The American Gaming Association (AGA) opened its office in Washington, D.C., in June 1995 with the fundamental goal of creating a better understanding of the gaming entertainment industry by bringing facts about the industry to the general public, elected officials, other decision makers and the media through education and advocacy.

 The AGA represents the commercial casino entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues affecting its members and their employees and customers, such as federal taxation, Internet gambling, and travel and tourism matters.

In addition, the AGA has an aggressive public education program designed to educate target audiences in the nation's capital and across the country about the positive role that commercial gaming plays in communities across the country. The AGA provides leadership in addressing issues that impact the entire gaming industry and in developing industrywide programs on critical issues such as responsible gaming and diversity.  The AGA also supports the global industry by organizing gaming’s largest and most successful trade shows, the Global Gaming Expo family of events.

The AGA also serves as the industry's first national gaming information clearinghouse, providing the media, elected officials, other decision makers and the public with timely, accurate gaming industry data.