AGA Highlights Gaming’s Positive Impact on Small Businesses in Maryland

June 26, 2017 4:47 PM
  • Geoff Freeman
June 26, 2017 4:47 PM
  • Geoff Freeman

Panelists and attendees at the event

The American Gaming Association last week made its third stop on the American Gaming Small Business Jobs Tour at Live! Casino & Hotel in Maryland. At a roundtable, stakeholders touted gaming’s strong community impact in Anne Arundel County, MD and across the entire state. The event highlighted the 350,000 small business jobs nationwide supported by the gaming industry and the nearly 3,000 small business jobs in Maryland. In Maryland alone, gaming employs 11,000 people, supports $446 million in wages, generates over $635 million in tax revenue and has an economic impact of over $1.7 billion.

Story continues below

The roundtable was in conjunction with the Minority Outreach Fair at Live! Casino, which connects small-, minority- and women-owned firms with prime companies interested in doing business with them. The gaming industry is particularly proud of our support for minority and women-owned businesses and the unique opportunities that our industry makes possible.

Gaming industry stakeholders and local media packed a standing room only space to hear remarks from:

  • Rob Norton, Cordish Global Gaming president;
  • Ed DeGrange Sr., Maryland State Senator;
  • Erin McNaboe, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County chairperson;
  • Tony Hill, Edwards & Hill Office Furniture managing partner;
  • Lyn Hopkins, Assistance League of the Chesapeake incoming president;
  • Don Fry, Greater Baltimore Committee president and CEO; and
  • Ashley Pointer, Live! Casino & Hotel director of finance.

Don Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee, introduced the panel and highlighted AGA’s American Gaming Small Business Jobs Tour, which showcases gaming’s strong partnership with small businesses.

“We love nothing more than coming in to properties like this…to get out in the local communities and highlight what this industry is all about,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. Rob Norton, Cordish Global Gaming president, highlighted Live’s engagement with the community and partnership with minority and women-owned businesses. Tony Hill, Edwards & Hill Office Furniture managing partner, said that he’s been able to expand his small business from seven employees to 22 because of the work he’s done with Live! Casino.

“We love nothing more than coming in to properties like this…to get out in the local communities and highlight what this industry is all about,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. Rob Norton, Cordish Global Gaming president, highlighted Live’s engagement with the community and partnership with minority and women-owned businesses. Tony Hill, Edwards & Hill Office Furniture managing partner, said that he’s been able to expand his small business from seven employees to 22 because of the work he’s done with Live! Casino.

Lyn Hopkins, Assistance League of the Chesapeake incoming president, highlighted how her organization has been able to provide clothing and school supplies to underprivileged youth in the area because of their partnership with the casino. Erin McNaboe, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County chairperson, highlighted how the casino has helped boost tourism in the area.

The Baltimore Sun wrote about the event, noting “Live Casino & Hotel in Hanover teamed up with the American Gaming Association Thursday to promote business opportunities for small, minority-owned firms and highlight the industry’s economic impact in Maryland.”

NBC Baltimore noted that the event highlighted “casino gaming’s impact on small and local businesses.” The Daily Record in Maryland wrote about how casino gaming is “a strong community partner in Maryland” while CityBizList and CDC Gaming Reports also covered the event.

Gaming has a good story to tell: in terms of the economic impact, job creation, revenue generation and small business partnership. We will continue to travel to communities all across the country to highlight gaming’s positive story.