Nevada Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., whose district includes the Las Vegas Strip, was elected Thursday as co-chair of the Congressional Gaming Caucus for the 116th Congress.
The caucus, which was relaunched this year, is made up of more than 30 representatives from across the country and serves as a platform to discuss issues related to the U.S. gaming industry and inform policymakers about relevant regulatory and legislative matters
Titus replaces Rep. Bennie Thompson D-Miss., and she will work with co-chair Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Penn.
“Well-regulated gaming markets keep consumers out of the black market and have created enormous economic development in Las Vegas and across the country,” Titus said in a statement. She plans to partner with Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., on workforce development issues.
“We will be joining other members of Congress across the country as we demonstrate that Nevada’s gaming system has set an example for the rest of the nation to follow,” Titus said. “The Caucus will play a critical role as we address issues like sports betting, internet gaming, and labor protections.”
Earlier this month, American Gaming Association CEO Bill Miller welcomed the caucus’s relaunch as one of the trade association’s top priorities.
“As gaming expands, it’s more important than ever that members of Congress from both gaming and non-gaming states appreciate the important role our industry plays in communities across the country,” Miller said.
Last year, Titus and Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, asked the Treasury Department to increase the reporting threshold for slot machine jackpots and bingo winnings from $1,200 to $5,000, saying the figure is outdated.
The $1,200 reporting threshold was set in 1977 and has never been updated. A $1,200 jackpot has been devalued due to inflation and causes “excessive burden to the gaming industry, a main economic driver in our districts.”
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
