Ron Paul, The Florida Primary and Gambling
Gambling 911
Thursday January 24, 2008
Ron Paul came in second in Nevada for a reason and perhaps that reason isn't clear to a lot of people. Gambling911.com has extensively covered the Texas Congressman's stance on gambling over the Internet and his desire to make online poker legal in the US. What the mainstream media seemingly has lost sight of is that many online poker players reside in and around Las Vegas and Reno. Some of the most respected pros live here. Vegas has come to realize that online gambling compliments the land based juggernauts. Playing poker and other online casino games over the Web increases one's desire to visit the ultimate gambling destinations (an adult equivalent of Disney World). Vegas is also home to the World Series of Poker, thus further increasing its appeal to pros whose life time winnings often rank in the millions.
Of course, Ron Paul is also cited among the top choices for President of the United States when it comes to someone capable of fixing the nation's deteriorating economy. He and Mitt Romney were considered the top two Republicans experienced enough among Nevada voters during last weekend's Caucus entrance polls; Romney for his vast business background, Paul as the noteworthy "economist".
For Florida voters, these same issues have the potential to thrust Paul into contention (though his name is hardly mentioned when discussing the upcoming Florida Republican Primary).
In regard to gambling, a proposal to install slot machines in three local Miami-Dade parimutuels is up for vote next Tuesday. The pro-gambling ads are running all over local television stations.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that the slots vote could spread beyond South Florida.
"When Miami-Dade County voters decide Jan. 29 whether to join Broward voters in allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines into their three ailing pari-mutuels, they may be the last Floridians to have that choice.
"Or, they may be leading a stampede, showing the way for the Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, Melbourne Greyhound Park, Daytona Beach Kennel Club and the 16 other pari-mutuels outside of South Florida to reach for the same life preserver.
"Roll the dice because predicting what will happen in the new age of gaming now dawning in Florida is a crap shoot. Nobody knows for sure what numbers will come up."
One thing is known about Florida, there is a very high concentration of gamblers in the state, especially in South Florida where the Seminole Nation's three-year old Hard Rock Casino and Hotel has proven a huge success in the region.
Gambling911.com reporter, Tyrone Black, had an opportunity to check out the Hard Rock Casino this past Monday.
"It's like a mini-city," he said. "I believe that the Hard Rock will likely sway people towards voting for gambling. Speaking with people in South Florida and visiting the casino, it is obvious there has been a tremendous boost to the local economy as a result."
Employees must obtain work papers to become part of the Hard Rock family since it is run by the Seminole Nation and enjoys separate laws from that of Florida. It's also an attractive option for residence who have practically zero rights under the state's misleadingly named "Right to Work" laws.
"They should rename it the 'Right to Terminate' law," said one Hard Rock employee. "Florida employers can fire anyone at will for no reason, even people who have worked at the company for more than 10 years. State employees have no protection. The unions do not operate in Florida."
The Seminole Nation works under a "three oral warning, three written warning" policy. And don't think for a second that the resort exclusively employs Seminole Indians. We saw not-a-one!
The resort instead employs thousands of local Florida citizens from all races and religions living within Dade and Broward Counties. Its presence in the community cannot be overemphasized.
Ron Paul would do well to capitalize on this aspect of South Florida, but even more so, he should focus heavily on his economic stance.
Florida, like Nevada, has been hit hard by the nation's housing bust. Tax issues are at the top of the list for residents concerns.
The numbers don't lie. After Mitt Romney, Paul pulled in the most votes in each county of Nevada. Whether the same can hold true in the Florida Republican Primary remains to be seen. Miami and Naples appear to have the same demographics as Las Vegas. Move further North and Florida becomes very much entrenched in the Bible Belt (Jacksonville north and westward).
And while the numbers don't lie....the polls sometimes do. Polls have Ron Paul trailing in Florida, but the Congressman's supporters managed to raise just under $2 million in a single day on Monday, thus prolonging his bid for the Republican nomination well past the Florida primaries. The polls also showed Ron Paul last in Nevada. We know what happened there.
Gambling911.com's own intrepid reporter, Jennifer Reynolds, has rallied to have a Ron Paul sign erected on the Miami Beach home base overlooking the city's most traveled roadway, Collins Avenue.
Paul has yet to win a primary but his second place finish in the Nevada Caucus followed by his second place in yesterdays Louisiana Caucus has boosted his campaign. The idea of a possible brokered convention has many in the GOP taking a second look at Paul, according to Marty Eels of USADaily.com
Gambling 911
Thursday January 24, 2008
Ron Paul came in second in Nevada for a reason and perhaps that reason isn't clear to a lot of people. Gambling911.com has extensively covered the Texas Congressman's stance on gambling over the Internet and his desire to make online poker legal in the US. What the mainstream media seemingly has lost sight of is that many online poker players reside in and around Las Vegas and Reno. Some of the most respected pros live here. Vegas has come to realize that online gambling compliments the land based juggernauts. Playing poker and other online casino games over the Web increases one's desire to visit the ultimate gambling destinations (an adult equivalent of Disney World). Vegas is also home to the World Series of Poker, thus further increasing its appeal to pros whose life time winnings often rank in the millions.
Of course, Ron Paul is also cited among the top choices for President of the United States when it comes to someone capable of fixing the nation's deteriorating economy. He and Mitt Romney were considered the top two Republicans experienced enough among Nevada voters during last weekend's Caucus entrance polls; Romney for his vast business background, Paul as the noteworthy "economist".
For Florida voters, these same issues have the potential to thrust Paul into contention (though his name is hardly mentioned when discussing the upcoming Florida Republican Primary).
In regard to gambling, a proposal to install slot machines in three local Miami-Dade parimutuels is up for vote next Tuesday. The pro-gambling ads are running all over local television stations.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that the slots vote could spread beyond South Florida.
"When Miami-Dade County voters decide Jan. 29 whether to join Broward voters in allowing Las Vegas-style slot machines into their three ailing pari-mutuels, they may be the last Floridians to have that choice.
"Or, they may be leading a stampede, showing the way for the Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, Melbourne Greyhound Park, Daytona Beach Kennel Club and the 16 other pari-mutuels outside of South Florida to reach for the same life preserver.
"Roll the dice because predicting what will happen in the new age of gaming now dawning in Florida is a crap shoot. Nobody knows for sure what numbers will come up."
One thing is known about Florida, there is a very high concentration of gamblers in the state, especially in South Florida where the Seminole Nation's three-year old Hard Rock Casino and Hotel has proven a huge success in the region.
Gambling911.com reporter, Tyrone Black, had an opportunity to check out the Hard Rock Casino this past Monday.
"It's like a mini-city," he said. "I believe that the Hard Rock will likely sway people towards voting for gambling. Speaking with people in South Florida and visiting the casino, it is obvious there has been a tremendous boost to the local economy as a result."
Employees must obtain work papers to become part of the Hard Rock family since it is run by the Seminole Nation and enjoys separate laws from that of Florida. It's also an attractive option for residence who have practically zero rights under the state's misleadingly named "Right to Work" laws.
"They should rename it the 'Right to Terminate' law," said one Hard Rock employee. "Florida employers can fire anyone at will for no reason, even people who have worked at the company for more than 10 years. State employees have no protection. The unions do not operate in Florida."
The Seminole Nation works under a "three oral warning, three written warning" policy. And don't think for a second that the resort exclusively employs Seminole Indians. We saw not-a-one!
The resort instead employs thousands of local Florida citizens from all races and religions living within Dade and Broward Counties. Its presence in the community cannot be overemphasized.
Ron Paul would do well to capitalize on this aspect of South Florida, but even more so, he should focus heavily on his economic stance.
Florida, like Nevada, has been hit hard by the nation's housing bust. Tax issues are at the top of the list for residents concerns.
The numbers don't lie. After Mitt Romney, Paul pulled in the most votes in each county of Nevada. Whether the same can hold true in the Florida Republican Primary remains to be seen. Miami and Naples appear to have the same demographics as Las Vegas. Move further North and Florida becomes very much entrenched in the Bible Belt (Jacksonville north and westward).
And while the numbers don't lie....the polls sometimes do. Polls have Ron Paul trailing in Florida, but the Congressman's supporters managed to raise just under $2 million in a single day on Monday, thus prolonging his bid for the Republican nomination well past the Florida primaries. The polls also showed Ron Paul last in Nevada. We know what happened there.
Gambling911.com's own intrepid reporter, Jennifer Reynolds, has rallied to have a Ron Paul sign erected on the Miami Beach home base overlooking the city's most traveled roadway, Collins Avenue.
Paul has yet to win a primary but his second place finish in the Nevada Caucus followed by his second place in yesterdays Louisiana Caucus has boosted his campaign. The idea of a possible brokered convention has many in the GOP taking a second look at Paul, according to Marty Eels of USADaily.com