STATESIDE
Stateside W
e’ve come a long way, baby. In 1968, the Philip Morris tobacco company targeted women by introducing its new Virginia Slims cigarettes brand. The company’s “You’ve Come a Long
Way, Baby“ campaign slogan compared early 20th century women who faced punishment for smoking to the modern, hip, independent feminists, emerging on television and in print, who were free to smoke. At that same time, most people viewed casinos as
What matters is that someone so interconnected to gaming could be considered for the highest American court.
borderline sinful and run by the Mob. Hollywood perpetuated that image with slick movies- starring top movie stars-about shady casino characters. Although big corporations began their takeover of private casinos in the 1970s/1980s, which led to tougher regulations, there was an indelible imprint. Legal only in Nevada until 1976, federal and state authorities wanted limited gaming. Most Americans placed their bets by traveling to the Caribbean islands. However, millions illegally gambled in the shadows, just like today with sports betting and Internet gaming. Almost 50 years later, how things have changed. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that smoking – now highly taxed – decreased from 48 per cent in the late 1960s to 17 per cent in 2014. Public smoking is illegal almost everywhere and smokers, often treated as pariahs, must remain outdoors. What about gaming in 2016? Perceptions have
reversed and public opinion is favorable towards gaming. Most Americans happily patronize hundreds of casinos nationwide, recognizing that gaming is a highly regulated, fair industry led by professional people. We can thank the AGA and good corporate
stewardship from its members. The group’s ongoing efforts, since 1995, to inform and educate elected officials and the populace have reaped great PR results. Companies involved in multiple jurisdictions have created their own place in those communities. Consider Nevada‘s popular, moderate Republican
Governor Brian Sandoval, 52. As the first Hispanic elected to statewide office, the former federal judge and Attorney General was the youngest chairman of the Gaming Commission of Nevada at 35. Apparently, Sandoval‘s achievements attracted national attention. Following conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia‘s sudden death in
10 APRIL 2016
Sharon Harris looks back, then forward, and finds that gaming may soon have an ally in a high office
February – after serving since 1986 – speculation arose about President Obama‘s nomination to replace Scalia. Nevada Democratic Senator Harry Reid quickly recommended Sandoval, but many considered him a long shot. They speculated that the politically-motivated Reid, who touted Sandoval’s bipartisan appeal, only suggested him to pressure Republicans to agree with Obama. Did Reid have an ulterior motive? Maybe. In the
2010 Nevada governor’s race, Sandoval resoundingly defeated Reid’s son Rory in all 17 counties. The younger Reid then also faced a campaign finance fraud probe. Was Harry Reid just “letting bygones be bygones”
by tapping Sandoval? If conjecture about the retiring senator was true, Sandoval would be a political pawn. Just as quickly, Sandoval said thanks, but no thanks. Why would Sandoval be interested? Excluding law school in Ohio, he has spent his entire life/career in the American West. Now in his second term, Sandoval’s professional future seems limitless after leaving office in 2019. Despite the enormous honor, why subject himself to the political scrutiny of Supreme Court Justice selection and uproot himself to relocate to Washington? What matters is that someone so interconnected to gaming could be considered for the highest American court. It speaks volumes of gaming’s enhanced stature from a generation ago. Maybe the industry’s hard work of educating local, state and national legislators, plus the media, has paid off. Today, so many properties make gaming more tangible to the public’s collective conscious since the millions who work at and supply the casinos are our friends and neighbors. Brian Sandoval’s name being potentially thrown into the Supreme Court nomination ring can only mean we are finally standing on respected, higher ground.
An update on the Apple cell phone situation from
last month. Threatening legal action, CEO Tim Cook refused to help the FBI unlock the phone used in December 2015 by two terrorists in the San Bernardino, California massacre. I questioned a casino IT department‘s obligation if something happened on their properties. The FBI has since found a solution and Cook now wants the FBI to disclose its methodology. Really?
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