Last week, the AGA estimated that $3.8 billion dollars will be wagered illegally in the United States on the Super Bowl, and national media paid attention – from Bloomberg, Politico, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes and more. The AGA is taking a rigorous look at the issue of sports betting and the 1992 federal ban outside of Nevada and three other states. While the industry has not yet determined its best path forward on this issue, we are united in our opposition to illegal gambling – whether it comes in the form of sports betting, offshore online operators, Internet Sweepstakes Cafes or grey market slot machines. We will continue to shine a light on illegal practices and execute our “Get to Know Gaming” campaign, which affirms the value of the legal, regulated casino gaming industry.
Call for Modern Regulation and Policy
We highlighted the $3.8 billion illegal sports betting estimate at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting last week as an example of our industry’s need for modernized public policy that enables the gaming industry to reinvest and innovate.
Ineffective public policies – such as the ban on sports betting – are clearly failing, and many state and local public policies that create costly inefficiencies are hindering our industry’s ability to meet customers’ demands. Sports betting is just one of the many issues that policymakers and regulators need to assess to determine the best reforms that empower the gaming industry to keep pace with market realities, allow for new and innovative games and continue to support local communities.
Urge Action to Thwart Illegal Gambling
The AGA will continue to call attention to illegal gambling and seek opportunities to distinguish it from the heavily regulated, job producing casino gaming industry. Today, for example, we called on President Obama’s nominee for Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, to articulate her plans to curb illegal gambling in America.
The casino gaming industry contributes $240 billion to the U.S. economy, supports 1.7 million jobs in 40 states and collaborates with law enforcement to identify illegal activity. We will continue to share the value of our industry throughout the U.S. in the year ahead – and will soon launch a “Faces of Gaming” initiative to highlight the people whose jobs are supported by gaming.
We urge you to join our efforts and encourage lawmakers in your area to better understand the:
- Value of legal, regulated gaming;
- Importance of thwarting illegal gambling; and
- Need for modernized policies promoting reinvestment and innovation.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we seek to strengthen America’s casino gaming industry.
Sincerely,
Geoff Freeman
President and CEO
