That stereotypical conflict between law enforcement and casinos you see in the movies is apparently over: The American Gaming Association announced Thursday that the two are now working together — to fight illegal gambling.
The AGA, which began the endeavor a year ago, announced a partnership Thursday that will look at training law enforcement, reviewing laws and communicating concerns.
The AGA created an information hub at a new site, StopIllegalGambling.org, which features an animated image of a disguised man leaving an alley with a bag of money, bills flying everywhere.
The AGA has launched an initiative titled “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe.” The AGA notes that consumer protections are non-existent and law enforcement lacks tools to protect the integrity of games.
“Illegal gambling preys on consumers, funds large criminal enterprises involved in racketeering, money laundering, extortion and fraud, and threatens the integrity of the sports we love,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA, via a press release. “The AGA’s initiative has been instrumental in building a strong partnership with law enforcement and drawing a stark contrast between the legal, regulated gaming industry and shady, illegal operators.”
The AGA formed the Illegal Gambling Advisory Board composed of former top officials with diverse law enforcement backgrounds. After launching the illegal gambling initiative last April in Biloxi before a gathering of state attorneys general from across the country,
The chair of the advisory board, Tim Murphy, is former deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He supports looking at ways to plug holes in existing law enforcement efforts.
“Addressing the issue of illegal gambling requires collaborative engagement with key stakeholders to raise awareness, enhance training, review existing laws and prioritize available resources to help combat illegal gambling in whatever form it exists,” Murphy said, in a press release.
The site notes five key areas: illegal online betting (especially from the Caribbean), animal betting (cockfighting and dogfighting), sports betting, internet cafes and black market machines (such as those in bars marked “for amusement only”).
StopIllegalGambling.org lists the AGA’s partners and members of the Illegal Gambling Advisory Board, including former Boston police commissioner Ed Murphy, who is quoted on the site saying: “There is a stark difference between legitimate industry, such as the operators the American Gaming Association represents, who are good community partners, and these bad actors who aren’t regulated and have no respect for the law.”
The site also contains articles, videos, research and training related to the initiative. The AGA also announced it will host a major law enforcement summit in June in Washington, D.C.
