NY lobbyists raked in a record $384.8 million last year

A record $384.8 million was spent trying to influence state and city governments last year, according to the by the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government released last week, the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking spending. To no one’s surprise, gaming was a lucrative issue, with the companies representing the downstate casino proposals for Resorts World and Metropolitan Park both landing in the top three biggest spenders. But the year’s top spender is the Partnership for New York City’s revived Coalition for New York’s Future, which shelled out $3.6 million. 

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The state’s top lobbyist was again Brown & Weinraub Advisors, which was paid $24.3 million last year. Kasirer moved ahead of Bolton-St. Johns, coming in second with $17.4 million.

Read on for the companies and organizations spent the most on lobbying in 2025.

1. Coalition for New York’s Future

Relaunched in September 2024 by the Partnership for New York City, the big business advocacy group, Coalition for New York’s Future was the year’s biggest spender at $3.6 million. They lobbied hard for the Northeast Supply Enhancement project to expand the natural gas pipeline into the New York City metro area. The organization’s biggest cost was more than $1 million to marketing technology company Project Applecart LLC for design services and social media advertising.

The coalition also pushed advertising encouraging a “yes” vote for New York City’s four housing-related ballot initiatives. And while the Partnership changed leadership this year, as Steven Fulop replaced Kathy Wylde as CEO, it hasn’t slowed down on trying to influence the city and state governments. So far this year, they’ve spent $800,000 on ads pushing Gov. Kathy Hochul to drop plans to tax the rich and asking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to veto a controversial buffer zone bill.

2. Genting New York  

The company approved to proceed with the expansion of Resorts World in Queens spent $3.5 million on contracts with seven companies, including the $1.1 million they spent lobbying for the plan in New York City. Their efforts paid off, as the Queens casino officially began live table games in April.

3. Queens Future

Mets owner Steve Cohen spent 2025 trying to convince everyone in government to let him build a casino next to Citi Field, with the LLC he formed for the bid shelling out $3.2 million  lobbying for the endeavor. Queens Future spent $1.4 million in New York City last year, hiring 14 different lobbying firms including Tusk Strategies and the MirRam Group. The New York State Gaming commission approved their casino license in December, and the $8 billion project is already running . To make matters worse for Cohen, the Mets can’t stop losing.

4. Greater New York Hospital Association

The healthcare trade association lobbied on behalf of 280 hospitals and health systems in the tristate area – including NYU Langone, Mount Sinai Health System and NewYork-Presbyterian – spending $3.1 million and retaining contracts with Bolton-St. Johns, Tonio Burgos & Associates, Empire Strategic Planning and the MirRam Group. GNYHA also partnered with Assemble for multiplatform media buys and mailers, as they looked to influence lawmakers regarding a wide array of hot-topic health issues, including navigating conflicting state and fe thbrding;d fe thbrdrelated ballot initiatives. And while the ic health issues, including navigating conflicting state and feviewsinesf="hting;d feviewsersial Pesf="htces and social media advertising.

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