By Samantha Williams

Regardless of anyone’s political leanings, the Democrat side of the race in the primaries is somewhat more interesting to watch than the Republican side.  After all, the two most leading contenders of the Democrats for the presidential race – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – are both larger than life personalities.  Whichever of these two wins the initial race to the White House will create a new chapter in the history of the United States.

Will a Democrat victory in the White House prove to be a win for the gaming industry as well?

On the side of Barack Obama, the senator from Illinois has been very public in the past about his stance against gambling, online or otherwise.  He has always shown skepticism about the merits of the gaming industry, not to mention obliviousness to the fact that casinos do provide jobs in less privileged areas not just in Nevada but even in Illinois.  Many industry insiders, including executives from Harrah’s Entertainment such as Peter Satre and former Las Vegas mayor Jan Jones, believe that Obama does not really see any benefit to supporting the gaming industry.  Peter Satre had stated that Obama “thinks gambling has a moral and social corruption attached to it.”

But Obama may be changing his tune nonetheless.  The Los Angeles Times reported that according to Obama, it is possible to make a “successful economic model” out of the gaming industry.  There is a clincher, of course.  The gaming industry, according to Obama, can only be a successful economic model if it is “properly regulated.”

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has been showing enthusiastic support for the gaming industry, and has been doing so right from the start.  That is why many industry insiders love her as well.  While she indeed recognizes the need for the development of technologies and practices that can regulate the gaming industry, she nonetheless recognizes that the gambling industry has its own contributions to the economy.  The gaming industry creates jobs and provides stimulus in economic growth.

Clinton has even gone on to liken the perceived social hazards linked with the gaming industry to the environmental hazards posed by industries where pollution or dumping toxic waste is inevitable.  Such companies have the power to create harm, but that does not mean that they do any harm indeed.  This, nonetheless, necessitates the need for proper regulation.

But could it be just campaign talk on the Clinton side?  Hillary was quoted to have claimed that the principles set by the Methodist church serve as her “personal moral guide.”  It cannot be ignored that the Methodist church frowns on gambling, unless Clinton is being selective about the tenets in her moral guide.

Ah, but the primaries are not done yet and who is to say what will prevail when all is said and done.  Clinton may have the backing of some of the industry’s bigwigs, but that would not stop her from changing spots later on.  The same can be said of Obama.  The only thing that can be done for now is to watch with interest and keep a few fingers crossed for luck.