Washington, DC – The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced the formation of its Illegal Gambling Advisory Board as part of its “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative. The new Board met for the first time today at the AGA’s office in Washington, DC. 

Members of the Board will provide advice regarding industry efforts to develop actionable tools for law enforcement and to reduce the demand through public awareness; guide partnerships with law enforcement at the local, state, federal and international level; and provide strategies and perspective on necessary steps to plug existing holes in enforcement efforts.

 

 

 

From left to right: Ed Davis, former Boston police commissioner; Bill Young, former Clark County Sheriff and head of Las Vegas Metro Police Department, current senior vice president of compliance and security at Station Casinos; Geoff Freeman, AGA president and CEO; Tim Murphy, former deputy director of the FBI; James Dinkins, former executive associate director at Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. Not pictured: J.B. Van Hollen, former Wisconsin State attorney general, U.S. attorney, and district attorney. Click here to download the photo.

 

“We’re fortunate that five of the most well-respected law enforcement officials from across the country are lending their expertise to our efforts to combat illegal gambling,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “As the gaming industry seeks to grow, it’s imperative that we crack down on the illegal operations that siphon critical revenues and tarnish the legal, highly regulated products and experiences we provide.”

 

The Board is comprised of:

·Tim Murphy (chair), former deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

·Ed Davis, former Boston Police Commissioner.

·James Dinkins, former executive associate director at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations

·J.B. Van Hollen, former Wisconsin State attorney general, U.S. attorney, and district attorney.

·Bill Young, former Clark County Sheriff and head of Las Vegas Metro Police Department; current senior vice president of compliance and security at Station Casinos.

In a keynote speech before attorneys general from across the country in April in Biloxi, Mississippi, Freeman launched the “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative. The initiative seeks to distinguish the highly regulated, $240 billion legal gaming industry—which supports 1.7 million jobs and generates $38 billion in taxes across 40 states—from the criminal networks that rely on illegal gambling to fund violent crimes and drug and human trafficking. 

The initiative is focusing on four key areas of illegal gambling: illegal sports betting; black market machines; Internet sweepstakes cafes; and illegal online betting.

Quotes from AGA’s Illegal Gambling Advisory Board members:

“Illegal gambling is a pernicious problem I confronted as former Deputy Director of the FBI. It’s tied to organized crime and the proceeds fund other nefarious activities. The AGA’s “Stop Illegal Gambling, Play It Safe Initiative” is a terrific idea, and I look forward to helping guide them as they partner with law enforcement.”

-Tim Murphy, former deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

“Over the course of my career, I’ve seen first-hand and testified in cases involving illegal gambling. There is a stark difference between legitimate industry such as the operators the American Gaming Association represents, who are good community partners, and these bad actors who aren’t regulated and have no respect for the law. I applaud the AGA for leading efforts to thwart illegal gambling and proactively working with law enforcement.”

-Ed Davis, former Boston police commissioner

“Illegal gambling is a crime that cuts across all borders on the streets and online. It’s a dangerous transnational crime. The private sector plays an important role in working with law enforcement, and the AGA is clearly serious about confronting the problem.  I am pleased to be part of this important initiative.”

-Jim Dinkins, executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

“I’ve prosecuted crimes as a U.S. Attorney, state attorney general and district attorney.  Illegal gambling cuts across all levels of government. It hurts consumers and legal businesses and often supports illegal activity such as human trafficking. Anything we can do to reduce this scourge is a step in the right direction and I am pleased to be working with the AGA to address this problem as part of the Advisory Board.”

–J.B. Van Hollen, former attorney general of Wisconsin, U.S. attorney, and district attorney

“As a sheriff I confronted criminals on the streets of Las Vegas. Now I work hard every day to protect our customers and the integrity of our heavily regulated industry. We work closely with law enforcement every day to ensure our customers feel safe.  By contrast, illegal operators, have one thing in mind: make money at all costs. They don’t pay taxes, they have no consumer protections, they aren’t regulated and they have no qualms about resorting to violence. I am pleased to be working with the other members of the Advisory Board and guiding the AGA’s important ‘Stop Illegal Gambling Play it Safe’ initiative – another example of the industry’s commitment to public safety.”

-Bill Young, former sheriff of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department and current senior vice president of compliance and security at Station Casinos

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 be the single most effective champion of the industry, relentlessly protecting against harmful and often misinformed public policies, and paving a path for growth, innovation and reinvestment.

 

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