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Gambling industry money is streaming into Albany

Sep 20, 2012 12:05 am
Thomas Kaplan is reporting in The New York Times as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo seeks legislative and public support for an expansion of the number of casinos in New York, the gambling industry is pouring millions of dollars into lobbying state lawmakers and donating to their campaign funds. Indian tribes, racetrack casinos and other gambling interests have spent nearly $50 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in the state since 2005, according to a new analysis by government-reform group, Common Cause New York. The surge in spending comes just as the Cuomo administration and the Legislature are discussing how and where to allow new casinos. And there seems to be no end in sight, Kaplan reports, as the industry is on pace to spend more this year than ever before, according to the report, set to be released Wed., Sept. 19. Gambling interests spent nearly $4 million on lobbying, and more than $700,000 on campaign contributions in the first half of 2012, records show. Read the full story in The New York Times.