Lobbying for Online Gambling in America Continues

Recent research revealed Q1, 2012 figures for spending on lobbying with a single goal to change American gambling laws and legalize online gaming in the country.

United States gambling news reports that there are still considerable investments into lobbying the needed regulation change despite economic downturn and the never-ending nature of US online gambling discussions.

Among top contributors in the Q1, 2012 was Caesars Entertainment with $886K, a little increase from the $784K spent during the Q4, 2011. US horseracing subsidiary of Betfair – TVG – spent only $160K, but a considerable increase of $40K from the preceding quarter.

Rational Entertainment Enterprises acting on Poker Stars behalf and looking to legalize online poker sites in United States, parted with $150K, the same figure as MGM Resorts, however the interests of the latter are much wider than poker.

Intralot didn’t want to be left out and forked over $90K, closely followed by GTech with $85K and Bwin.Party with $80K. Churchill Downs Inc. and Penn National Gaming racing companies parted with $80K and $70K respectively.

Payment processing company and one of the most active supporters of legal online gambling in USA, UC Group spent a modest $65K, which represented a significant increase in lobbying expenditure for the company.

Boyd Gaming, enjoying recent media spotlight in connection with an online gambling agreement with MGM, spent as much as $60K on lobbying. International Game Technology joined the spenders pack with $50K investment.

Among land-based casinos, Station Casinos enterprise parted ways with $30K, once again confirming its interest in the legalization of online gambling. Los Angeles Bicycle Casino managed to find $20K for lobbying.

The gambling trade associations and actions groups didn’t stop believing in the positive outcome: the American Gaming Association spent $602K on lobbying, with significant part of that going towards supporting online gambling. The Poker Players Alliance came forward with $315K, while the Interactive Gaming Council spent $210K.