Delegation's journey to Estonia paid off for Cardoza

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Dennis Cardoza turned a tidy gambling profit during official travel to Estonia last year, winning $1,700 at the slot machines.

Cardoza, D-Merced, scored at the Olympic Casino. He was one of five House members who visited the former Soviet republic in July, but the only one to report wagering with such conspicuous success.

"He popped in a few coins in a slot machine, and won," Cardoza's press secretary, Jamie McInerney, said Tuesday.

Cardoza's excursion to the nation of 1.3 million was part of a broader congressional delegation trip that also touched down in Sweden and Russia.

McInerney said the lawmakers met with Estonian defense and economic policy officials as well as members of Parliament. The officials zeroed in on cyber- security, as Estonian-based computers had been subjected recently to a sustained cyber attack.

McInerney said Cardoza was having a hard time sleeping while traveling. After a day of meetings and an official dinner, he said, Cardoza went for a walk and came upon one of the Olympic casinos. He said Cardoza was alone on the night he won big.

The congressional delegation stayed in Estonia for two nights, according to the delegation's itinerary. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, also was on the trip. In an interview Tuesday, said he was unfamiliar with Cardoza's playing the slot machines. He recalled, though, that he and Cardoza went out one night to a casino several blocks from their hotel and played blackjack "for a couple of hours."

"I remember he won," Nunes said, noting that he and Cardoza "have been to casinos before together" on other travels.

Olympic operates 27 casinos in Tallinn, a city of about 400,000. The Estonian casino is part of the burgeoning Olympic Entertainment Group empire, which has more than 120 gaming halls in seven Eastern European countries.

"Entry is free to over 21s," the casino's Web site notes, "but smart dress is required."

Cardoza disclosed his gambling winnings this week as part of the annual personal financial disclosure statement filed by members of Congress.

It marks the first time since Cardoza's 2002 election to the House that he has reported gambling income. While in the state Assembly, though, The Associated Press reported he took trips to the Kentucky Derby, Del Mar racetrack, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. "I love horse racing," Cardoza said. "Personally, I think it's a great sport."

House members are paid $169,300 annually. Besides the gambling winnings, Cardoza reported buying several high-tech stocks in March 2007 and selling his Sun Microsystems and Microsoft shares in July. The broad categories of the financial disclosure statement do not divulge precise profits or losses.

The San Joaquin Valley's other House members filed largely unremarkable financial disclosure statements this year. One, Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, reported receiving $300 worth of private golf lessons. The lessons were a gift from his staff, according to Radanovich's disclosure statement.

Bee Washington Bureau reporter Mike Doyle can be reached at mdoyle@mcclatchydc.com or 202-383-0006.