As reported by The Times, the online betting group has spent $1.62 million since 1998, and $760,000 in 2004 alone, campaigning for the regulation of online gambling, the legality of which in the US remains a grey area.
Nigel Payne, Chief Executive of Sportingbet, emphasised that two thirds of the company’s expenditure was not strictly lobbying, but fees for legal or other services. Payne denied having employed Neil Voltz, a former aide to Bob Ney, a Republican Congressman, who are the subject of a congressional inquiry, and said that all Sportingbet dealings had been with Ronald Platt, a respected lobbyist.
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