Gambling Across State Lines

Publication Date: June 1999

Publisher: National Institute on Money in State Politics (U.S.)

Author(s): Heather Cafferty

Research Area: Politics; Social conditions

Type: Report

Abstract:

Gambling interests have contributed more than $21.8 million to state-level politics since 1990, according to a National Institute on Money in State Politics survey of state campaign contributions conducted recently. That figure is conservative because state-level campaign finance data is scarce for the earlier election cycles examined. Contribution data from 34 states was included in the survey.

Of the $21,805,060 given to candidates and PACs by gaming interests, $13,061,437 came directly from casinos and other gaming establishments. The remaining $8,743,623 game from Native American tribes that have been developing casinos and other gaming on their reservations.

The Institute separated the tribal contributions from other gambling contributions because it could not easily determine if all tribal contributions came directly from the tribes gambling companies.