AGA lobbying cost $900 000

[jetset]

U.S. LAND CASINO GROUP SPENDS SIGNIFICANTLY ON LOBBYING

American Gaming Association discloses $900 000 budget for lobbying

The American Gaming Association, which represents the commercial land casino industry in the United States, spent $900 000 in the first half of 2007 to lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.

Associated Press news service reports that the trade group lobbied on online gambling, tax legislation affecting casinos and other matters, according to the form posted online Friday by the Senate's public records office.

In addition to Congress, the group lobbied the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service.

Major public companies such as Harrah's Entertainment Inc., Bally Technologies Inc. and MGM Mirage are among the more than 50 companies and groups that are members of the association.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

[jetset]

And apart from the AGA, online and land gambling companies were spending on lobbying, too:

In the first half of 2007, PartyGaming PLC spent $140 000, Harrah's spent $100 000, World Poker Tour spent $20 000, Station Casinos Inc. spent $60 000.

[Auditor]

The land based casinos are outspending the online ones and it seems to be money well spent for the land based groups.

[Professor]

The online gambling industry has lost hundreds of millions of dollars since last October. All of that could have been avoided if they had spent a few hundred thousand on lobbying and "campaign support" for key politicians in US.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

Every other industry recognizes the value of "effective" lobbying to protect their interests. Why were online gaming operators asleep at the wheel?

I have never understood why more wasnt being done when it was possible to avert all this. I dont think I ever will.

[jetset]

I couldn't agree more.

Consider the significant revenues online gambling industry companies must have earned over the past decade and yet it seems relatively small amounts were pumped back in on the lobbying front.

Some years ago I read a figure of $144 000 over a year invested in lobbying by the IGC, which at that time was the biggest trade association in the industry with many major companies as members.

I guess noone really believed they were vulnerable if they remained comfortably offshore......

[Professor]

I used to earn more then that in a single month and I am just one affiliate.

It's sad to consider that an industry that was generating more then 4 billion dollars in revenues (at that time) only saw fit to invest around 3% of its income towards self preservation.

[jetset]

MORE U.S. LOBBYING DISCLOSURES

Major League Baseball spent $420 000 in first half of 2007

The mandatory disclosures of U.S. lobbying payments continued this week, revealing that Major League Baseball was a big hitter, paying $420 000 in the first half of 2007 to the lobbying and law firm Baker & Hostetler LLP.

Pro baseball commissioner Bud Selig's office paid the company to lobby the federal government on a range of issues that included steroid abuse, cable and satellite television law, foreign immigration.....and Internet gambling, according to the disclosure form posted online by the Senate's public records office.

Under a 1995 federal law, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

The Baker Hostetler declaration reports: "Baker Hostetler is helping MLB address uniquely 21st century issues. We led a successful legislative effort to ban Internet gambling on professional sports. We’ve helped teams navigate increasingly complex Immigration restrictions to bring talented players to the U.S. And, in the wake of the BALCO controversy, we are working with both House and Senate committees to develop legislation that would regulate the use of steroids in professional sports."

[Professor]

Ahh Ha! So it wasnt just the NFL. The steroid boys of summer were beaning us with 90mph fastballs too!

[Simmo!]

Being an outsider, are "lobbying payments" effectively backhanders made to Senators and the like to get them to help under the guise of "campaign funding" or is it money spent on marketing an opinion?

[Professor]

Both Simmo.
Money donated to campaigns is probably the most effective form of "lobbying". Paid speaking engaugements are another convenient way to get money in the proper dirty hands.