KENO NEWS - Page 3
A coalition of no tribal businesses calling itself the
Entertainment Industry Coalition has spent more than
$600,000 pushing the plan since incorporating last April,
according to state lobbying disclosure reports and the
group's lead lobbyist, Lincoln Ferris.
While the tribes and no tribal businesses engaged in a
public debate, GTech quietly pressed for expanded keno,
spending about $13,000 lobbying this year.
Bogard took key lawmakers to meals at upscale
restaurants in Malibu, Calif., Seattle and Spokane. She
entertained dozens of lawmakers at an Olympia house where
she gave demonstrations of how GTech would run multiple
daily keno draws.
"I don't think there's a direct correlation between
having people over there to show them this game and people
voting for this game," said Conway, who attended one of
the demonstrations. He counts himself as undecided.
Ferris said the entertainment coalition hasn't given
up. It's gathering sponsors on a bill that would
incorporate state-run video lottery terminals at the
coalition's member businesses, similar to another element
of Oregon's system.
A contract to implement such a plan would have to go
out to bid, said lottery deputy director Kathy Kreiter.
Though the company isn't involved in backing such a
plan, GTech likely would bid on a contract to administer
it, said a company official.
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