US Lobbying by Gaming Companies still rising
Recently released figures for the fourth quarter of 2011 on internet gambling lobbying expenditure show that an estimated $3.7 million was invested in lobbying by major companies & interested parties, up on the $3.61 million spent in the preceding quarter.
The numbers do not include direct political contributions to bodies like PACs (political action committees), where recent reports have it that land gambling moguls like Sheldon Adelson have donated millions to aspiring presidential candidates.
Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands was a relatively small lobbyist in the quarter, investing a mere $10,000, not surprising as Sands does not want online gambling, so why lobby? At the other end of the scale, Caesars Entertainment spent $784,000 mainly on internet poker-related legislative interests.
MGM Resorts, which like Caesars has been a consistent voice for federal legalisation, put up $150,000 in the quarter, & its partner in the online venture with Bwin, Boyd Gaming paid out $50,000. Bwin itself invested $60,000.
Interestgly, Pokerstars maintained the level of its third quarter investment in lobbying at $150,000, acting through Rational Entertainment Enterprises, whilst TVG (Betfair’s horseracing acquisition two years back) spent $120,000, seriously increasing their third quarter expenditure. Another horseracing group placing its political stake was Chruchill Downs on $80,000 – unchanged from the previous quarter.
The American Gaming Association spent $511,000, the Poker Players Alliance spent $315,000, & the Interactive Gaming Council contributed $230,000.
