Donald Trump has secured the backing of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) ahead of the upcoming elections. As announced, the non-profit has pledged to contribute $5 million to Trump’s reelection.

The RJC’s ambition is to forge a meaningful relationship between the Jewish community and Republican lawmakers. The organization’s overarching aim is to foster favorable relations between the United States and Israel.

RJC officials also intend to distribute an additional $15 million among other GOP candidates.

The contributions come amid the continued conflict between Israel and Hamas and decreased support from Biden’s government. In an interview with Fox News, Sam Markstein, RJC’s political director, said that the Jewish community is “more energized than ever to turn the page from the failures, broken promises and betrayals by Joe Biden.”

Political bettors are currently more likely to place their wagers on Trump winning the presidential elections. William Hill bettors’ wagers, for example, seem to suggest that the ex-president’s chances of winning the race are standing at approximately 55%.

The RJC Was Extensively Backed by LVS’ Founder

For context, the RJC was founded in 1985 and is based in Washington DC. The organization has significant lobbying power thanks to its past relationship with Sheldon Adelson, founder of the Las Vegas Sands casino and hospitality giant.

Adelson passed away three years ago but is still listed as a board member of the RJC board thanks to his incredible contributions to the non-profit organization. He has fueled RCJ’s Victory Fund with millions of dollars and, together with his wife, provided Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns with over $200 million.   

In return, Trump, during his time as POTUS, moved the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as Adelson desired.

In other news, Trump Jr. recently criticized the Alabama Senate’s reluctance to pass a bill that would have allowed Alabama state residents to cast their vote on whether they would like to have a state lottery or not.

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Former US President Donald Trump has emerged as the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination following the withdrawal of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from the race. 

DeSantis’ Withdrawal Reshapes GOP Landscape, Boosting Trump’s Odds Beyond 90%

DeSantis’ departure has significantly boosted Trump’s odds, with the latest figures from OddsChecker indicating a more than 90% chance of him securing the nomination.

DeSantis, once considered a formidable contender, faced challenges in gaining support within the GOP primary, securing only 21.2% of the Iowa caucus vote. With the New Hampshire primary looming and polling showing a mere 7.5% support for DeSantis, the Florida governor made the unexpected decision to suspend his presidential campaign.

Recognizing the prevailing sentiment among Republican voters, DeSantis stated that he had signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee and affirmed his commitment to honoring that pledge. Despite past disagreements with Trump, he endorsed the former president, further consolidating Trump’s position in the race.

Additionally, DeSantis said that Nikki Haley, the only other major candidate remaining in the primary race, represents the “old Republican guard of yesteryear” and is a “repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism.”

Trump’s recent triumph in Iowa, where he garnered an impressive 51% vote share, has translated into a substantial boost in his odds. According to OddsChecker, Trump is now priced at evens (implying a 50% chance) to win the 2024 US election. Other platforms, such as 888sport, offer odds of 6/5 (45% chance) for Trump’s victory.

Trump’s Dominance in Early Contests Positions Him as the Clear Favorite Over Nikki Haley

As the Republican primary unfolds, Nikki Haley remains the sole challenger to Trump, with odds of 12/1. However, the dominance displayed by Trump in the early contests, coupled with the endorsement from DeSantis, positions him as the overwhelming favorite among political bettors and analysts.

The OddsChecker stats not only underscore Trump’s ascendancy within the Republican Party but also highlight the increasing likelihood of a Trump-Biden rematch in the 2024 general election. Both Trump and Biden are currently priced at 45 cents on the PredictIt market, signaling a neck-and-neck race.

The landscape of the 2024 presidential race is marked by skepticism and disbelief, with Republicans questioning Biden’s ability to secure the Democratic nomination and Democrats expressing concern over the potential impact of legal challenges on Trump’s candidacy. 

The intricate dynamics set the stage for a closely monitored and intriguing electoral contest, with the odds pointing to a compelling showdown between Trump and Biden.

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Texas legislators are on the move to bring casino gambling to the Lone Star state. Before this year’s legislative session even started, state Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, filed a bill on casino legislation that was supported by Las Vegas Sands in 2021.

The tide has turned somewhat and a new strategy that would moot the Alvarado bill has been introduced by a highly influential Republican representative from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, filed a proposal on Friday (House Joint Resolution 97). The current strategy seeks to amend the state constitution to allow voters to make the decision on expanded gambling in November. A total of seven destination casino resorts could be authorized if the bill passes and is signed by the governor. Public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of allowing casinos in the state.

Jobs and Economic Shot in the Arm for North Texas

Political and business leaders have advocated for casino gambling in North Texas for several years in order to bring jobs, increase tourism, and to reap other economic benefits.

Las Vegas Sands and other gambling operators have employed hordes of lobbyists and have spent millions of dollars to promote the legalization of Las Vegas-style casino gambling. There are currently three Native American Tribes with gambling houses in the state using “video bingo” machines that look and act like regular random number generator-powered slots. The largest operation is near the Mexican border in Eagles Pass.

The Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino holds over 3,000 of the machines. Another small operation is located in Livingston, Naskila Entertainment. The third is the on-again-off-again Speaking Rock Entertainment Center in El Paso.

Geren said in a prepared statement: “Polling over the last year makes it clear that more than 85% of Texans want the right to vote on this issue, republicans and democrats alike.

“It is high time that the legislature listens to the voters and allow them to decide this issue. I, for one, am not in the business of denying the voters of Texas their voice when their preference is so clear.”

A stampede of legislation in other states legalizing online sports betting and casinos has left Texas in the dust, and neighboring states like Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma already allow some forms of gambling leaving Texans to travel out of state or to the southern border in order to gamble. The revenues are not captured by the state under current law.

Sports betting was once considered illegal in all states except Nevada as no other states “grandfathered” in their right to offer it. However, in 2018 the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1991 opening the floodgates for legalized sports betting. There are currently 36 states that allow the activity with Oklahoma planning to join the pack this year.

Seven Destination Casinos Would be Allowed

The Geren bill would authorize two casinos in the Dallas-Ft. Worth, and two in the Houston area. One would be allowed in San Antonio, one in McAllen, and another in Corpus Christi. In the bill, it was stated that those locations promise the “greatest positive economic impact from destination resort development.”

Geren imagines the properties to become more than simply casinos, but “tourism amenities and facilities, including hotels, restaurants, meeting facilities, attractions, entertainment facilities, and shopping centers,” the bill said.

The bill would allow some of the Texas race tracks to use their current pari-mutuel licenses to open destination casinos.

While in the past, gambling proponents have advocated for casino gambling to increase state revenues, in 2023 lawmakers will be busy figuring out what to do with a more than $30b budget surplus.

The bill, as written would impose a 15% gross gambling tax on the casinos.

Just before Christmas, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he would be open to moving his team to the Dallas area when the current long-term lease expires in 8 years and a new casino with an arena for basketball and hockey should be part of a new casino resort. Cuban told The Dallas Morning News, “My goal, and we’d partner with Las Vegas Sands, is when we build a new arena, it’ll be in the middle of a resort and casino. That’s the mission.”

Source: Gambling proponents have a new plan to ask Texas voters to legalize casinos, San Antonio Current, February 3, 2023

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