Sheldon Adelson’s Anti-Online Poker Stance Spreads To His Own Brick And Mortar Cardroom

Card Player – Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson has done nothing to shed his reputation as poker’s public enemy #1. ever since he announced that he was “willing to spend whatever it takes” to thwart online poker legislation within the United States.

Adelson, who formed the Coalition to prevent Internet Gambling in January, has made it abundantly clear that he has has an ethical and monetary problem with online poker, claiming it preys on vulnerable people and kids. His group even drafted a bill that may stop the spread of state-by-state online poker regulation.

The only problem is that Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corporation owns the Venetian Hotel and Casino, which runs of of the most important poker rooms within the city. Within the past, he’s allowed the room to function to its full potential, but now, it sounds as if as if he’s taking a stand.

Earlier this week, the Venetian unexpectedly canceled an option that may allow poker media company PokerNews to report live updates from a Mid-States Poker Tour event at the property. Although PokerNews is a principal sponsor of the tour, they weren't permitted to hide the tournament, which was running as part of the Venetian’s quarterly Deep Stack Extravaganza series, for the reason that site promotes online poker.

Although the Venetian declined to touch upon the situation, there are other signs that Adelson is scaling back poker at his property. Last year, the Venetian utilized the neighboring Palazzo Hotel and Casino to expand the choice of tables from 59 to 119, making it the second one largest tournament series within the city. This year, despite an ambitious original schedule, the Venetian have been forced to limit the series to the poker room.

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