[PassedOut]

McCain's pick of Sarah Palin was described as a "roll of the dice." The New York Times reports that McCain often rolls the real dice as well: McCain and Team Have Many Ties to Gambling Industry

Quote

Senator John McCain was on a roll. In a room reserved for high-stakes gamblers at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, he tossed $100 chips around a hot craps table. When the marathon session ended around 2:30 a.m., the Arizona senator and his entourage emerged with thousands of dollars in winnings.

A lifelong gambler, Mr. McCain takes risks, both on and off the craps table. He was throwing dice that night not long after his failed 2000 presidential bid, in which he was skewered by the Republican Party’s evangelical base, opponents of gambling. Mr. McCain was betting at a casino he oversaw as a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and he was doing so with the lobbyist who represents that casino, according to three associates of Mr. McCain.

The visit had been arranged by the lobbyist, Scott Reed, who works for the Mashantucket Pequot, a tribe that has contributed heavily to Mr. McCain’s campaigns and built Foxwoods into the world’s second-largest casino. Joining them was Rick Davis, Mr. McCain’s current campaign manager. Their night of good fortune epitomized not just Mr. McCain’s affection for gambling, but also the close relationship he has built with the gambling industry and its lobbyists during his 25-year career in Congress.

In fairness, I should quote the McCain campaign's reaction to the New York Times report also:

Quote

Mr. McCain’s spokesman, Tucker Bounds, would not discuss the senator’s night of gambling at Foxwoods, saying: “Your paper has repeatedly attempted to insinuate impropriety on the part of Senator McCain where none exists — and it reveals that your publication is desperately willing to gamble away what little credibility it still has.”

Actually, I don't think that a little gambling disqualifies a person for the presidency or for any other responsible position. To be honest, I enjoy gambling once in awhile myself, even though I'm not in the position of regulating that industry.

What bothers me about McCain, though, is that so much of his persona seems to be based on taking big risks and making snap judgments. I find that a worrisome trait in a presidential candidate.

[kenberg]

Gambling is a character trait and that makes it of interest. Myself, I see a difference in how it is done. Harry Truman played poker with friends. So did my parents. I see this as different from going into some gambling hall and shooting craps. Of course the customer always wins. Everyone I know who goes to Las Vegas tells me how much he has won. It's amazing that those casinos can stay open.

[blackshoe]

"Everybody lies about sex". And gambling, apparently.

As I recall, over the six or so years I lived in San Diego, during which I made perhaps half a dozen trips to Vegas, I was about even. On the last trip, I was down about $500. OTOH, I never got to the $100 tables (blackjack, not craps).

[kenberg]

The only time I really was in Vegas was when the AMS had a meeting there in the early seventies. I ran into a friend from grad school playing the slots who told me "Judy says if I go to Vegas I have to lose twenty dollars in the slot machines but the damn thing keeps giving me money back". I did see Buddy Hackett, with Charo as the warm up act. A great show. The last time in Vegas was a few years back when we flew in late, stayed overnight, rented a car and headed out for the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and points in between. Never saw the inside of a casino.


Back at that time with the AMS meeting I lost twenty-five cents the first day, a bit more the next, and more the day after that. Then we joined up with some friends and beat it out of there for San Diego and South of the Border. Good move, I think.

Btw. At that time the cost of the room came included in the plane-fare and when I checked out a couple of days early they gave me a refund for the room at the going rate. So I guess I came out ahead. The school or the gov or someone had paid for the plane ticket. I think the statute of limitations protects me here.

Everybody wins at Vegas. Free money. Better than a subprime mortgage.

[helene_t]

I used to hate gambling but the money bridge tourneys on bbo are sorta addictive. $5 per 25 minutes is too crazy for me though. Maybe I will stop altogether if the dollar rate recovers.

[mycroft]

I have spent more money at the bridge tables in Vegas than I have gambling. And I went there when there was no tournament on, so that was club table fees.

Reno: 8 sessions at $mumble a session (CDN, so $lots more than $US at the time) at the 2001 NABC, $0 gambling. jdonn and his employers hate me.

[cherdano]

helene_t, on Sep 29 2008, 04:50 AM, said:

I used to hate gambling but the money bridge tourneys on bbo are sorta addictive. $5 per 25 minutes is too crazy for me though. Maybe I will stop altogether if the dollar rate recovers.

Shhhh. Money bridge isn't gambling! (Legally. Hopefully.)

[crazy4hoop]

Wasn't McCain the ringleader among a bunch of senators who proposed a ban on college sports betting in Nevada a few years ago? Granted, this may have been a knee-jerk reaction to the Stevin "Headache" Smith scandal at Arizona State (obv his home state) where the Sun Devils were caught shaving points in several games and McCain felt he had to do something. It did seem rather hypocritical for him to take such a postion as he was known back then for gambling in Vegas casinos as well. Of course, if he weren't hypocritcial, he wouldn't be in politics.

Maybe the real reason McCain seemed so cranky in the debate last Friday was that he unloaded his entire gambling bankroll on USC last Thursday night. Oh well, he can always go to a bank like WaMu if he needs a loan to place his next wager, or maybe not...

[Gerben42]

I hate gambling, but I like games with a luck element. But I don't mind if my president did not. What he does with his money is his decision. As long as he does the right thing with the taxpayer's money...

Game of luck: You play against the casino (Blackjack, Roulette, ...)
Game of skill: You play against other people (Money Bridge, Poker, Settlers of Catan, ...)

[blackshoe]

the only reason blackjack (in casinos) is not a game of skill is that the casino will bar anyone found to be skillful (ie, card counters).

[Al_U_Card]

You pays your money and you gets your $0.97 on the dollar back....(except in Quebec where you only get $0.88).

Still its better than most lottery tickets where the return is around $0.40.