Gambling industry losing key ally

The gambling industry is mourning the loss of key ally, following Senate minority leader Harry Reid’s bombshell announcement Friday that he would not seek reelection in 2016.

Geoff Freeman, the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, called the Nevada Democrat a “visionary for what could be possible” for the industry.

“Senator Reid has been a tireless supporter of gaming who solidified Nevada and the industry’s significance across the country,” Freeman said in a statement.

Reid’s ties to gaming stretch back to the beginning of his political career. After a stint as the lieutenant governor of Nevada, he served as the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

In recent years, the gambling debate in Washington has centered on the Internet.

While some in the industry — including billionaire mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, the owner of the Las Vegas Sands and other casinos — have called for an ultimate prohibition of online gambling, the American Gaming Association has thrown its weight behind legalization legislation. Last year, it pulled its support because the issue had begun to “fracture” its membership.

Reid in general supported a ban on Internet gambling but has advocated for an exemption for online poker. Those efforts fell apart as recently as last year during the final days of the lame-duck session.

Still, Reid is a top defender of Las Vegas and the gambling industry in general.

 “The people of Nevada have been fortunate to have an unmatched champion in Senator Reid, whose leadership and dedication will be missed,” Freeman said.

Reid received more than $444,000 from individuals and political action committees in the casino and gambling industry during the 2014 election cycle, according to records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.