Sports betting companies spent hundreds of thousands on lobbying firms in Mass.

In the years leading up to the legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts, some of the top wagering companies from across the country spent hundreds of thousands on Beacon Hill-focused lobbying firms just as legislation approving the activity was gaining momentum in the Legislature.

And top executives from well-known brands such as DraftKings and FanDuel have donated thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to top Democrats in the state over the past three years as advocacy for the ability to wager on sporting events started to bleed into mainstream conversations.