US land casino trade association invested almost $430 000 in Q1/2010

5/28/10 – According to mandatory filings regarding its quarterly lobbying expenditure, the American Gaming Association, a trade group representing the interests of US land casino operators, invested a further $430 000 in government lobbying in the first quarter of 2010.
 
Reporting on the expenditure, the Associated Press news agency revealed that the target for the funds was once again mainly related to online gambling regulation and enforcement. Only Congress was lobbied, according to the form filed with the House on April 14.
 
In the same quarter last year the organisation spent $376 000, and in Q4/2009 $345 000.
 
The association's members include Las Vegas Sands Corp., MGM Mirage, Boyd Gaming Corp., International Game Technology, Harrah's Entertainment Inc., Bally Technologies Inc. and other casino operators and gambling equipment companies, with divided opinions on the acceptability of licensing and regulating online gambling in the United States.
 
The Association has indicated that its stance on internet gambling is currently ‘neutral.’