Elected Officials Swayed By Campaign Contributions

December 7, 2007

It comes as no surprise to many that our elected officials might choose to vote in favor of those things that those that have donated to their campaigns might support. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a politician that voted against those things that their supporters want. Therefore, when Gambling Web reported last week about the money that Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia had received, no one was surprised at all.

In fact, Goodlatte has taken almost $40,000 in campaign contributions from the horse racing industry. Considering Goodlatte’s record on voting against online gambling, it is no wonder that he would have received that kind of money in his campaign. Goodlatte has been a very vocal supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and many believe that it is due to his ties to the horse racing industry.

As long as online gambling remains illegal, it bodes well for the horses as they have less competition to deal with. The way it is now, the online gambling legislation that has been passed allows for internet gambling for state lotteries, fantasy sports and of course, horse racing.

The horse racing industry has taken full advantage of the fact that online gambling has taken such a hit over the past year, and has every intention of expanding their online gambling instead. If this happens and the UIGEA stays in effect, then it will be only a matter of time before the horse racing industry is the only online gambling that you can participate in.

With all of Goodlatte’s talk about online gambling being immoral, it is a wonder that he doesn’t see the irony in his situation. Truly, he wants online gambling banned as long as it doesn’t affect his bottom line.




Back to December 2007 Archive.