At least $325,162 -- Includes 1994 ballot initiative spending

June 9, 1997

Wyoming gamers can try their luck at charitable and Indian bingo, pari-mutuel horse tracks, and off-track betting. But the Equality State doesn't seem too interested in redistributing wealth from gamblers to corporations; in 1994 voters scuttled Initiative 2, which would have allowed voters in each county to decide whether to legalize limited gambling: slot machines, video poker, blackjack, and poker.

The initiative failed by a 2-to-1 margin, despite its proponents spending $325,162, according to figures from the Wyoming Secretary of State. Of that, $120,000, plus over $50,000 in in-kind donations, came from a single backer: Sodak Gaming of Rapid City, S.D., a prominent national manufacturer of -- you guessed it -- video poker machines.

Lobbyists must register with Wyoming's Legislative Service Office, but the process isn't much more than a guestbook sign-in. Lobbyists don't have to disclose how much they spend, or how much they're paid by their powerful clients. The Secretary of State keeps campaign contribution records, but only on paper; curious citizens may purchase them for a discouraging 50 cents per page (with a Costco-esque "bulk discount" of 15 cents per copy after the first 10 pages).

Web Exclusives:

Heavy Betting
An exclusive investigation of the gambling industry's state-by-state political contributions.

Across State Lines
Track gambling interests political contributions across 11 states.

Ea$y Money: The Documentary
See exclusive video clips from the FRONTLINE and Mother Jones Television co-production.

Fun Facts
Test your knowledge about gambling.

From the Magazine:

Ea$y Money
With exploding profits, the gambling industry is investing in politics.

All Bets Are Off
Citizens groups have won some key battles in the gambling wars.

World Wide Wagering
On the Internet, it's already possible to lose your shirt from your desktop, and more gambling sites are in the works.

Hot!Media
See Hot!media for more resources.