By Kevin McCauley
Churchill Downs Inc., which is mainly noted for the Kentucky Derby, has hired Glover Park Group to handle legislative issues concerning online gambling.
Reps. John Campbell (R-CA), Peter King (R-NY), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced a measure this week to legalize Internet gambling. The bill would repeal an 2006 law that restricted most gambling and banned credit card companies from processing Internet betting.
In reporting 2010 financial results on March 17, CDI CEO Robert Evans noted that the company spent “significant capital” to invest in its gaming and online businesses that recorded record revenues and income.
He said CDI faces challenges including “nationwide declines in handle and intense competition for racehorses with tracks that are able to subsidize their purses with alternative gaming revenues.”
CDI, which owns Youbet.com, Calder Casino and Harlow’s Casino Resort & Hotel, has tapped GPG staffers Joel Johnson (formerly President Clinton’s advisor for policy and communications), John Emling (chief of staff to now Majority Leader Eric Cantor) and Alex Mistri (chief of staff to Rep. Bill Shuster) to handle its D.C. push.
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