Globe: Lobbyists spent $16.5M on gambling

BOSTON – According to Massachusetts state records, from 2007 to 2013, more $16.5 million was spent on lobbyists for the gambling industry, the Boston Globe reported on its website last week. A majority of that money came from the developers and property owners vying for one of the few potentially lucrative casino licenses in the state.
According to the report, lobbyist spending peaked in 2011, the year Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed the Expanded Gaming Act into law, but continued into 2012 and 2013.
The Globe said that the biggest spender was Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, which spent $3.275 million on lobbyists between 2007 and 2013. Hall Properties, which is one of Suffolk’s owners, and Caesars, which teamed up with Suffolk to build a casino resort on the property but was dropped from the bid last year – kicked in another $465,000 and $218,000, respectively. The Mohegan tribe, which partnered with Suffolk after Caesars, gave nearly $370,000 to lobbyists, the Globe said
Development Associates, a subsidiary of Wynn Resorts, which hopes to build a hotel and casino in Everett, has spent nearly $1.5 million. The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which wants to build a casino in Taunton, has spent more than $1.85 million. •

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