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Casino Industry Hedges Bets on Sport Book Battle

"Casino operators are locked in a battle vs. the nation's college athletics programs and anti-gambling activists over legislation that would ban betting on all non-professional sports, which is currently legal in Nevada's gaming parlors.

"In the 2000 campaign cycle, contributions from individuals and PACs (including soft money) tied to the gaming business totaled $10.4 million, nearly double what was given in the previous cycle and a 30-fold increase from just 10 years ago, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

"…While a greater number of Democrats have benefited from the largesse, Republican candidates pulled down larger chunks on average.

"In the current Senate, 41 members received contributions from the industry in the last cycle. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), a leading opponent of the anti-betting proposal, topped the list at $360,499, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

"…The picture in the House of Representatives is similar as nearly 200 members accepted casino contributions last year.

"…The White House has been silent on the issue. The casino industry gave early and often both to George W. Bush and Al Gore last year, with MGM Mirage adding $100,000 to the inaugural fund after the dust in Florida had settled.

"In theory, Bush might veto the betting legislation and hand the gaming business another victory, but when he was governor of Texas, he wasn't regarded as an ally of the casino industry.

"He opposed the expansion of casinos to the Lone Star state, and his appointment of Attorney General John Ashcroft, who once called legal gambling `a cancer on the soul of our nation,' has won him few friends in Las Vegas."

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