Washington, DC – According to a published report, the Republican National Committee will announce today that it will hold presidential primary debates in states where casino gaming supports 473,500 jobs, drives $60 billion in economic activity and generates $10 billion dollars in taxes. Further, the Republican nominating process will culminate with the Republican National Convention in the casino city of Cleveland.

“As presidential candidates travel to Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Florida and other key states in the coming months, the American Gaming Association will ensure they know that gaming is driving big economic results in these communities,” said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association (AGA). “And the nearly half-a-million gaming employees will know which candidates support their industry as they head to the voting booth.”

Below is the tentative debate schedule and gaming’s economic impact, according to recent reports conducted by Oxford Economics, in the state hosting each debate:

Ohio (August 2015):

• 14,000: jobs supported by gaming
• $2.2 billion: economic impact of gaming
• $673 million: taxes (federal, state & local) generated by gaming

Read the Oxford Economics report here.

Colorado (October 2015):

• 10,000: jobs supported
• $1.5 billion: economic impact
• $342 million: taxes generated

Read the Oxford Economics report here.

Nevada (December 2015):

• 425,000: jobs supported
• $53 billion: economic impact
• $7.9 billion: taxes generated

Read the Oxford Economics report here:

Iowa (January 2016):

• 17,000: jobs supported
• $2.5 billion: economic impact of gaming
• $726 million: taxes generated

Read the Oxford Economics report here.

Florida (February 2016):

• 7,500: jobs supported
• $1.2 billion: economic impact
• $359 million: taxes generated

Read the Oxford Economics report here.

Nationwide, casino gaming in the United States is a $240 billion industry that supports 1.7 million jobs and generates $38 billion in federal, state and local taxes, according to a study by Oxford Economics released last fall.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association (AGA) 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 be the single most effective champion of the industry, relentlessly protecting against harmful and often misinformed public policies, and paving a pathway for growth, innovation and reinvestment.

 

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