And this is merely the beginning.
Lobbyists score $1.1M in state’s casino battle
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Seven casino developers battling it out for lucrative state gaming licenses shelled out a combined $1.1 million to lobbyists last year, nearly half of which was spent by the Wampanoag tribe that’s fighting for federal approval of its proposed gaming palace.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, which was given an exclusive shot at a southeastern Massachusetts casino, has shelled out more than $500,000 to several lobbyists, including $180,000 to former U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, a Herald review found.
Delahunt’s Capitol Hill contacts could come in handy as the tribe seeks federal approval of its casino deal. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the deal the tribe struck with Gov. Deval Patrick last year, but a new compact is being negotiated. Delahunt and a Wampanoag spokeswoman did not return messages.
Of the 11 companies competing for the other two resort casino licenses and the state’s lone slots license, MGM spent the most, doling out $150,000 to Boston law firm Brown Rudnick, records show. Others who reported lobbying payments:
• Mohegan Sun, which is seeking a casino in Palmer, paid $73,800 to O’Neill and Associates, while Northeast Gaming Group — which owns the land of the proposed Palmer site — paid $45,000 to The Suffolk Group, no relation to Suffolk Downs;
• Suffolk Downs spent $120,000 on three lobbyists, including $60,000 to former Massachusetts House Speaker Charles F. Flaherty;
• Penn National, which wants to build a casino in Springfield, paid $50,000 to Shanley Fleming Boksanski & Cahill;
• Plainridge Racecourse, a harness horse track in Plainville seeking a slots license, paid $73,000 to three lobbying firms: Bartley Law Office, Burke Strategies and Kraus & Hummel; and
• Massachusetts Gaming and Entertainment LLC, a newly formed company tied to Chicago casino tycoon Neil Bluhm’s Rush Street Gaming, shelled out $80,000 to Boston strategists Rasky Baerlein. Bluhm has yet to say if it is seeking a slots or casino license, nor has it revealed a site.
Boston College public policy professor Richard McGowan said lobbyists will be key for gaming companies to monitor the state gaming board, as well as new laws or regulations.
“The industry realizes that the Legislature has never been able to stay out of revenue producing,” McGowan said. “Look how it revised the lottery payouts once they grew more than expected. I have a feeling they realize the same is true with casinos.”
The state gaming board allows its panelists to meet with lobbyists or company executives but is crafting new rules now that applications are filed, spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, which was given an exclusive shot at a southeastern Massachusetts casino, has shelled out more than $500,000 to several lobbyists, including $180,000 to former U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, a Herald review found.
Delahunt’s Capitol Hill contacts could come in handy as the tribe seeks federal approval of its casino deal. The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the deal the tribe struck with Gov. Deval Patrick last year, but a new compact is being negotiated. Delahunt and a Wampanoag spokeswoman did not return messages.
Of the 11 companies competing for the other two resort casino licenses and the state’s lone slots license, MGM spent the most, doling out $150,000 to Boston law firm Brown Rudnick, records show. Others who reported lobbying payments:
• Mohegan Sun, which is seeking a casino in Palmer, paid $73,800 to O’Neill and Associates, while Northeast Gaming Group — which owns the land of the proposed Palmer site — paid $45,000 to The Suffolk Group, no relation to Suffolk Downs;
• Suffolk Downs spent $120,000 on three lobbyists, including $60,000 to former Massachusetts House Speaker Charles F. Flaherty;
• Penn National, which wants to build a casino in Springfield, paid $50,000 to Shanley Fleming Boksanski & Cahill;
• Plainridge Racecourse, a harness horse track in Plainville seeking a slots license, paid $73,000 to three lobbying firms: Bartley Law Office, Burke Strategies and Kraus & Hummel; and
• Massachusetts Gaming and Entertainment LLC, a newly formed company tied to Chicago casino tycoon Neil Bluhm’s Rush Street Gaming, shelled out $80,000 to Boston strategists Rasky Baerlein. Bluhm has yet to say if it is seeking a slots or casino license, nor has it revealed a site.
Boston College public policy professor Richard McGowan said lobbyists will be key for gaming companies to monitor the state gaming board, as well as new laws or regulations.
“The industry realizes that the Legislature has never been able to stay out of revenue producing,” McGowan said. “Look how it revised the lottery payouts once they grew more than expected. I have a feeling they realize the same is true with casinos.”
The state gaming board allows its panelists to meet with lobbyists or company executives but is crafting new rules now that applications are filed, spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
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