Responsible gaming programs are a critical part of everyday business practices in the U.S. casino gaming industry. The central goal of these programs is to ensure that patrons responsibly enjoy casino games as a form of entertainment.

The American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide is a centralized collection of the statutes and regulations addressing responsible gaming in the 34 states and the District of Columbia with commercial casinos, sports betting or internet gaming as of August 31, 2022. It is intended as a reference guide for industry stakeholders, researchers, lawmakers and regulators.

Importantly, the gaming industry’s full efforts to promote responsible gaming and address problem gambling go well beyond the legal requirements identified in this resource. Industry responsible gaming programs operate in compliance and parallel with state laws and regulations on responsible gaming. The majority of gaming operators and suppliers voluntarily implement responsible gaming programs with measures that expand upon what is formally mandated by law or regulation.

Since the Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide was last updated in September 2019, 16 states have adopted legislation and regulations for sports betting that include various responsible gaming provisions. Similarly, land-based commercial
casino gaming has been approved in Nebraska and Virginia, while internet gaming has been legalized in Connecticut and Michigan. Beyond the expansion of new states, this guide provides insight into the changes and evolution of responsible gaming since 2019.

Although responsible gaming laws and regulations vary greatly between the 35 commercial gaming jurisdictions, many fit into the following broad categories:

• Responsible gaming plan required – 21 jurisdictions mandate that land-based and online gaming operators prepare and submit for approval a wide-ranging plan for addressing responsible gaming issues. Required elements of the plan often include employee training and public awareness efforts. For jurisdictions that require an overall plan, readers should examine the specific elements that must be included in each plan.
• Self-exclusion program – 34 jurisdictions require gaming or sports betting operators to adopt self-exclusion programs that enable patrons to exclude themselves from a casino or online/mobile gaming site and operators to expel self-excluded patrons if they are found gambling or wagering. The length of the self-exclusion periods available and the procedures for reversing self-exclusions vary by jurisdiction. A majority of jurisdictions establish a central self-exclusion register that includes enlisted patrons from all gaming venues and platforms. Some state laws specify that casinos and online operators must also eliminate direct promotional outreach to self-excluded individuals and deny them complimentaries – commonly known as “comps” – or access to credit.
• Property signage and responsible gaming disclosure – 31 jurisdictions have requirements around on property signage and/or disclosures related to responsible gaming. In some cases, that includes mandating the availability of brochures identifying the risks of problem gambling, requiring disclosure of toll-free helpline numbers and other resources for counseling and assistance, or that gaming advertising (print, billboards or electronic media) include responsible gaming messaging or a toll-free helpline number.
• Advertising restrictions – 30 jurisdictions establish specific restrictions on the types of, or content of, advertising that is permitted. Many jurisdictions require that gaming advertising not be deceptive or target minors.
• Wager/time limits – 25 jurisdictions with account-based online gaming, sports betting or digital wallet wagering in casinos require operators to provide a mechanism through which patrons may self-limit deposits, losses, wagering amounts and/or time spent gambling.
• Restrictions on extension of house credit – 28 jurisdictions block or limit the use of house credit in land-based and/or online casino gaming and sports betting. This may include outright bans on credit advances from gaming operators to patrons.
• Financial instruments restrictions – 17 jurisdictions restrict the ability of casinos or online gaming operators to accept credit card deposits, government issued checks or stored-value cards that represent public benefits, among other things.
• Treatment and research funding – 28 jurisdictions
• have codified commitments to support treatment for individuals with a gambling problem, education services concerning disordered or problem gambling, or research related to problem gambling. Most of those states earmark certain state revenues from gaming for these programs.
• Employee training – 20 jurisdictions specify that casino employees who work on the gaming floor or those who otherwise interact with customers must receive responsible gaming training. Some states require the training to include instruction on how to identify players demonstrating problematic or risky behavior on the gaming floor.
• Alcoholic beverage restrictions – 18 jurisdictions require casinos to limit alcoholic beverage service on the gaming floor or to limit access to gambling services for patrons who are visibly intoxicated.
• Beyond the overarching categories outlined above, states regularly implement other laws or regulations related to responsible gaming. These may include the creation of statewide responsible gaming programs, mandating research on the effectiveness of responsible gaming provisions, or requirements that operators verify gambling winners do not owe child support.

About the Guide
AGA’s Responsible Gaming Regulations and Statutes Guide, developed in partnership with VIXIO GamblingCompliance, details the commercial gaming industry’s financial performance, including analyses of each of the 35 jurisdictions with commercial gaming operations in 2021.

WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) commemorated Responsible Gaming Education Week in Boston with a panel discussion on the industry’s efforts to address problem gambling. The event highlighted AGA’s updated Code of Conduct, the Responsible Gaming Collaborative and the inroads Massachusetts has made prioritizing innovative and expansive responsible gaming initiatives. The panel included representatives from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, the National Center for Responsible Gaming, MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming.

Responsible Gaming Education Week provides an opportunity to showcase the industry’s year-round dedication to responsible gaming programs and is an important part of the industry’s steadfast commitment to promoting responsible gaming. This is the second of two events held this week, with the first at the UNLV International Gaming Institute on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

To highlight the 21st anniversary of the industry’s Responsible Gaming Education Week, gaming operators and manufacturers across the United States are commemorating the industry’s responsible gaming efforts by holding dozens of local events and educational activities throughout the week.

“Responsible gaming is a top priority for the gaming industry,” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs of AGA. “As you heard today, we are committed to providing a safe gaming environment for our patrons, employees and communities. Every day, gaming industry leaders are working with manufacturers, thought leaders, educators and property owners to proactively address problem gambling. Together, we are maximizing our investment to promote responsible gaming and innovating how we approach the issue.”

Thursday’s panel in Boston included Stephen Crosby, chairman, Massachusetts Gaming Commission; Dr. Russell Sanna, executive director, National Center for Responsible Gaming; Alan Feldman, executive vice president, MGM Resorts International; Jim Baldacci, deputy chief compliance officer, Penn National Gaming; Marlene Warner, executive director of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling and president of the board of directors for the National Council on Problem Gambling; and Slane.

AGA’s Code of Conduct guides industry efforts to build a more cohesive dialogue on responsible gaming. The updated code expands its guidelines to include wagers on sports, as well as new advertising provisions to ensure casino and sports betting marketing is targeted to an age-appropriate demographic with tasteful content and reasonable frequency.

To learn more about AGA’s Responsible Gaming initiatives, click here.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.

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WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) released its updated Code of Conduct at a Responsible Gaming Education Week event in Las Vegas. The event featured a panel discussion on how the industry prioritizes responsible gaming and included representatives from UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, BMM Testlabs, Caesars Entertainment and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers. Rep. Dina Titus (NV-1) delivered keynote remarks to kick off the event.

Responsible Gaming Education Week provides an opportunity to showcase the industry’s year-round dedication to responsible gaming programs and is an important part of the industry’s steadfast commitment to promoting responsible gaming. This event is the first of two events being held this week, with the second event held in Boston, Massachusetts.

To highlight the 21st anniversary of the industry’s Responsible Gaming Education Week, gaming operators and manufacturers across the United States will commemorate the industry’s responsible gaming efforts by holding responsible gaming educational activities.

“For the 21st year, we are spending this week highlighting our industry’s commitment to responsible gaming. This year, we’re emphasizing that the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming is more than a pledge, it’s a priority for gaming properties across the country” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs of AGA. “As gaming enters a new landscape, our industry is prepared to be a proactive partner in how we approach responsible gaming, highlighted today with our updated Code of Conduct that spells our obligations to our patrons, employees and communities.”

Tuesday’s panel in Las Vegas included Dr. Bo Bernhard, executive director of International Gaming Institute, UNLV; Robin Bernhard, senior manager, marketing & education at BMM Testlabs; Jennifer Shatley, responsible gaming policies and compliance specialist with Caesars Entertainment; Connie Jones, director of responsible gaming at the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers; and Slane.

AGA’s Code of Conduct guides industry efforts to build a more cohesive dialogue on responsible gaming. The updated code expands its guidelines to include wagers on sports, as well as new advertising provisions to ensure casino and sports betting marketing is targeted to an age-appropriate demographic with tasteful content and reasonable frequency.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.

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Washington, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) commenced Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) 2023 today with new consumer survey data showing the strength of responsible gaming awareness.

As legal gaming expands, consumers continue to report high levels of responsible gaming engagement, with 84 percent of past-year gamblers aware of at least one responsible gaming resource, including 91 percent of sports bettors.

Past-year gamblers also report high confidence in the effectiveness of responsible gaming tools, policies and initiatives. Three-quarters or more of players consider the following measures effective ways to encourage responsible play:

• Deposit Limits (85%)
• Time Limits (78%)
• Wager Limits (77%)
• Employee Training (77%)
• Industry Code of Conduct (75%)

“Our industry’s success is based on earning customer trust, providing safeguards for responsible gaming, and implementing tools that our customers engage to bet responsibly,” said AGA Vice President, Responsibility Cait DeBaun. “Today’s data shows our united effort to elevate responsible gaming is clearly resonating with players and shaping a safer gaming landscape.”

Importantly, as legal sports betting grows in new and existing markets, the survey underscores the value of advertising in driving responsible gaming awareness. More than half (53%) of sports bettors report seeing an increase in responsible gaming messaging over the past year.

Marking the industry’s 25^th annual celebration of responsible gaming in September, RGEM 2023 will feature four weekly themes that the industry will activate on:

• Empowering Customers to Play Responsibly | Sept. 1-10
• Legal, Regulated Gaming Protects Players | Sept. 11-17
• Building a Responsible Gaming Culture Within | Sept. 18-24
• Advancing Responsible Gaming with Research | Sept. 25-30

“This month provides a focused opportunity for the gaming community to come together to highlight and advance our efforts,” continued DeBaun. “We look forward to joining with our members, regulators, leagues, media and all stakeholders to uphold our collective responsibility for responsibility.”

Find full RGEM details and resources to participate, including a toolkit for turnkey activation, here.

Background

• Beyond regulatory commitments, AGA members agree to abide by the Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct and Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering – voluntary commitments that set a high standard to protect players.
• AGA’s Have A Game Plan.^®Bet Responsibly.™ campaign will also feature prominently during RGEM 2023, bringing together leagues, teams, operators and other sports betting stakeholders to educate consumers on responsible wagering.
• 34 states and the District of Columbia feature operational commercial gaming markets, including casino gaming (27), sports betting (30) and iGaming (7).

Methodology
YouGov, on behalf of the AGA, conducted an online survey from August 3-10, 2023 among a nationally representative sample of 2,018 Americans aged 21 and over. The margin of error is +/- 2 percent and greater among subgroups.

The Maryland casino gaming industry supports small businesses, strengthens communities and provides good jobs that pave a path to the middle class, according to new American Gaming Association research released today at a Get to Know Gaming event at MGM National Harbor.

AGA’s newest report, Casinos & Communities: Maryland, offers a narrative look at the gaming industry’s economic and social contributions to communities in the Free State. The research couples key data on gaming’s economic impact—15,364 jobs supported and $713 million in wages generated annually—with testimonials from local business owners, nonprofits and elected officials about gaming’s positive impact in their communities.

“Maryland’s six casinos are driving tremendous opportunity for communities across the state. As a native Marylander, it is remarkable to see how fast this industry has grown and, at the same time, supported the communities where they operate,” said Bill Miller, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association.

AGA’s Get to Know Gaming campaign engages local leaders in a discussion about the critical role gaming plays as a community partner. The event also kicked-off Responsible Gaming Education Week, taking place Sept. 15-21, with perspectives on responsible gaming programming and resources available to Maryland gaming operators, casino employees and patrons throughout the state.

“I’m pleased to be in Maryland today to kick off the 22^nd annual Responsible Gaming Education Week and highlight the state’s efforts in this essential area,” Miller added. “This week serves as an opportunity to highlight gaming’s unwavering commitment to responsible gaming and, importantly, promote transparency and gaming literacy to customers.”

Monday’s Get to Know Gaming roundtable panel included U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown (MD-04); Mary Drexler, program director at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gaming; Melonie Johnson, president and chief operating officer of MGM National Harbor; Bill Miller, AGA’s president and chief executive officer; and small-business owners William Parker of the Parker K-9 Group and Carla Truitt of Be Clean Cleaning Services, Inc. Former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III moderated the discussion.

Background

• August 2019 was the fourth best month ever for gaming revenue for Maryland’s six casinos.
• The Greater Baltimore-Washington D.C. commercial gaming market is now the fourth largest in the United States.
• Gaming revenue in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. market has more than tripled since 2011, sparking economic growth that extends across the state of Maryland.

About Responsible Gaming Education Week

The American Gaming Association and its members prioritize responsible gaming as an integral part of our industry’s daily operations. Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW)—Sept. 15-21, 2019—provides an opportunity to showcase our dedication to responsible gaming programs. It also provides a specific opportunity to refresh employee training, promote transparency and gaming literacy to customers and work with community partners on advancing responsible gaming initiatives.

This September, join the American Gaming Association and our members as we celebrate 25 years of highlighting the industry’s responsible gaming education efforts. Together, we can promote gaming literacy and consumer education, elevate employee training, and work with partners to advance our understanding of responsible gambling.

RGEM 2023 Webinars

Elevating Responsible Gaming
September 6, 2023 | 9AM ET

The gaming industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with technological advancements, regulatory changes and heightened awareness of responsible gaming practices. iGB in partnership with OpenBet bring you an exclusive webinar of industry experts and thought leaders to discuss key trends, challenges facing the industry today, and strategic insights on how gaming operators can enhance their player protection capabilities, and promote responsible gaming.

Featured AGA Speaker: 

Cait DeBaun
Vice President, Strategic Communications & Responsibility
American Gaming Association

Register

RGEM 2023 Weekly Themes

WASHINGTON – With American acceptance of gaming at an all-time high, casino gamblers are actively practicing responsible gaming, according to new research released today by the American Gaming Association (AGA). Bettors report setting budgets, sticking to them and being aware of available responsible gaming resources at significantly high rates.

According to the research:

• 9 in 10 casual bettors set a budget before they visit a casino;
• 90 percent of those visitors report success in tracking their spending; and
• 8 in 10 casual casino visitors and 9 in 10 avid casino visitors are aware of responsible gaming resources.

“Responsible gaming is our industry’s top priority,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “This research indicates that our unwavering commitment to responsibility is resonating with our customers. But success in this key area will never mean our work is done, and we look forward to continuing to work with gaming regulators, our partners in the fight against problem gambling and our employees to ensure customers continue to engage in this form of mainstream entertainment responsibly.”

This research comes on the heels of a recent AGA study that highlighted continued growth in acceptance of gaming. That research indicates that 88 percent of American adults view gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment. Americans also have a positive view of the industry’s role as a community partner, with 80 percent of people recognizing gaming’s role as a job creator, and 6 in 10 Americans believing casinos help their local economies.

“Gaming has made great strides over the past few years with the public increasingly recognizing our industry as the community partner and economic driver we know it to be,” continued Miller. “I look forward to working with our members and all interested stakeholders to build upon this great momentum in the years to come.”

The U.S. gaming industry commits more than $300 million to responsible gaming annually, supporting education, training and rehabilitation programs across the country.

Last year, AGA launched the Responsible Gambling Collaborative, convening a renowned group of thought leaders, stakeholders and academics to chart a new course on the complex issue of responsible gaming.

AGA members adhere to the association’s Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct which guides industry commitments to responsible gaming and is updated annually to reflect new developments and industry innovations. In 2018, AGA updated the Code to enhance provisions on sports betting and responsible advertising.

Methodology: Today’s data comes from two separate polls completed in late 2018. Data on Americans’ acceptance of gaming comes from our survey of Americans’ attitudes towards gaming and was conducted by the Mellman Group of 1,000 registered voters, both online and on the phone. Data on casino visitors’ responsible gaming practices comes from a survey of 2,014 past year casino gamblers. This survey was conducted online by BrandOutlook.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.

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Washington, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) commenced Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) 2022 today by releasing a new edition of the Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide.

Updated for the first time since 2019, the guide is a centralized collection of the statutes and regulations addressing responsible gaming in the 34 states and the District of Columbia with commercial casinos, sports betting or iGaming as of July 1, 2022. Since the last guide was released, two new states have legalized land-based casino gaming, 16 states have legalized sports betting, and two states have legalized iGaming.

“While our members’ responsibility commitments go above and beyond what is required of them, this guide is a valuable resource for our industry to maintain its high standards of regulatory compliance in all facets of responsible gaming,” said AGA Vice President, Strategic Communications & Responsibility Cait DeBaun.

The release of the updated guide coincides with the beginning of RGEM 2022, expanded from a week to a month for the first time this year. RGEM 2022 is organized around four weekly themes that encompass the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming:

• Sept. 1-10: Empowering Customers to Play Responsibly
• Sept. 11-17: Legal, Regulated Gaming Protects Players
• Sept. 18-24: Employees—the RG Front Line
• Sept. 25-30: Advancing Responsible Gaming with Technology

“Our industry’s focus on responsibility has only grown with the expansion of legal gaming,” continued DeBaun. “RGEM 2022 provides an extended opportunity to highlight our industry’s responsible leadership while continuing to strengthen player and employee education. We are thrilled for the entire U.S. gaming community to join us throughout September.”

AGA’s Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign will feature prominently during RGEM this year, bringing together leagues, teams, operators and other sports betting stakeholders to educate consumers on responsible wagering as the legal sports betting market grows.

The AGA will host two webinars during RGEM:

• The State of Responsibility & Player Protection | Sept. 15 at 2 PM ET | Register Today
• Advancing Responsible Gaming through Collaboration and Technology | Sept. 27 at 3 PM ET | Register Today

Learn all the ways to get involved this September: RGEM 2022 – How to Participate and download RGEM 2022 educational resources and materials.

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About RGEM
Established in 1998 by the AGA as Responsible Gaming Education Week, Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) is the U.S. gaming industry’s annual celebration of responsible gaming. The event provides companies and individuals associated with the industry with opportunities to elevate their everyday commitment to responsible gaming by promoting gaming literacy and consumer education, strengthening employee training, and working with partners to advance our understanding of the issue.

WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) kicked off the 21^st annual Responsible Gaming Education Week by updating its Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming to incorporate sports betting and add new provisions regarding responsible advertising.

AGA’s Code of Conduct guides industry efforts to build a more cohesive dialogue on responsible gaming. The updated code expands its guidelines to include wagers on sports, as well as new advertising provisions to ensure casino and sports betting marketing is targeted to an age-appropriate demographic with tasteful content and reasonable frequency. 

“The American Gaming Association and its members are committed to fostering a gaming environment that focuses on education, wellbeing and responsibility,” said Sara Slane, AGA’s senior vice president of public affairs. “As gaming enters a new landscape, our industry is prepared to be a proactive partner in how we approach responsible gaming, highlighted today with our updated Code of Conduct that spells our obligations to our patrons, employees and communities.”

About Responsible Gaming Education Week:

Gaming operators and manufacturers across the United States will commemorate the industry’s responsible gaming efforts by holding dozens of local events and responsible gaming educational activities. AGA will host two Get to Know Responsible Gaming panels this week with industry leaders, responsible gaming experts and thought leaders in Las Vegas and Boston.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) recently convened leading gaming industry organizations, academic professionals and advocacy groups to chart a new course on the complex issue of responsible gaming. The Responsible Gaming Collaborative will identify the programs and policies that best address responsible gaming and the prevention of problem gambling and hold government accountable for supporting proven, effective solutions. The Collaborative’s launch deepens the gaming industry’s commitment to responsible gaming.

“It’s time to comprehensively review existing responsible gaming policies and regulations,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “We must drive a new discussion around proven, effective programs and ensure that governments are appropriately allocating resources.”

The gaming industry is estimated to provide governments with hundreds of millions of dollars annually for responsible gaming research and treatment. The spending of those resources is inconsistent across jurisdictions and no programs exist today to ensure accountability.

In addition to the AGA, key Responsible Gaming Collaborative participants include: 

The National Council on Problem Gambling, the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas International Gaming Institute, Harvard University’s T.H. Chan Public School of Health, Yale School of Medicine, the National Indian Gaming Association, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

“This Collaborative with its diverse set of stakeholders is a welcome step forward to creating a unified approach to addressing problem gambling,” said Keith Whyte, Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

“No one party or way of thinking is ever enough to create transformative change. That’s why this group is so essential,” said Russell Sanna, Executive Director the National Center for Responsible Gaming. “We appreciate healthy dialogue and debate and are striving to use focused, evidence-based proposals to drive improvement – in both industry practices and government regulations.”

In the coming months, the Collaborative will:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of current responsible gaming policies and regulations;
• Identify programs that work and those that fail to meet their objective;
• Study regulations to determine which are based on solid evidence;
• Determine whether government resources are being properly targeted toward effective programs and prevention;
• Develop a set of recommendations and industry best practices; and
• Work with regulators and other stakeholders to understand the best approaches.

“The word ‘Collaborative’ was chosen deliberately,” said Freeman. “Our goal is to work with regulators, policymakers, experts, advocates and other stakeholders to find the best solutions and direct resources to them.”

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $240 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.7 million jobs in 40 states. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.