BOSTON -- The Governor's casino proposal has been defeated. But Team 5 Investigates' Sean Kelly reported on Thursday that didn't stop the gaming industry from spending thousands of dollars in an effort to reposition itself in Massachusetts.

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"There are powerful forces out there, you know I don't think casino gambling is going way," said Sal Dimasi, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Team 5 Investigates teamed up with the government watchdog group Common Cause to find out how much power and influence the gaming industry wields on Beacon Hill and how exactly it's hurting taxpayers.

Last year alone, the gaming industry spent $1,485,734.40 to lobby the legislature and the governor's office. That's almost double what they spent in 2006. Topping the list of biggest spenders is Suffolk Downs, followed by Donald Trump's company TER Development, and the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council. All three hope to hit the jackpot with a casino of their own.

"There's just too much money involved for too many players. They're going to do anything they can do to further their case," said Pam Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause.

Helping them make their case is former House Speaker Charles Flaherty, former state Representative Dennis Murphy, and Theodore Aleixo Jr., another former state representative and senator who was once the mayor of Taunton.

"They know the players personally, have personal relationships with them. They can get in at a moment's notice to the top echelons of power," said Wilmot.

The industry's lobbyists also have the money to spread around the State House. Team 5 Investigates, with the help of Common Cause, compiled a database that includes every politician who's received a campaign contribution from lobbyists working for casinos and race tracks. The total amount of contributions from lobbyists: $808,136 over three years.

" Do you think campaign contributions have much of an influence on legislators?" asked Sean Kelly. "I don't think campaign contributions really make a difference," said Chip Tuttle, Chief Operating Officer of Suffolk Downs. But that hasn't stopped Suffolk Downs from giving them, or from spending almost half million dollars lobbying lawmakers just last year.

"Why such a big investment in lobbying?" asked Kelly. " Well, to look at what happened in March, it wasn't money well spent but we're just trying to marshal the arguments, marshal the forces that we can be as convincing as possible," said Tuttle.

Suffolk Downs and the rest of the industry failed to convince lawmakers that casinos are a good bet. And the tracks are still suffering without slots. Despite that, Team 5 Investigates found all the money they've spent has not been a total bust.

"It's clear they have gotten special treatment, they absolutely have," said Wilmot. "They've been successful in making sure that off track betting is expanded. They've been successful in trying to get the state to give them more breaks to increase the purses," said Rev. Richard McGowan, a Boston College professor and racing industry expert.

Pumping money back into the racing business cost taxpayers more than $16 million over the last five years, according to state records. On top of that, when times are tough, workers at Suffolk Downs can cash in under a special program set up by the legislature that helps them pay for food, medical benefits and counseling.

State Senator Michael Morrissey chaired the committee that approved the aid. "Has the industry gotten special treatment?" asked Kelly. "It's really no different treatment than we've given anybody else except that unlike other industries, live racing, in particular horses that are born and bred here save us vast amounts of open space," said Senator Michael Morrissey, D-Norfolk and Plymouth. But what about every other struggling business? "It's not the same," said Morrissey. "Why is it not the same?" asked Kelly. "Because they're not saving open space," said Morrissey. " So this is about open space?" asked Kelly. "I think part of it is," said Morrissey.

Critics think it has more to do with all the money being spent. "It's this sort of human nature to take care of the people who take care of you," said Wilmot.

"I don't think they have the influence you purport to think they have. I mean all lobbyists do is provide people with information," said Morrissey.

But as long as casinos and slot machines at race tracks are on the table, experts say you can expect to see the gaming industry's investment increase significantly. The question is, will it pay off?