing the Las Vegas Sands empire and having an army of casinos that includes the Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas and Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, Adelson is not in favor of spreading the industry online.

On his overall mentality about gambling, Adelson said, “I am in favor of gambling. I am in favor of it as a form of entertainment. But, I am not in favor of it exploiting the world’s most vulnerable people. I know I am a Republican and I am not supposed to be socially sensitive, but I am very socially sensitive.”

Adelson has launched the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling and pledged to spend “whatever it takes” to ban internet gambling in the US and restore the Wire Act of 1961. He has plenty of money with which to do so, as Adelson is the eighth richest person in the world “with almost $39 billion to his name,” according to the Sun. Last year, he called internet gambling a “societal train wreck.”

Adelson’s efforts against internet gambling have resulted in bills from Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who have introduced legislation to restore the Wire Act and prohibit internet gambling in the US, including in the three states where it’s already regulated.

While trying to stop internet gambling, Adelson has plans to expand his brick-and-mortar presence worldwide. Already a powerhouse in Macau, his company is targeting Japan and South Korea, with the Sun saying, “His company has launched advertisements in Japan, hired personnel there, and plans to open an office in that country. Casino resorts are not yet legalized in Japan, but Adelson said a few months ago that he would consider spending $10 billion to build a casino there.”

The reaction to Adelson’s back-story and stance against online gambling was largely critical on Two Plus Two, where one poster pointed out, “I fail to see his point considering online gambling wasn’t around when his father was degening it up. We all know what was around and we all know Adelson operates a B&M.”

Another poster echoed, “His father was a degen gambler, so instead of trying to help people that have that problem, he instead makes billions capitalizing on it then makes this the center of his argument why online poker should be banned. Are you kidding me?”

According to a 2012 Huffington Post article, Adelson rakes in $3.3 million per hour. Stay tuned to PocketFives for the latest poker legislation news.

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