Big bucks in New York land casino lobbying
News on 16 Oct 2013
News on 16 Oct 2013
Land gambling companies spent an average of $7.5 million a year on casino lobbying in New York State alone over the past eight years, according to a report in the New York Times.
The newspaper reported that between 2005 and 2013 land gambling groups poured a total of $59 million into efforts aimed at gaining permission for new casinos or influencing political decisions in the state legislature.
The Times quotes statistics published by Common Cause New York, a government watchdog group which analyses mandatory disclosures from companies lobbying in various interest areas.
New York is a hot business area at present as lawmakers consider expanding land gambling activities with the possible approval of up to seven new venues.
Lawmakers have agreed that if a referendum on the expansion is successful, they will initially permit four new casinos in three regions: the Catskills, the Southern Tier and the Albany area.
New York already has five Indian-run casinos, all upstate and electronic gambling at nine racetracks.
“Albany is extra skilled in creating opportunities for the gambling industry to throw money at it,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York. “We’re talking buckets of money, consistently, over time, and very willing recipients.”
