Big money in US political lobbying

The McClatchy-Tribune Information service reports that an online gambling market estimated to be worth $20 billion globally this year continues to attract pro-online gambling investment in lobbying activities.
The service reports that according to mandatory disclosures, Harrah’s, the world’s largest casino operator, has spent more than $3 million in the past year to promote online gambling, and that the Vancouver-based Interactive Gaming Council contributed at least $2.3 million to the pro-online betting effort.
In addition, PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker room, paid $300 000 through an intermediary to Representative Dick Gephardt, a former House Democratic leader and presidential aspirant from St. Louis who now runs a lucrative lobbying business.
Opposing online gambling legalisation are the professional sports leagues; apparently the National Football League alone paid a single lobbying firm $800 000 last year trying to derail Congressman Barney Frank’s federal legislative attempt to legalise and tax online gambling in the United States.

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