New York lobbying spending hit a record $213 million in the first half of 2025, according to a report from the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. Gambling interests were among the biggest spenders, with Genting New York LLC and the Sports Betting Alliance both ranking in the top 10.
The commission said total lobbying expenses and compensation rose 16% from the previous year. It also said direct expenses jumped by $35 million, a rise of more than 143%, while compensation paid to professional lobbyists was broadly steady.
Citizens for Affordable Rates was the top spender over the six months, at $12.7 million, followed by Uber at $10.3 million, the Times Union reported from the commission data. Both lobbied for changes to state insurance-fraud law, an issue Governor Kathy Hochul had championed as a way to lower premiums.
Genting New York LLC paid $1.8 million to seven lobbyists and runs Resorts World Casino in New York City. The Sports Betting Alliance represents online sports betting apps such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
In its 2025 annual report, the commission said spending to influence government decision-making rose to more than $384.8 million, a record for the fourth consecutive year and up 0.69% from 2024. Chair Seymour W. James said lobbying spending had reached a new record level in 2025, led by gaming and housing.
Gaming was a major focus in the annual report, with Genting New York LLC and Queens Future, LLC among the top 10 spenders at No. 2 and No. 3, up from No. 3 and No. 5 in 2024. The commission said it had identified $23.47 million in lobbying compensation discrepancies in 2025 and resolved 92.4% of them.
The report also said audit staff conducted 737 audits of lobbying registrations, disclosures and reports, generating 1,323 findings and recommendations that affected 342 filings. Investigations staff processed 198 matters and closed 126, while the commission settled five matters for more than $20,300 in penalties and payments.
To improve transparency, the commission began releasing preliminary aggregated lobbying data every two months in 2025. It said the public can also find lobbying records on the Open NY website and through its own public search tool.
