The Need for Reg Reform

Welcome to the Regulatory Reform page of the American Gaming Association (AGA) website. This section will serve as a one-stop shop for news and information relating to the AGA’s efforts to promote regulatory reform. It will provide tools to help operators and regulators stay up to speed on the issues and work together to pursue solutions to shared regulatory concerns. We all agree that a tough regulatory environment is essential to maintaining the integrity of our business. 

All of us in the industry know regulation is essential, but that it can, at times, result in unnecessary expenses and frustration. For example, shipping notices can be arduous, especially when there are different requirements in the states where we do business. In FY 2010, my company, Bally’s Technologies, filed 4,031 shipping notifications and 18,800 product approval submissions. In addition, we filed 2,787 employee applications. These and other regulatory requirements resulted in a total of $19.5 million spent on direct compliance expenses in 2010.

This, of course, is money well spent if it protects the integrity of our business, and the vast majority of gaming regulations are necessary ones that do just that.  But regulators and operators agree there are some outdated regulations that have become unnecessary and are onerous for all.

In an effort to improve efficiencies for both operators and regulators, the AGA has already begun efforts to implement regulatory reform. At the state level, the AGA has delivered a list of key recommendations to regulators and enforcement officials in U.S. commercial casino jurisdictions. A detailed look at those recommendations is available on this website.

These changes would maintain the industry’s integrity, while also making it easier for gaming companies and regulators to operate on a day-to-day basis. A number of regulators have responded positively to the suggestions, and the AGA will continue to lead efforts to facilitate regulatory reform.

This section of the AGA website is designed to foster conversation among regulators, gaming professionals and key stakeholders.  It features many reference materials, including white papers, speeches and a glossary of terms relevant to regulatory reform. It is my sincere hope that we can work together to make real progress that will benefit the entire industry while maintaining the commitment to compliance and integrity that are the hallmark of our business.

Sincerely,

Richard Haddrill
Chairman, American Gaming Association
President, CEO and Director, Bally Technologies Inc.