Sheldon Adelson, an American businessman - and billionaire - died on January 11, 2021. At the age of 87, he lost his battle with cancer, after almost two years of treatments. And while Adelson owned many businesses, he will be mostly remembered for his involvement in the gambling industry.
Over the years, the casino mogul took live gambling to an entirely new level. However, it was clear he wasn't a big fan of online poker. How did this tycoon influence the industry? And what could he possibly have said to influence Everygame login options and online betting in general? Let's take a closer look at the man's history and involvement with poker.
Adelson's Career and Early Life
Sheldon Gary Adelson was born in 1933 in Boston, and from a young age, it was clear he had an eye for business. At the age of 12, he began selling newspapers, which turned into a passion of his further down the line.
After serving in the US Army, Adelson started various businesses, some more successful than others. He tried his luck in travel, hotel toiletries, and mortgage banking. But his first major success came when he helped build the Interface Group with several partners, launching the highly successful COMDEX. Soon enough, the technology trade show became one of the largest in the field, and Adelson helped run it smoothly till it was sold in 1995.
His next project included venturing into the gambling industry, and in 1999, he opened the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. Slowly but surely, it turned into a highly popular gambling resort. Later on, Adelson had the chance to expand his businesses in Macau, which is a beloved gambling destination for travelers. One casino turned into two, then three, and before he knew it – Adelson was in charge of a billion-dollar empire.
In September 2020, Adelson was listed by Forbes as the 28th richest person in the world, with a net worth of $33.8 billion. A big chunk of that came from his share in the gambling empire, which was worth approximately $14 billion at the time of his death.
Adelson's Influence on Online Poker
While Adelson opened many land-based casinos both in the US and abroad, he wasn't a big supporter of online gambling. In fact, when the DOJ announced the Wire Act didn't apply to online betting (under Obama's administrations), the casino mogul did his best to fight that decision.
He founded the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling, trying to promote the Restoration of America's Wire Act (RAWA) with little success. Later on, he supported multiple Republican presidential candidates, which were more likely to adopt his views on online betting.
After spending a lot of money on the issue, he got some support from Trump's administration, as the DOJ went back to its original stance on the Wire Act a few years ago.
But while his campaigns against online gambling left a lot of players disheartened by his actions, there is no ignoring all the good things he did. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Adelson donated millions of dollars to multiple causes. He supported wounded soldiers and contributed a lot to the fight against drug addiction – matters that were close to his heart.
In Conclusion
Even though Adelson campaigned against online gambling, he still deserves respect for all he was able to achieve in his life.