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    AGA Commends D.C. Council for Efforts to Establish Legal Sports Betting in the Nation’s Capital

    Gaming Industry Emphasizes Importance of Market Competition to Help Eliminate Illegal Market
    Press Release
    December 18, 2018

    Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released the following statement after the D.C. Council passed the “Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018” (Bill 22-944).

    “We are encouraged by the D.C. Council’s vote today to authorize sports wagering in the District. This decision represents a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting consumers and the integrity of sports,” said Sara Slane, AGA’s senior vice president of public affairsWe’re pleased the bill adheres to a number of AGA’s priorities for successful sports betting legislation, including promoting responsible gaming, instituting a reasonable tax rate and excluding any ‘integrity fees’ or ‘exclusive data fees,’ which have been rightfully rejected in every other jurisdiction that has enacted sports betting legislation.

    “While the vote today is progress, we remain deeply concerned about giving the lottery a virtual monopoly in the mobile market. Predictably, this will result in less investment and innovation, to the detriment of consumers and the ability of a nascent legal marketplace to compete with the accessibility and convenience offered by many established illegal wagering operations. AGA urges District policymakers to reevaluate the merits of this key aspect of their framework and allow greater competition in the future. AGA remains available to serve as a resource to the District and any other jurisdiction looking to create legal sports betting markets, protecting consumers and generating economic benefits in the process.”


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