Putting Gambling Politics on the Table

Thanks to a 1995 US federal law, lobbyists are required to disclose their activities in Washington, DC. This is how we are able to learn, and report, that the American Gaming Association has spent $1.7 million in 2007.

It is clear that the AGA has spent this amount on lobbying on online gambling. But what is its stand on the issue? This the disclosure does not reveal.

The AGA represents the casino industry. Bally Technologies Inc. and MGM Mirage, to large casino operators, are among its members. This leads us to one guess what legislation it encourages.

The Association has, however, remained neutral on the UIGEA law passed in 2006. It publicly supports legislation that would fund a federal study on online gambling.

The American Gaming Association
The AGA has a history of sorts of high spending lobbying. In 2006, it was reported that its president and chief executive, Frank Fahrenkopf, was the 13th highest paid lobbyist in the nation’s capital. Representing the Nevada establishment has paid Fahrenkopf $2 million that year (as reported in a survey by National Journal, based on IRS reports filed by the AGA).

Of course this is a legitimate practice in Washington. It also proves that lobbying, and representing the casino industry in particular, involves large investments as the online gambling industry hovers above.

Surprising Survey
The AGA has acted on its mission to promote research of the industry in the past. A Harvard research, funded by the National Center for Responsible Gaming, which is affiliated with the AGA, has come up with interesting findings.

Challenging the accepted view about compulsive gambling, the research showed that a substantial percent of compulsive gamblers do in fact recover from their problem.

Compulsive gambling, the Harvard Medical School research study shows, is not necessarily a progressive and incurable disorder.