In a volatile political season, it’s possible American Gaming Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman will catch heat for appearing to knock some of the firebrand themes of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during last week’s Global Gaming Expo 2016.
He shouldn’t.
In fact, AGA members ought to write Freeman thank you notes and forward copies to Trump’s incendiary campaign — not that anyone at this point can expect the candidate to take the hint.
Freeman was ubiquitous at the expo, making multiple public appearances and agreeing to many interview requests. So, admittedly, I didn’t hear every word he said into a microphone. But what I heard Tuesday made good sense in the real world. (Not that the vicious catcalls, sepia tones, and threatening theater of Campaign 2016 have often set foot in the real world.)
In advance of the first presidential debate, Freeman fielded questions about the campaign and its greater meaning to the gaming industry. By Tuesday, he clearly recognized the topic was not only journalistically intriguing, but also politically radioactive. Industry executives these days are endorsing their favorite candidates and, in some cases, weighing in with substantial contributions.
When the result is tallied in the biggest race on the planet, he said, it’s impossible to precisely predict the potential fallout, if any, on the industry.
Then he pressed further into issues that are important not only to casino executives, but to an army of gaming industry employees. With legalized gambling in 40 states driving $240 billion in annual economic activity and putting to work 1.7 million people, a lot is at stake.
But, he said, “The issues that matter most to this industry are not always gaming-specific issues. There are broader issues like immigration policy. We feel passionately about that with our need to help support those 1.7 million jobs.”
That includes a sensible immigration plan that, I’m guessing, isn’t obstructed at every turn in Congress and doesn’t begin with promising to force the leader of a sovereign country and major trading partner to pay to build a border wall.
“We feel passionately about the importance of bringing visitors into this country, of being an attractive destination,” Freeman said. “International visitors, particularly overseas visitors, are critical to the broader hospitality industry. They’re critical to the casino industry, and we have to make sure that the welcome mat remains and that those visitors are encouraged to come here to the United States.”
That may not include taunts and threats about tearing up trade compacts with nations such as China, South Korea, and Japan.
“We feel very passionately, as an industry, about smart energy policy and smart climate policy,” Freeman said.
That means not only keeping an eye on renewable energy, I suppose, but also not playing climate science for cheap laughs at pep rallies.
“So I just hope that our industry, and the employees of our industry, take all those issues into consideration,” he said. “Given that we are a mainstream business at this point, and how we look at things may be more broad than we looked at them in the past.”
The fact is, Trump’s nasty, nativist rhetoric ought to give sleepless nights to anyone associated with the international travel and tourism industry. While that certainly includes the Las Vegas Strip’s major players, increasingly it also means casino operators in other destination cities.
Alienating entire nations and demonizing immigrant groups is not only unbecoming a (potential) American president, but it could be devastating to industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor and friendly foreign relations. It’s a big world, and big gaming’s vitality depends on stable markets and mature leadership at the highest levels of government.
Freeman carefully pointed that out.
Then, I suppose, he waited for his phone to ring.
John L. Smith is a longtime Las Vegas journalist and author. Contact him at jlnevadasmith@gmail.com, or on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.
