Lobby group spends $400,000 in Washington, DC, over the second quarter of 2008 persuading Members of Congress.
Thursday 14th August 2008
The American Gaming Association (AGA) spent $400,000 over the second quarter of 2008 lobbying in Washington, DC, on Internet gambling regulations and other issues.
According to an amended disclosure report issued last week in America, the trade group also lobbied on tax legislation affecting casino gambling and patrons including Hurricane Katrina tax bills and employee tip tax compliance.
However, according to a report from the Associated Press news service, the amount spent by the AGA was only half of what was exhausted over the course of the first three months of the year. The trade group reportedly spent $800,000 over the first quarter of the year lobbying on several online gambling measures including a proposal that would mandate a Federal study looking at the licensing, regulation and taxation of Internet gambling.
Members of the AGA include MGM Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment Incorporated, Wynn Resorts Limited and Bally Technologies Incorporated and it allegedly also contacted the Federal government about bills that would create a not-for-profit corporation to promote travel to the US. This was in addition to efforts at lobbying Congress, the Interior Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department and the White House on a separate proposal that would license companies that accept online bets.
The disclosure report also revealed that D Brett Hale, a former employee of Republican Representative Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, was among those registered to lobby for the organisation.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) spent $400,000 over the second quarter of 2008 lobbying in Washington, DC, on Internet gambling regulations and other issues.
According to an amended disclosure report issued last week in America, the trade group also lobbied on tax legislation affecting casino gambling and patrons including Hurricane Katrina tax bills and employee tip tax compliance.
However, according to a report from the Associated Press news service, the amount spent by the AGA was only half of what was exhausted over the course of the first three months of the year. The trade group reportedly spent $800,000 over the first quarter of the year lobbying on several online gambling measures including a proposal that would mandate a Federal study looking at the licensing, regulation and taxation of Internet gambling.
Members of the AGA include MGM Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment Incorporated, Wynn Resorts Limited and Bally Technologies Incorporated and it allegedly also contacted the Federal government about bills that would create a not-for-profit corporation to promote travel to the US. This was in addition to efforts at lobbying Congress, the Interior Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department and the White House on a separate proposal that would license companies that accept online bets.
The disclosure report also revealed that D Brett Hale, a former employee of Republican Representative Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, was among those registered to lobby for the organisation.