RAWA More Prominent with Rubio Backing

online gamblingAn effort to ban gambling on the Internet has picked up prominent supporters in Congress, although significant obstacles remain in the way of it becoming law.

The Restoration of America’s Wire Act, which would make online gaming illegal nationwide, was introduced in the Senate last week by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has pushed similar legislation before.

This time, however, the bill includes a bigger name among its co-sponsors: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Rubio and Graham are contenders for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, but Rubio’s political star power — as reflected by his poll numbers — is much higher.

Support for the legislation also makes Rubio and Graham top champions for a cause close to the heart of Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, the wealthy Republican megadonor who once said he’d “spend whatever it takes” to rid the United States of online gaming.

Rubio has been a critic of gambling expansion since his days as a state legislator in Florida, and he’s sought Adelson’s support as the 2016 race heats up. That work appears to be paying off: Politico said in April that Rubio was “the clear front-runner” for Adelson’s backing.

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