Undercover Video Exposes Flaws In Adelson’s iGambling Argument

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Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 | Written by Adam Brown

When everyday people argue against online poker, they often cite worries about underage individuals having access to gambling sites as their primary area of concern. However, most of these people have never tried to register for an online account, and so have no idea what types of security measures are in place to prevent underage gambling. In other words, they are speaking from a position lacking in experience.

In other cases, these types of statements are motivated by something else entirely, especially when made by land-based casino operators. Accusations that online casinos provide easy access for underage gamblers, for instance, may just be a protectionist measure, and said out of fear as to how online gambling impacts their own bottom line. A brand new online expose shows that’s true of at least one billionaire, namely Sheldon Adelson (photo).

Online Gambling’s Most Outspoken Critics

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation CEO, Adelson, has been one of the online poker industry’s most outspoken critics over the past few years. He has made numerous statements regarding a lack of security on online gaming sites, accusing them of allowing anyone to register and gamble, regardless of age. His arguments against gambling always come from a righteous position, he states that at Sands’ owned properties like the Palazzo and the Venetian, underage gambling doesn’t take place. Therefore, only traditional casinos should be allowed to operate.

Are His Statements Truthful?

Determined to find out if there is any truth behind Adelson’s public attacks on the online gambling industry, an investigative reporter known as Tim James produced a show demonstrating what happens when two 19-year-olds tried to visit the Venetian. As Tim James announced at the beginning of his YouTube video:

“Why does this person, who is currently the third richest person in America, single-handedly fund the fight against online poker? I wanted to find out what his rationale was.”

The web series subsequently unearths a blatant hypocrisy to Sheldon Adelson’s argument, and suggests that underage gambling may be more an issue for land-based casinos, rather than their online equivalents.

Security Issues At Land Casinos

The first individual in the video, a female, was able to get into the Venetian Las Vegas with a fake ID and then play table games and slots all night long. The second operative, a male, was able to enter the casino without any ID at all. The teaser video shows him not only playing, but also cashing in a ticket. To compare the security of the Venetian to the security measures in place at online gaming sites, The Tim James Show had the same two 19-year-old individuals attempt to register for accounts at WSOP.com in Nevada. Over five attempts, the would-be underage gamblers were prevented from opening accounts, suggesting that WSOP.com has stricter and more effective security in place to prevent underage gambling.

Prostitution At The Palazzo

The Tim James Show also includes a segment on prostitution at the Palazzo. The teaser shows the producer of the web series hiring a prostitute right on the grounds for $1,000. In the clip, the prostitute says on camera that the management knows that they are there and allows it to happen to attract “rich guys” to the casino.

Serious Questions Raised About LVSC Casinos

While it’s always important to be a little skeptical of hidden camera exposes because they can be manipulated and edited, The Time James Show does raise serious questions about the security of Sands casinos and just how concerned Sheldon Adelson is about keeping underage people out of his casinos and preventing illegal activities from happening on Sands casino grounds. It will be interesting to see what the fallout from the web series will be and whether or not Adelson will issue a statement regarding the show.

In the meantime, the video has received 42,057 hits on YouTube, while Tim James’ full expose entitled ‘Exposed: Sheldon Adelson (Part 1)’ can be viewed here. Needless to say, the piece has received overwhelming support from the online poker community, including the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), and while the video alone is unlikely to halt Adelson’s crusade against iGambling, it does at least expose an underlying hypocrisy to his argument, and provide ammunition for the poker community to counteract his anti-online gambling efforts.