Harrahs spent record $17.8 million on casino question
Harrahs Entertainment spent $17.8 million in its unsuccessful bid to bring casino gambling to Rhode Island, nearly doubling by itself the previous state record for spending in a political race of $9 million.
The previous record of about $9 million was spent among five candidates in the 2002 governors race.
The casino question would have changed the state constitution to allow the Narragansett Indian tribe to open a casino in West Warwick, with Harrahs as its chosen partner. It failed, with 63 percent of voters rejecting the proposal.
The Las Vegas-based casino company spent $6.1 million in the last two weeks of the campaign alone, largely on advertising, consultants and pollsters, according to filings with the state Board of Elections.
The yes votes numbered 141,806, so the company spent about $125 for each vote it received.
Among the expenses Harrahs listed was the hiring of 750 people on Election Day, most at about $150 each, to be stationed outside polling places.
Most of Save Our States money came from Rhode Islands existing slot parlors, Lincoln Park and Newport Grand. It has not yet filed its spending reports with the Board of Elections, but The Providence Journal estimates it spent $4 million or more.
2006-12-12
