Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2016 is once again offering the nearly 26,000 registered attendees an opportunity to see firsthand the leading innovation that’s driving gaming into the future. Our industry has become more mainstream than ever before as we continue to push the national dialogue about issues important to gaming.
Those issues were put front and center this week as both the Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal published articles detailing the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.
The Post story, “Casino lobby braces for life without Harry Reid,” highlights AGA’s recent efforts to grow Congressional gaming champions across the country. Through AGA’s Get to Know Gaming campaign, we have worked to educate gaming employees as well as state and federal legislators on the industry’s positive economic and community impacts.
As the Post details:
Since early 2015, AGA officials, in partnership with state-level casino lobbyists and groups, have hosted or sponsored about 10 town halls, receptions and other events to drum up public and legislator awareness of the industry, using the events as a platform to tout the benefits of gaming, such as adding jobs and tax revenue to local economies. Recent ones have been held in or around Detroit, Denver, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Columbus and Kansas City.
Additionally, The Wall Street Journal published a report on Wednesday outlining how the gaming industry has taken a more proactive, vocal approach in advancing issues:
Now that casinos are in 40 states, the industry’s main lobbying group, the AGA, has switched tactics to go on the offensive, holding “Gaming Votes” round-table events in swing states to publicize what it says is the benefit of gambling expansion. The group hopes to persuade states to reduce gambling taxes and regulations, said AGA [CEO] Geoff Freeman. “For too long the industry has flown beneath the radar screen and didn’t want to attract attention. That’s a missed opportunity.”
These two articles effectively promote AGA’s public affairs strategy to a wide audience and help tell gaming’s positive story in the 40 states where our industry operates. Gaming provides unmatched economic opportunity, good paying jobs with opportunities for career growth and vital tax revenues to states.
Our advocacy efforts are getting attention nationwide, and positively influencing perceptions about our industry. As we move closer to Election Day, the AGA will continue to champion gaming all across the country.
