There Goes Another Million In Casino Lobbying

In the first six months of 2013, gaming interests spent a little over $1 million on lobbying in Massachusetts, led by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe ($313,015) and Development Associates, part of Wynn Resorts ($221,087). Both want to build casinos in the state.

That’s from new mid-year reports collected by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. The figures represent only the expenses—mostly lobbyists’ salaries—spent on officially lobbying state officials, including the commission that will ultimately award licenses. It does not include funds spent wooing local officials or on public relations efforts.

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe paid four different lobbying firms, including Todd & Weld and The Delahunt Group (led by the former congressman). Development Associates uses ML Strategies, the lobbying arm of Mintz, Levin.

Lots of other Beacon Hill firms are getting a share of gaming business, too. But the top-billing lobbying firms have not been among the biggest gaming gainers.

Below are the 25 top lobbying firms in Massachusetts for the first half of 2013, according to the new reports, along with their gaming-related clients:

1. Kearney Donovan & McGee, $837,049

2. O’Neill & Associates, $820,070 (KG Urban, $15,000)

3. Rasky Baerlein, $745,210 (Mass. Gaming & Entertainment, $45,960)

4. Serlin Haley, $726.586

5. ML Strategies, $675, 224 (Development Associates, $221,000)

6. The Brennan Group, $650, 166

7. Brian Hickey/Strategic Management Solutions, $611,225 (New England HBPA, $21,000)

8. Dewey Square Group, $595,250 (North American Midway, $30,000)

9. Bay State Strategies, $576,533 (KG Urban, $72,000)

10. McDermott, Quilty & Miller $572,999

11. Government Insight Group $534,720

12. Travaglini, Eisenberg, Kiley $496,875

13. The Karol Group, $478,400

14. ShanleyFleming, $465,312 (Penn National Gaming, $25,000)

15. Donoghue Barrett & Singal, $449,498

16. John E. Murphy, $443,200

17. The Suffolk Group, $434,833

18. Smith Ruddock & Hayes, $411,750 (Mashpee Wampanoag, $52,750)

19. Robert White & Associates, $396,700 (Mashpee Wampanoag, $33,700)

20. Lynch Associates, $389,766

21. Northwind Strategies, $386,000 (GTECH, $66,000)

22. Buoniconti & McCary, $350,998 (Hard Rock Massachusetts, $45,000)

23. William Coyne, $329,765

24. Corry Associates, $274,189 (Poker Players Alliance, $7,000)

25. Joyce & Joyce, $266,875