It now depends on how power the someone in the parliament is or what are the numbers of other in the parliament backing him up. Pablo Escobar when alive entered into politics to help restrict the government against him and even with his position and his dreaded history he happened to get some road blocks.
But on a more critical stand point there are lots of people in power who have a lot to gain or have friends that are already very much into Gambling.

Many cities around the world are powered by casino houses, money are also laundered through gambling, it is a form of leisure for the high, small and anyone in between.