Miller outlines rich US gaming industry to Capitol Hill
AGA’s Casino Gaming Industry Priorities in 2019 and Beyond
This is a remarkable time for gaming in America. The industry continues to grow, and acceptance of gaming as a form of mainstream entertainment has never been higher, writes Bill Miller, President & CEO of American Gaming Association (AGA), in his weekly newsletter to the industry.
“Fundamental to the gaming industry’s continued success is ensuring that policymakers at all levels of government understand our positive economic impact and commitment to responsibility. With nearly 20 percent of the new U.S. Congress composed of freshman members, it is incumbent on AGA to engage and educate them aggressively with the goal of developing a regionally and politically diverse group of future industry champions.
“With that in mind, I sent an introductory letter to Capitol Hill last week (for AGA’s Casino Gaming Industry Priorities in 2019 and Beyond, reported below), providing a brief overview of the gaming industry and outlining the policy priorities we hope to work with members of Congress from both parties to advance,” adds Miller.
Among the key policy areas, Miller highlights that, “Growing legal sports betting by directing federal attention to illegal sports betting operators that put consumers and the integrity of sports at risk, while allowing state and sovereign tribal nations to build on their proven record of successfully regulating gaming without federal involvement;
Reviewing the current anti-money laundering (AML) framework to ensure a strong culture of compliance while alleviating unnecessary industry burden;
Supporting a corporate tax policy that encourages industry investment and lowers administrative time and costs; and
Implementing smart immigration and travel policies that meet the needs of the gaming industry’s diverse workforce and customer base.”
AGA Casino Gaming Industry Priorities in 2019 and Beyond
AGA is the national gaming trade group representing the US$261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs and generates US$41 billion in annual tax revenue for critical public services, including education, public safety and infrastructure projects.
AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry across the country. As effective champions for the gaming industry, AGA works with a variety of stakeholders in Washington, and around the country, to ensure sound public policy that supports growth, innovation and reinvestment.
Gaming companies are responsible and valued partners in their communities, extending economic benefits to small, local businesses, and investing heavily in sustainability programs. AGA and its members are also committed to promoting a safe gaming environment for patrons and industry employees. Collectively, the industry commits more than $300 million to responsible gaming annually, supporting education, training and rehabilitation programs across the country.
Gaming offers a wealth of career opportunities for workers from all backgrounds with a wide array of skill sets. Over the next decade, the gaming industry is expected to add more than 62,000 jobs that support the working class and provide a pathway to the middle class, not just in Nevada and New Jersey, but across the country. With operators and suppliers in 42 states, few industries employ as diverse a workforce as gaming, with workers in more than 200 job classifications, including high-tech, engineering, software development and law enforcement. Thirty-eight percent of gaming’s workforce is composed of racial or ethnic minority employees – eleven percent more than the U.S. population. Within gaming’s diverse workforce, 75% of minority employees – and 71% of all gaming industry employees – say that the industry provides opportunities for advancement for workers at all levels.
Overall, this is a remarkable time for gaming in America. The industry is growing and acceptance of gaming as a form of mainstream entertainment has never been higher. More than a third of Americans have visited a casino in the past year (35%), while 41% of Americans have participated in some form of gambling in the past year. Moreover, 9-in-10 Americans view gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment and 77% of Americans agree that the gaming industry has a positive effect on job creation. The opportunity to continue to promote the positive impact gaming has on communities, individual households and the country is more abundant than ever.
