5 ms·

Maybe? Honestly, I'm pretty dubious about the investment value of lobbying, full stop. But regardless, do we have literally any evidence that his a drug baron

Maybe? Honestly, I'm pretty dubious about the investment value of lobbying, full stop. But regardless, do we have literally any evidence that his a drug baron? That seems like a hell of a thing to put out there on the basis of "he opposes marijuana legalization."

Bartweiss 10y ago
I feel like he's one of the last people you'd suspect of being involved with drugs. Adelson is already a major player in a spectacularly lucrative industry, so it'd be pretty insane to go into hardcore felonies when his legal business might actually have better margins. The Venetian cleared >$300 million after costs in 2014. It'd be a pretty bizarro-world decision to jeopardize that for more money.
- michaelmrose 10y ago
  People are not rational. Drugs and legal gambling have a history.
- objclxt 10y ago
  > The Venetian cleared >$300 million after costs in 2014. It'd be a pretty bizarro-world decision to jeopardize that for more money. They also had to pay $50 million dollars the previous year to the government as a settlement for money laundering, and has been in hot water for allegedly paying bribes to secure casinos in China[1]. Their business isn't exactly squeaky clean as it is. [1]:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/in-filing-casino-operator-admits-likely-violation-of-an-antibribery-law.html?_r=1 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/in-filing-casino-...
  - Bartweiss 10y ago
    Absolutely - I wouldn't for a minute assume casino organizations are clean, especially abroad where they might feel safer from domestic prosecution. I just don't think diversifying into unrelated and personally-criminal activities would make much sense.
- jcoffland 10y ago
  You think casinos have no involvement in illegal activities because they are already making enough money? Maybe I watch too many movies but that sounds bizarro-world to me.
  - Bartweiss 10y ago
    I think already-rich casino magnates don't get involved in totally unrelated serious crime like importing drugs. I'm fully aware that the casinos used to be shoulder to shoulder with the mob, and have done plenty of shady things. I guess I just meant that it would be stupid to diversify so riskily - in movie terms, it'd be like a hacker starting a sideline in gun running.
gm-conspiracy 10y ago
What about the tax implications? If these are "donations" to non-profits, wouldn't this reduce one's tax liability.

Bartweiss 10y ago

I feel like he's one of the last people you'd suspect of being involved with drugs. Adelson is already a major player in a spectacularly lucrative industry, so it'd be pretty insane to go into hardcore felonies when his legal business might actually have better margins. The Venetian cleared >$300 million after costs in 2014. It'd be a pretty bizarro-world decision to jeopardize that for more money.

michaelmrose 10y ago
People are not rational. Drugs and legal gambling have a history.
objclxt 10y ago
> The Venetian cleared >$300 million after costs in 2014. It'd be a pretty bizarro-world decision to jeopardize that for more money. They also had to pay $50 million dollars the previous year to the government as a settlement for money laundering, and has been in hot water for allegedly paying bribes to secure casinos in China[1]. Their business isn't exactly squeaky clean as it is. [1]:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/in-filing-casino-operator-admits-likely-violation-of-an-antibribery-law.html?_r=1 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/in-filing-casino-...
- Bartweiss 10y ago
  Absolutely - I wouldn't for a minute assume casino organizations are clean, especially abroad where they might feel safer from domestic prosecution. I just don't think diversifying into unrelated and personally-criminal activities would make much sense.
jcoffland 10y ago
You think casinos have no involvement in illegal activities because they are already making enough money? Maybe I watch too many movies but that sounds bizarro-world to me.
- Bartweiss 10y ago
  I think already-rich casino magnates don't get involved in totally unrelated serious crime like importing drugs. I'm fully aware that the casinos used to be shoulder to shoulder with the mob, and have done plenty of shady things. I guess I just meant that it would be stupid to diversify so riskily - in movie terms, it'd be like a hacker starting a sideline in gun running.

gm-conspiracy 10y ago

What about the tax implications? If these are "donations" to non-profits, wouldn't this reduce one's tax liability.