谢尔登·阿德尔森为南佛罗里达州赌场合法化游说

  谢尔登·阿德尔森拥有世界最成功的游戏公司之一的拉斯维加斯金沙集团。阿德尔森一直希望他的游戏能遍及到世界上只要有阳光的地方,仅仅是近年来,他的公司就已经逐渐地扩大到世界各地。 阿德尔森为了南佛罗里达州的赌场已经担当了几年的主要游说人。

  在过去的一个月,在佛罗里达州,阿德尔森发现迄今为止这可能是最好的方法扩大这种类型的活动。 阿德尔森和他的妻子已经向纽特 · 金里奇的竞选美国总统投入 1000 万元。在过去一个月内,金里奇已经占据共和党候选人米特,罗姆尼的地位,甚至在南卡罗莱纳州的初选上击败罗姆尼。

  “这是阿德尔森非常重要的一步。”史蒂夫施瓦兹说。“在佛罗里达州初选之前的金里奇竞选中灌注基金,他保证他的名字将在在整个过程中的媒体突出显示出来。那个名字被认出能够帮助他在未来的时间里,继续向前推动他的计划—–在佛罗里达州的开新赌场。”

  史蒂夫韦恩、 永利度假村首席执行官和云顶的加入,是阿德尔森游说的众多成果。马来西亚游戏公司已经购买了迈阿密先驱报大楼,并展示了一个未来世界度假胜地迈阿密的构建蓝图。这个度假胜地还将在二楼配备一个赌场的空间。

  在最近几个月内,佛罗里达州的立法机构提出了一些让赌场度假村合法化的法案。国家的主要症结可能是他们与塞米诺尔印第安人的契约。如果国会议员通过赌场度假村游戏条例草案,它将作废契约。此外还将允许塞米诺尔提供任何法律允许下的游戏,且不必付税到佛罗里达州。

  阿德尔森和金里奇是多年的朋友,阿德尔森向一个政治委员会提供的资金,为的是帮助金里奇推出在南卡罗莱纳州的初选之前抨击罗姆尼的宣传广告。额外增加注入1000万美元将确保资金能够在这个阳光之州,让金里奇继续进行富有挑战性的竞选活动的广告宣传。

  译文

  Sheldon Adelson has one of the most successful gaming companies in the world, Las Vegas Sands. The company has been expanding all over the world in recent years, but the place that Adelson really wants gaming expansion is in the Sunshine State. Adelson has been lobbying for several years to bring major casino resorts to South Florida.

  Over the past month, Adelson has found possibly the best way to campaign for that type of expansion in Florida. Adelson’s and his wife have pumped $10 million into the presidential campaign of Newt Gingrich. Over the past month, Gingrich has been making up ground on Republican front-runner Mitt Romney, even beating Romney in the South Carolina primary.

  ”It was a very strategic move by Adelson,” said Steve Schwartz. “By infusing funds into the Gingrich campaign before the Florida primary, he ensured that his name would be prominently displayed in the media throughout the process. That name recognition could help him in the future as he moves forward with his plan for a new casino in Florida.”

  Adelson has been joined in his lobbying efforts by Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts, and Genting. The Malaysian gaming company has already purchased the Miami Herald building, and has shown the blueprints for a Resorts World Miami. The resort will be equipped with space on the second floor for a casino.

  The Florida Legislature has several bills that have been proposed in recent months that would allow casino resorts. The main sticking point for the state may be their compact with the Seminole Indians. If lawmakers pass the casino resort gaming bills, it would void the compact. The Seminoles would also be allowed to offer any games legal in the state, without having to pay taxes to Florida.

  Adelson has been a longtime friend of Gingrich, and the money that Adelson provided to a political committee helped Gingrich launch the ads attacking Romney before the South Carolina primary. The infusion of an additional $10 million will ensure that Gingrich again has the bankroll necessary to continue with the aggressive ad campaign in the Sunshine State.