Why this morning’s Flash ran a link to an anti-Trump commentary

June 21, 2016 4:43 PM
  • Jeffrey Compton, CDC Gaming Reports
June 21, 2016 4:43 PM
  • Jeffrey Compton, CDC Gaming Reports

In this morning’s Flash we ran a link to a Salon commentary written by Heather Digby Parton, entitled The degenerate gambler: Trump runs his campaign like he ran his casinos — right into the ground. We included the link not because I personally agree with what was written, but because it was an commentary (indirectly) about the gaming industry, published on a major (albeit liberal) news website.

Story continues below

As expected I received several emails asking: “Why are you publishing hit pieces from a left-wing rag like Salon?”

Because it was there!

The purpose of The Flash, Last Call, and the much more comprehensive Adams Daily Report is to bring to our readers’ attention gaming-related stories from around the world, be they for or against the industry. As has been pointedly noted by the American Gaming Association, much of what is written about the industry is based on myths, innuendos, and urban legends, rather than solid research. Some misstatements are made in total innocence (the reporter was simply not fully informed) while others, including Ms. Parton’s commentary, have a specific ax to grind. I feel that it is our job to inform the gaming industry what they are up against; ignoring parts of the public discussion isn’t constructive.

Currently the gaming industry, including CDC Gaming Reports, is in an uncomfortable position: the most controversial major-party Presidential candidate in a century has a long history in the casino industry – at one time he owned a half-dozen casinos around the country that prominently bore his name (one still does, though he doesn’t own it). The association between Trump and casinos cannot be broken. And that association will be a fountain of bad industry-related publicity for some time to come.

This situation is not unique. Every day I see stories that get national attention only because of a casino association. If someone leaves their kids in a car to go shopping we don’t hear about it, but it’s a national story if they “abandon” those kids in front of a casino. If a person gets robbed a few blocks from a casino (which in Las Vegas means almost anywhere) the story shows up on Google. And any embezzlement that includes a gaming aspect gets the full treatment.

I ignore most of these local-based tales of woe – I don’t publish them. But our readers (almost all gaming industry executives and team members) should be aware of major anti-gaming news and commentaries from national publications and websites. CDC Gaming Reports has no intention of writing or linking to stories that simply discuss Donald Trump, or his statements or his political positions, but when the gaming industry is dragged into the story, especially as part of the central narrative, then we will make you aware of it.

Of course there is a bigger question: what should the gaming industry (and specifically the AGA) do about this situation? That’s a tremendously tough question that I am sure that is being debated. It is the AGA’s job (which they do well) to dispel myths, innuendos, and urban legends with facts and research, but it will be very hard to put forth the truth without appearing in any way to be making an endorsement (which is definitely not their job). As complicated as my job might be, I certainly would not want to be in Geoff Freeman’s shoes from now until November 8th.