Experts: State Elections Are More Important to Casinos Than the Presidential Race

As the November presidential approaches, all sights are set on the battle between the Republican candidate Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. However, experts suggested that the gambling industry should be more wary of the races for state office instead.

Casino Workers Should Keep the State Elections in Mind

The US presidential elections are drawing near, prompting intense betting activity among Americans. Betting markets continue to shift after each debate, filling audiences with excitement and caution.

The casino industry is also looking forward to the elections, which will shape the political landscape in the USA for the next few years. The two candidates have made a variety of promises, including ones that would affect the gambling and hospitality industries.

However, legal and political experts advised the casino industry workers to turn their attention to the races for state office. In an interview with Casino.org, Robert Jarvis, a law professor at the Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard College of Law in Florida, noted that presidents have very little say over state gaming regulation.

These are state, not federal, issues … Casinos issues are state and local matters.

Robert Jarvis

Mark P. Jones, a political scientist at Rice University, confirmed Jarvis’ words, saying that state elections are far more important because most regulations are decided at the state level. Jones told Casino.org that the state elections are the ones that will directly affect the livelihood of casino workers.

The state elections will take place on the same date as the presidential election (November 5).

Trump and Harris Might Not Be Able to End the Taxes on Tipped Workers

As for the presidential race, Jones said that most casino workers will likely vote not based on factors related to their industry but to their economic situation and political opinions, as well as “their more general affinity for Harris and Trump as individuals.”

Jarvis elaborated that the four issues that will decide the election include the cost of living, immigration, abortion and the wars in Gaza in Ukraine.

As for casinos, Jarvis suggested that businesses have so far tended to favor the Republican Party. He suggested this might be the case again, considering the former president’s tax cuts from 2017. Despite that, the matter would ultimately be up to Congress, which is responsible for writing the law.

On the matter, both Harris and Trump vowed to eliminate taxes on tipped workers. However, as Jarvis pointed out, such a matter might not even get through Congress in the first place. Even if it does, I would be offset by higher taxes elsewhere, he added.