I just turned off the television set after listening to the coverage of the death of Sen. John McCain.
While McCain's political foes and friends heaped praise on the Arizona maverick who died of brain cancer just days before his 82nd birthday, they left out a significant fact about his life.
McCain the gambler
He was addicted to dice and played high-stakes craps in casinos around the world, from the Caribbean to Foxwoods in Connecticut. He played in casinos in New Orleans, Atlantic City and Las Vegas and he played big.
His maternal grandfather Arch Wright was a bootlegger and gambler who made a fortune in oil after buying land in Oklahoma that produced oil for gold coins and liquor.
All the cable television networks:
Fox News, CNN and MSNBC -- told about McCain's paternal grandfather who was an Admiral in the U.S. Navy. But I never heard a word about Arch who was married to his mother who is still alive at 106.
McCain was a gambler who lived to take chances. That was one reason why he picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, to be his running mate when he ran for President in 2008.
He upset poker players...
...around the country, including Doyle Brunson, when he voted for legislation that would have criminalized Internet gambling on poker. The bill would have provided a fine and up to three months in prison for anyone who used a computer to bet on a poker hand.
Brunson, three times winner of the World Series of Poker, said, 'God help the Internet gambler business if McCain happens to win.' He ultimately admitted voting for McCain, saying, 'If I go to hell, it won't be because I voted for John McCain.'
Now I don't know if the late Senator was a saint or sinner. But I do know that on Sept. 27, 2008, the New York Times published a story in its Sunday edition exposing McCain's addiction to dice and his legislative support for Indian casinos across the country.
His help propelled Indian casinos...
...from a fledgling industry into a nationwide business that pumps more than $30 billion a year into tribal treasuries thanks to the more than 430 Indian casinos operating across the U.S.
The Times article told of McCain and a couple of staffers winning thousands of dollars in a room reserved for high stakes gamblers at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. He was tossing black $100 chips around the table like they were dollar bills, according to observers. One of his fellow players was Scott Reed, a lobbyist who represents the casino owned by the Mashantucket Pequot, the tribe that built Foxwoods.
McCain was a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee at the time he was gambling.
No member of the U.S. Senate or Congress did more than McCain in promoting Indian gambling casinos in America. And the casinos rewarded his help by contributing millions of dollars to his election campaigns.
In May 2007 while he was running for President, he spent a weekend at a fund-raising event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. His longtime friend J. Terrence Lanni, chief executive of the casino, hosted the fund-raiser which added $400,000 to McCain's bank account.
After the event, McCain attended a boxing match and then spent the rest of the evening at the dice tables.
McCain was a close friend of Arizona Rep. Morris Udall, a Democrat who defended Indian cases. Before his death in 1998, Udall asked McCain not to forget the Indians. Both men helped write the Indian Gaming Regulation Act of 1988 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states had no legal right to control gambling on reservations.
He favored sports betting in states where gambling is legal and he went on record as supporting talks with the American public and Congressional hearings on the matter.
I am just wondering why none of American's television journalists bothered to bring up any of this information when they marked McCain's passing.
coolsongss
5 years ago
Oh, it is very surprising that he was a gambler, too :) I think that nobody doesn't pay attention to his gambling habit now. 430 Indian casinos is just a stunning number... So, it is roughly 25~30% of all US casinos, correct ? Wow... Is it good or bad... Probably, it produced a lot of gambling addicts among Indians...
Oh, it is very surprising that he was a gambler, too :) I think that nobody doesn't pay attention to his gambling habit now. 430 Indian casinos is just a stunning number... So, it is roughly 25~30% of all US casinos, correct ? Wow... Is it good or bad... Probably, it produced a lot of gambling addicts among Indians as well as financial source... Thankful for an interesting and informative article! :)
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maiwen63
5 years ago
Maybe after his death, the media only published McCain's positive things: tortured driver during the Vietnam War, senator, candidate for the White House. in resumed republican monument. this article shows the relationship of politicians with casinos, The famous British Prime Minister was seen in 1939 in the casinos of the...
Maybe after his death, the media only published McCain's positive things: tortured driver during the Vietnam War, senator, candidate for the White House. in resumed republican monument. this article shows the relationship of politicians with casinos, The famous British Prime Minister was seen in 1939 in the casinos of the French Riviera. Politicians maintain near or far a relationship with the casino or gambling.
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zuga
5 years ago
he was also a warmonger
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jade
5 years ago
I believe in a lot of things, inalienable-rights, freedom of speech and lots of others. There are other things that I believe in that are not laws and one of them is, you should never say anything about someone, that tarnishes what they have come to represent, after they are dead and have no way to defend their words or...
I believe in a lot of things, inalienable-rights, freedom of speech and lots of others. There are other things that I believe in that are not laws and one of them is, you should never say anything about someone, that tarnishes what they have come to represent, after they are dead and have no way to defend their words or their actions. I believe people that do these types of things, do so, only because they can.......... I think it's a cheap shot! There are enough living human beings on this earth, if someone feels the need to take a shot at someone, about something. We should let the dead, rest in peace!
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Sylvanas
5 years ago
My husband and I have both developed a keen interest in the life and work of John McCain lately. Needless to say, I have never heard of any casino affiliation of his, professional of otherwise. Worthwhile reading, as always :)
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Mojo Jojo
5 years ago
I never trust politicians, I do not like politics and I'd prefer to avoid it but I know for a fact you can't avoid politics because as long you're in the system, you're a part of the politics. It's all about money because money is power, the more money you have the more power you'll get. People say money can't buy happiness,...
I never trust politicians, I do not like politics and I'd prefer to avoid it but I know for a fact you can't avoid politics because as long you're in the system, you're a part of the politics. It's all about money because money is power, the more money you have the more power you'll get. People say money can't buy happiness, I still wondering which idiot said that. I mean if this was true, why are people greedy?
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Vanenhox
5 years ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_mortuis_nil_nisi_bonum
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Geno
5 years ago
A good journalist brings up all the facts of a person's life when reporting on that person. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. John McCain had many good points, but he did promote Indian gambling on reservations in a major way and he was rewarded by millions of dollars contributed to his election campaigns....
A good journalist brings up all the facts of a person's life when reporting on that person. That includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. John McCain had many good points, but he did promote Indian gambling on reservations in a major way and he was rewarded by millions of dollars contributed to his election campaigns. The news media erred by not reporting this. Thanks for the comments.
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Vanenhox
5 years ago
When someone dies whether or not he or she was a famous or important member of society people tend to emphasize the positive about the deceased individual. At least in the short term...speak nothing but good of the dead or something along those lines is a saying people stick to in general. I guess if McCain let his gambling...
When someone dies whether or not he or she was a famous or important member of society people tend to emphasize the positive about the deceased individual. At least in the short term...speak nothing but good of the dead or something along those lines is a saying people stick to in general. I guess if McCain let his gambling influence other parts of his life and personality in such a way that it corrupted him and compromised his ethics it would be more of a problem. Maybe he was against internet gambling because it would go against the interests of his contributors in the land based casino business. That is not good...otherwise I think he was basically a good guy....choosing Palin was perhaps a rash and under informed decision...I do not think she helped his campaign back in 08.-..
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Alex and R
5 years ago
Geno, you are a walking encyclopedia. RESPECT.
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BralasLT
5 years ago
The news media didn't mention it because I can see it now, half the non-gambling nation would be irate that it was even brought up. Of course, the service to his country was monumental to who he was but as a gambler's point of view so was his part in this.
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