At the same time, the spokesman said, selection as a "preferred vendor" did not depend on the size of the promotional allowance.

As competition has intensified for food service accounts, the promotional allowances and other money paid by manufacturers have grown significantly.

A $50 million contract for cookies or tomato sauce would include a $10 million promotional allowance, he said.

"When we queried the company, we were told this reflected better terms from vendors on promotional allowances."

The company said its 1995 advertising and promotional allowances were understated.

The investigators are also seeking records showing promotional allowances, made by manufacturers to the company to help sell their products.

Then the distributors come back to you," meaning the manufacturer, asking for promotional allowances of their own.

In 1989, the promotional allowance jumped to $43.7 million, or a hefty 16.5 percent of the gaming revenues.

He added that, yes, he continued to increase the promotional allowances this year, too, even though the repairs were completed in December.

As at the Castle, the benefits of bringing more money through the doors were more than erased by increased costs and higher promotional allowances.