WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) Board of Directors elected Trevor Croker, CEO and managing director of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, as AGA’s new chairman. Croker succeeds outgoing AGA Chairman Tim Wilmott, president and CEO of Penn National Gaming, Inc., who has led the AGA Board since 2018.
Croker has been an active participant in the AGA, serving on the board and in executive committees, since his appointment as Aristocrat CEO in 2017. Croker came to the CEO position with broad experience working across Aristocrat’s regulated and social games businesses, in key leadership roles including EVP, global products and insights, chief digital officer, and managing director of Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific.
“It’s a great privilege to lead the AGA during a time of great growth and change in the gaming industry,” said Trevor Croker, CEO of Aristocrat and AGA’s incoming chairman. “I look forward to continuing the progress made under Tim’s leadership to modernize the industry and make responsible gaming a signature priority.”
“I’m thrilled to have such a well-regarded leader in the industry step into the role of AGA’s next chairman,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA. “Trevor brings with him invaluable insight from our supplier members and fresh perspectives on how to propel the industry into the next generation of gaming.”
Miller continued, “Tim led the AGA during a dynamic period for the industry and provided a steady hand throughout the association’s own evolution. The entire gaming industry benefited from his leadership, and I’m personally grateful for his continued and wise counsel.”
“It’s been an honor to serve the gaming industry as chairman of AGA the past two years,” said Wilmott. “I’m proud of the strides we’ve made to highlight gaming’s role as an economic engine and mainstream form of entertainment. The future of the organization and industry is bright with Trevor and Bill’s leadership.”
Hear from Drs. Jonathan Gilbert (Hampton University) and Marla Stafford (UNLV) as they discuss their newly developed Responsible Gaming Intervention Effectiveness Scale (RG-IES), a free apparatus designed as a starting point in message evaluation allowing users to assess their RG messages intended to meaningfully impact the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of gaming consumers. You’ll also hear from fellow AGA member representatives about how they currently think about RG message effectiveness and how this new tool could fit into their plans going forward.
Speakers
Dave Forman
Vice President, Research, American Gaming Association
Dr. Jonathan Gilbert
James T. George School of Business I Hampton University
Dr. Marla Stafford
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Tammi Barlow-Marang
Vice President, Global Responsible Gaming, Bally’s
Ashley Cahill
Senior Director, Responsible Gaming and Community Impact, FanDuel
Richard Taylor
Director, Responsible Gaming, BetMGM
Recent research released shows that the gaming industry supports 350,000 small business jobs and is responsible for $52 billion in small business revenues. The report, The Gaming Industry’s Impact on Small Business Development in the United States, was completed by Spectrum Gaming Group and commissioned by AGA.
To highlight the report’s findings, AGA launched its nationwide American Gaming Small Business Jobs Tour. The tour will scan the country to showcase gaming’s strong, positive impacts on local, small businesses that are driving Main Street’s success and American employment. AGA plans to work with a wide range of member companies to showcase their strong partnership with small businesses all around the country.
Resources
Press Coverage Summary
Las Vegas Review-Journal – Road trip by AGA slated to explain how casinos help small businesses
Providence Business News – Report: Casinos in R.I. contribute $1B in economic activity
Politico – Influence
CDC Gaming Reports – AGA: Maryland Casinos Drive Opportunity and Growth for Small Businesses
Casino City Times – Gaming industry important for small businesses, says AGA
CDC Gaming Reports – AGA highlights gaming industry’s positive impacts on small business
Casino.org News – Gaming Industry’s Positive Economic Impact Theme of AGA Small Business Jobs Tour
CDC Gaming Reports – New Study: Casino Industry is Essential to Small Business Growth
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. & WASHINGTON, D.C., March 9, 2022 – The new United States Football League (USFL) today announced it has joined the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign. The USFL will promote responsible sports wagering through its broadcast, cable, streaming and social media outlets.
“We’re proud to partner with the AGA to help drive the important message to bet responsibly,” said Edward Hartman, USFL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “As sports wagering expands nationwide, the USFL is committed to help educate our fans so they can better enjoy the experience.”
Today, sports wagering is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and 50 percent of American adults can now bet legally in their home state.
“Responsible gaming leadership from professional sports leagues like the USFL is critical to getting sports betting right,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “We’re thrilled to welcome the USFL as a partner and value their commitment to prioritizing responsible sports wagering education for their fans.”
Launched in 2019, the Have A Game Plan campaign promotes four principles of responsible sports wagering:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Keep it social.
- Know the odds.
- Play with trusted, regulated operators.
The USFL joins campaign partners across the sports, media, and sports wagering landscape, including Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Delaware North, DraftKings, Entain, FanDuel, Global Payments, MGM Resorts International, MSG Network, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Rangers, NHL, Nuvei, Penn National Gaming, PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, UFC, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Commanders.
The USFL inaugural kickoff game on April 16 begins at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM CT) at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. The primetime matchup pits the New Jersey Generals against the Birmingham Stallions and will be presented live on FOX, NBC and Peacock. It is the first scheduled sports competition to air at the same time on two competitive networks since Super Bowl I broadcasted on NBC and CBS, January 15, 1967.
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AGA Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering
Legal sports betting offers fans the opportunity to engage with their favorite teams and sports in new and exciting ways. Sports wagering is an entertainment activity that should be consumed only by responsible adults and marketed accordingly to that audience.
The advertising and marketing of sports betting informs consumers about the types of wagering options and the terms on which they are available. In doing so, they support competition, multiply consumer choice, and can encourage consumer loyalty. Because legalized wagering on sporting contests is a relatively new activity in most states, the American Gaming Association (AGA) is extending its compliance commitments to answer fresh concerns that might arise with it. The Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering sets an industry standard for the marketing and advertising of sports wagering services.
Specifically, the code includes self-imposed restrictions on target audiences, outlets, and materials branding, while mandating the inclusion of responsible gaming in marketing activities. The tenets of the code apply to traditional and digital media marketing activities for both AGA members and non-members.
Code Compliance
The code outlines the enforcement and compliance process, which provides the opportunity for any member of the public to submit a complaint.
If you wish to send a complaint to a sports betting operator, please fill out the complaint form. Your complaint will be reviewed for completeness and relevance before being forwarded to the operator, who will contact you with a response.
This self-regulated, industry-wide program is overseen by the Code Compliance Review Board (CCRB), consisting of two independent co-chairs and five AGA member representatives who each serve three-year terms.
Chairs
Becky Harris, Distinguished Fellow in Gaming, UNLV International Gaming Institute
Alan Feldman, Director of Strategic Initiatives, UNLV International Gaming Institute
Member Representatives
Jen Aguiar, Chief Compliance Officer, DraftKings
Stephen Martino, Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International
Paul Pellizzari, Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock
Chris Soriano, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, PENN Entertainment
Andrew Sneyd, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing, FanDuel
Code Updates
On March 28, 2023, the AGA, in collaboration with our members, announced updates to the Code to evolve industry advertising standards in tandem with the maturation of the legal sports betting market by:
- Enhancing protections for college-aged audiences by:
- Prohibiting college partnerships that promote, market or advertise sports wagering activity (other than to alumni networks or content focused on RG initiatives or problem gambling awareness).
- Prohibiting sportsbook NIL deals for amateur and college athletes.
- Adding age restrictions (21+) for any individual featured in sports betting advertising.
- Changing all references in the Code to the “legal age of wagering” to 21-plus.
- Banning all use of “risk free” in advertising.
- Formalizing an annual process for reviewing and updating the Code.
Read full details here.
Washington, D.C. – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and American Gaming Association (AGA) are teaming up to promote responsible sports betting through AGA’s Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign.
The WNBA joins the National Basketball Association (NBA) as Have A Game Plan partners. The league will educate its fans on responsible sports wagering by providing turnkey resources for use by the league’s 12 teams. Campaign content will include in-venue, broadcast, digital and social media activations, as well as in-app and website integration into the league’s WNBABet tab and content.
“WNBA fans are always looking for new and exciting ways to immerse themselves in our game, and legal sports betting has opened the door for deeper engagement with our league,” says WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. “As we explore this new avenue, the WNBA is committed to ensuring those who choose to wager on our league have the knowledge and tools to do so responsibly.”
Campaign activations by the WNBA and its teams will begin with the start of the 2023 WNBA season on Friday, May 19, and continue throughout the league’s regular season and playoffs.
“The WNBA’s commitment to Have A Game Plan will expand the campaign’s reach to new and existing basketball audiences,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “As legal sports betting matures across America, reaching the market’s broad group of diverse participants will require exactly the kind of leadership the WNBA, NBA and all of our Have A Game Plan partners have shown.”
Launched in 2019, AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign brings the broader sports betting ecosystem together around a common consumer education platform, focusing on the four principles of responsible wagering for those who choose to bet:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Keep it social—sports betting is a form of entertainment for adults.
- Know the odds.
- Play with legal, regulated operators.
Additional campaign partners include Bally’s Corporation, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, betPARX, DraftKings, Delaware North, Entain, FanDuel, Gaming Society, Global Payments, Major League Baseball, MGM Resorts International, MSG Network, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, NESN, New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Rangers, NHL, Nuvei, Parx Casino, PENN Entertainment, PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, USFL, U.S. Integrity, Vegas Golden Knights, VSiN and Washington Commanders.
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About the AGA
As the national trade group representing the U.S. casino industry, the American Gaming Association (AGA) fosters a policy and business environment where legal, regulated gaming thrives. The AGA’s diverse membership of commercial and tribal casino operators, sports betting and iGaming companies, gaming suppliers, and more lead the $261 billion industry and support 1.8 million jobs across the country.
About the WNBA
The WNBA, which will tip off its 27th season on May 19, is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.
In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and NIKE, Inc, and subsequent additions Google and U.S. Bank. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.
Global Payments
Advancing Sustainability
Lowering Carbon Emissions
Global Payments has set a goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The Company will measure and determine a baseline for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, along with relevant Scope 3 emissions, by 2022.
As part of Global Payments’ efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, the Company is working to lower data center emissions through a number of initiatives, including moving workloads to more energy efficient data centers.
Global Payments has taken steps to reduce the impact of its offices through a number of efforts. All Global Payments offices in the U.S. and the majority of its international offices are located close to public transit. Global Payments also installed electric vehicle charging stations within the grounds of its Columbus campus and UK offices. Global Payments’ Future of Work initiative provides employees with tools that enable enhanced capabilities to work from home while reducing the need for face-to-face meetings, travel, and office commuting, lowering carbon emissions as a result. Overall, these initiatives have reduced travel by 30 percent, making a significant impact in the Company’s overall carbon footprint.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Increase Board and Management Diversity
Global Payments has established an Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Council (I&D), chaired by the President and Chief Operating Officer. It consists of a representative group of team members worldwide who provide insight and input on Global Payments’ DEI initiatives, including its strategy to increase representation of women and minorities at leadership levels in the Company.
Global Payments aims to increase women in leadership to 49 percent and people of color in leadership to 29 percent by 2025.
Strengthen Employee DEI
Global Payments’ DEI initiatives are striving to increase the diversity of its workforce by 15 percent. Numerous ongoing programs include recruiting oversight, unconscious bias training and worldwide networking events. Unconscious bias training engages associates worldwide to educate on existing biases and recognition that those biases shouldn’t impact business decision making.
In 2020, Global Payments held its first DEI Celebration Week and introduced its Conversations of Understanding Series, intended to bring race-related topics to the forefront.
The Company launched the Onyx Network for Black team members and their allies and developed partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Investing in Communities
Delivering in Times of Crisis
In 2020, Global Payments supported a range of organizations involved in COVID relief efforts, including the American Red Cross, Feeding America, the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund and the United Way, among others. The Company also gifted riverfront property in Columbus to the Mercer School of Medicine to help further medical education.
Expanding Education and Career Opportunities
Global Payments supports higher education for its associates’ families by providing scholarships.
Global Payments’ team in Manila, Philippines collected over 140,000 Philippine pesos and donated more than 40 tablets and laptops to Tulay Tuloy Eskwela, an NGO that seeks to make education possible and accessible to all Filipino children.
Addressing Critical Community Needs
In 2020, Global Payments donated nearly $7 million to organizations that have touched the lives of its employees and community members, including the United Way and Healing Fund, the Susan B. Komen National Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Heart Association.
Global Payments designates two days a year as days of service. In 2021, Global Payments team members participated in service projects and made donations worldwide, partnering with local nonprofits and NGOs from the Philippines to India to Indiana.
Netspend CARES, a Global Payments Company, engages in a number of volunteer and charitable efforts, including Feeding America, the Asha Deep Foundation and Housing Opportunities for Musicians & Entertainers.
Global Payments also contributes to supporting under-represented communities, and through its Social Justice and Equality Fund is committing to an ongoing charitable giving plan to fight systematic racism.
Responsible Leadership
Protecting and Empowering Customers
Global Payments has implemented a Gambling Intervention system across its platform of products and services that allows players to self-exclude and set their own limits. It enables patrons to quickly and easily establish personal guidelines that can work across all operators and channels to provide them with assurances that their personal needs are being fulfilled.
Investing in research and partnering with advocacy groups
Global Payments has built an integrated ecosystem that supports responsibility across operators and channels. Global Payments was a founding partner of the UNLV Collaborative on Cashless Gaming’s Impact of Responsible Gaming and is a member of the National Council on Problem Gaming. The UNLV Research Collaborative on Responsible and Cashless Gaming Solutions will work to provide a scientific, data-driven foundation for policymakers and regulators to make sound decisions in the future. The Company invests time and resources to provide innovative solutions that support responsible gaming, including partnering with the AGA’s Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ Campaign.
Join us for a webinar exploring two timely topics: how gaming advertising evolved in 2024 and the release of the AGA’s new responsible gaming messaging framework. We’ll break down key shifts in industry ad spend and volume trends using Nielsen Ad Intel data and share the key findings and research driving our new responsible gaming messaging framework.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
Presenters
WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced the promotion of three senior leaders across the organization to drive industry priorities including responsibility, advocacy and gaming regulation, and the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) franchise:
- Cait DeBaun has been promoted to Vice President, Strategic Communications and Responsibility.
- Jessica Feil has been promoted to Vice President, Government Relations and Gaming Policy Counsel.
- Meredith Pallante has been promoted to Vice President, Global Events.
All three joined the AGA in 2019 and previously held senior director titles.
“Each of these incredibly talented women will lead core organizational functions at a critical time for our industry,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “They’ve helped to navigate the challenges of 2020 and will be instrumental in expediting gaming’s recovery in the months ahead.”
DeBaun joined the AGA to focus on advancing the industry’s commitment to responsibility. She has been instrumental in activating the Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering, creating the Have a Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign, and leading both the Responsible Gambling Collaborative and the association’s Responsibility Committee.
Feil is an attorney with a history in gaming policy. She manages state policy and regulatory engagement for the association, contributing to core government relations efforts including the advancement of legal sports wagering. Feil leads the association working groups on payments modernization, state affairs and NextGen gaming policy.
Pallante joined the AGA to manage G2E, the world’s leading gaming tradeshow, and extensions of that portfolio including G2E Asia. She will oversee all global industry events for the association, leveraging her experience as an organizer of the Las Vegas-based tradeshow CES.
“These are very well-earned promotions for exceptionally qualified professionals,” added Miller. “Cait, Jessica and Meredith will continue to serve our members, the gaming industry and our association well into the future.”
Washington, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the promotion of senior-level team members to enhance the organization and drive industry priorities:
- Alex Costello has been promoted to Vice President, Government Relations.
- David Forman has been promoted to Vice President, Research.
- Gabrielle Voorhees has been promoted to Vice President, Finance and Operations.
- Brandon Leggiero has been promoted to Senior Director, Member and Partner Relations.
“I’m immensely proud of the team we have built at the AGA. Today’s announcement reflects their hard work and significant achievements on behalf of our members and the gaming industry,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “These talented professionals, and the rest of our strong AGA team, will help us continue to lead the industry through this new era of growth.”
Costello directs AGA’s federal advocacy efforts. She leads the association’s work on BSA and AML; advances core priorities and builds gaming champions on Capitol Hill; and oversees the payments modernization and anti-human trafficking working groups.
Forman leads AGA’s proprietary research program. He has positioned the AGA as the go-to source for members, industry, media and investors by building insightful, compelling products like the Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker and AGA Gaming Industry Outlook.
Voorhees oversees the AGA’s financial operations and human resources. Having successfully navigated the association’s finances through pandemic impacts, she ensures the association’s financial strength and compliance with financial and organizational policies.
Leggiero is responsible for member and partner relations and development. He leads the association’s strategy to retain, grow and diversify membership to reflect the breadth of the industry.
The AGA also added key hires in government relations, communications and member services:
- Tres York joins from the National Conference of State Legislatures as Senior Director, Government Relations to lead state advocacy and regulatory engagement.
- Christopher Browne joins from the Washington Nationals as Director, Media Relations to manage AGA’s media efforts and drive industry narrative.
- Annabelle Goese joins from Resources for the Future as Senior Manager, Member Services to support AGA member and partner relations.
“The addition of high-caliber talent like Tres, Christopher and Annabelle enhance our ability to advance gaming’s interests and deliver member value,” added Miller.