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. – Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024, honoring three leaders who have made significant contributions to the industry:

• Jim Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International; Chief Executive Officer, Seminole Gaming; Former Chairman, American Gaming Association
• Alan Feldman, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Distinguished Fellow in Responsible Gaming, UNLV International Gaming Institute; Former Executive, MGM Resorts International
• Debi Nutton, Board Member, Everi Holdings; Executive Coach-Consultant; Former Casino Operations Executive, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts

“From helping transform tribal gaming and pioneering responsible gaming research to blazing new paths in casino operations, Jim, Alan and Debi have been integral to shaping the modern gaming industry,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has recognized gaming icons and leaders for their enduring influence on the industry. The Class of 2024 will receive recognition at an invitation-only induction ceremony held during G2E 2024 in Las Vegas this October.

“The Gaming Hall of Fame honors leaders that have had a distinct impact on our industry’s success,” added AGA Chairman of the Board and Everi Executive Chairman Mike Rumbolz (Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2022). “This year’s inductees have met and exceeded this threshold throughout their careers and continue to do so in their current work. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at G2E 2024.”

Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming executives. This year’s selection committee members include:

• Maureen Adams, EVP, Gaming, Churchill Downs Inc.
• Jay Dorris, President and CEO, Wind Creek Hospitality
• Siobhan Lane, EVP and CEO, Gaming, Light & Wonder
• Alex Dixon, CEO, DRA and Co-Founder and Co-Chair, African Americans in Gaming
• Mark Lipparelli, Chairman, International Center for Responsible Gaming
• Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, International Association of Gaming Advisors
• Lauren Bates, Chair, Global Gaming Women
• Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute
• Mike Rumbolz, Executive Chairman, Everi and Chairman of the Board, AGA

Additional information about each inductee’s accomplishments is below and headshots can be downloaded for editorial use here.

Jim Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International; Chief Executive Officer, Seminole Gaming; Former Chairman, American Gaming Association
A gaming and hospitality industry veteran with more than 44 years of experience, Allen currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International and Hard Rock Digital. He also recently served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the AGA. Since 2001, Allen has overseen all gaming, hospitality and entertainment operations for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, including leading the tribe’s 2007 acquisition of Hard Rock International, the first acquisition of a major international company by a North American Indian tribe. Under his leadership, Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International have grown their global business footprint and their leadership in U.S. casino gaming, winning numerous awards for excellence in operations, hospitality and employment. Allen has also led the expansion of the company’s entertainment offerings to sports and sports betting, including the 2020 launch of Hard Rock Digital—an online and retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform—and partnerships with Formula One Racing in both Miami and Las Vegas, Red Bull Racing, Lionel Messi, and Hard Rock Stadium which hosts the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Allen also lectures at many professional conferences, governmental programs and college campuses and makes frequent appearances on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business and other financial news networks.

Alan Feldman, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Distinguished Fellow in Responsible Gaming, UNLV International Gaming Institute; Former Executive, MGM Resorts International
Alan Feldman currently serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Distinguished Fellow in Responsible Gaming at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, where he is at the forefront of developing programs and policies that enhance industry knowledge and regulatory practices around responsible gaming. During his 30-year tenure at MGM Resorts, Feldman was instrumental in launching GameSense, a pioneering initiative that now promotes healthy gambling behaviors across all MGM U.S. properties. Feldman is also a globally sought-after speaker on responsible gaming and holds key advisory roles in the industry, including serving as Chair Emeritus of the International Center for Responsible Gaming, where he formerly served as Chair of the Board. Feldman’s significant contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Gaming Professional of the Year by the Casino Management Association in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in Gaming Communications from the American Gaming Association in 2009.

Debi Nutton, Board Member, Everi Holdings; Executive Coach-Consultant; Former Casino Operations Executive, MGM Resorts, Wynn Resorts
Nutton currently serves as a Board Member at Everi Holdings while also helming her business as a gaming consultant and executive coach. Her career in the gaming industry began in 1980 as one of the few female dice dealers on the Las Vegas Strip. She notably contributed to the opening team of The Mirage in 1989, where she distinguished herself as the sole female dice pit manager at the time. Over her 24-year tenure with MGM and Mirage, Debi rose to Senior Vice President of Casino Operations and Marketing for MGM and Bellagio before assuming the role of Executive Vice President of Casino Operations at Wynn Resorts in 2013. Today, she is shaping the next generation of gaming as an executive coach-consultant, advising the industry on leadership practices and casino operations. A founding board member of Global Gaming Women, Debi has received numerous accolades, including the 2018 Great Women of Gaming Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2009 Casino Enterprise Management Great Women of Gaming Proven Leader Award, and being named a “Woman of Distinction” by the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2007.

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A record 68 million American adults (26%) are expected to bet $23.1 billion on Super Bowl LVIII, a 35 percent increase from 2023 estimates, according to American Gaming Association (AGA) research. Bettors plan to wager an estimated $23.1 billion on this year’s Big Game, up from $16 billion last year.

With the expansion of legal sports betting, traditional Super Bowl wagers are expected to pass casual wagers for a second consecutive year. 42.7 million American adults plan to place a traditional sports wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie (up 41% from 2023), while 36.5 million plan to bet casually with friends or as part of a pool or squares contest (up 32% from 2023).

28.7 million adults, or 11 percent, intend to place online wagers using a legal U.S. sportsbook. Importantly, as Americans continue to migrate to the legal market, industry investments in responsible gambling continue to resonate. The majority of traditional Super Bowl bettors (75%) report seeing a responsible gambling message in the last year, up from 71 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, 47 percent of all American adults recall hearing or seeing a responsible gambling message in the past year, up from 40 percent last year.

Bettors are nearly split on the outcome of the game with 47 percent planning to bet on the Kansas City Chiefs and 44 percent planning to bet on the San Francisco 49ers.

Methodology
Morning Consult conducted the online survey on behalf of the AGA between January 30 – February 1, among a national sample of 2,204 adults. The data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment and region. The margin of error is +/-2 percent and greater among subgroups. Bettors include those who expect to place a bet online, with a bookie, with a casino sportsbook, in a pool or squares contest, or casually with family or friends.

IP Casino Resort Spa and the American Gaming Association (AGA) hosted state legislators, local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and gaming industry representatives in Biloxi, Mississippi to discuss the casino gaming’s deep roots in the Magnolia State’s economy and communities.

The event was held in conjunction with the release of AGA’s Casinos and Communities: Mississippi report, which pairs gaming’s economic impact data—more than 37,000 jobs supported and $1.6 billion in wages generated annually across Mississippi—with firsthand perspectives from Mississippians.

AGA president and CEO Bill Miller prefaced the panel discussion by noting that “There’s no such thing as the company town without the company… [Mississippi] is a great example of the casino industry creating economic hubs that allow for gateways to the middle class.”

Biloxi resident Mike Alise, owner of Gulf Coast Produce, whose company was nearly bankrupt when he moved to town 25 years ago, attributed the financial turnaround of his business to gaming, remarking, “The casino industry is unbelievably vital to what we do on a day-to-day basis. It is truly a partnership. We wouldn’t be what we are today without the continued support from the casinos.” Gulf Coast Produce is now a $40 million company, employs 70 workers, and serves every casino on the Gulf Coast.

Looking back on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Duncan McKenzie, GM of IP Casino Resort Spa, recollected that, “we got up fast and we were able to help our vendors get up faster because we required goods and services from them…we’re proud to be a part of the team of casinos throughout the state that help other industries and create tax bases.”

State Representative Richard Bennet expanded upon what the gaming industry meant to him as a state official, explaining, “you’re talking about people with retirements, you’re talking about good healthcare, you’re talking about a stable job… and the industry has been good to the state by reinvesting back.”

The panel covered a variety of additional industry topics, including regulation and charitable support for local communities.

Miller concluded the morning’s discussion by emphasizing the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming, focusing his remarks on the importance of responsible advertising in sports betting as legal sports wagering enters the mainstream in Mississippi and across the country.

The panel also featured Allen Godfrey, executive director, Mississippi Gaming Commission, and John McFarland, executive director, southeast Mississippi chapter of the American Red Cross. Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, moderated the panel.

Media Highlights

• Casino industry has $4 billion impact in Mississippi, The Sun Herald  
• AGA: Casino gaming industry key to Mississippi growth, Casino Beats 
• Mississippi gaming lauded by AGA as driver of growth in state economy, SBC Americas
• Mississippi Casino Gaming drives economic growth, supports local communities, new report finds, Casino International

Washington, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) released the third edition of its Best Practices for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance resource today. The updated document—reviewed and revised by the country’s top compliance professionals—builds on the gaming industry’s AML leadership and reflects new laws, technologies and indicators of criminal activity.

“As the methods and sophistication of financial crimes evolve, the gaming industry continues to spearhead efforts to combat money laundering,” said Alex Costello, AGA’s vice president, government relations. “An invaluable resource for our industry, this guide demonstrates gaming’s commitment to protect the U.S. financial system from money laundering and other forms of illicit finance.”

Since the last update to Best Practices in 2019:

• Congress made significant changes to the Bank Secrecy Act through the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020.
• FinCEN granted the gaming industry federal exceptive relief for certain types of ID verification.
• Sixteen additional states legalized sports betting and iGaming.
• Nearly a dozen gaming jurisdictions approved the use of digital payments and forms of cryptocurrency.
• New types of cybercrimes and fraudulent activity have surfaced.

To address these changes, Best Practices provides updated guidance, expanded red flag indicators, current compliance obligations, revised definitions and other essential information for gaming companies to maintain their strong AML regimes.

The casino gaming industry is recognized as a leader in AML compliance. In 2014, gaming became the first industry to collectively establish this comprehensive set of best practices for AML compliance. In 2021, the industry filed nearly 55,000 suspicious activity reports to aid law enforcement in fighting money laundering activity. In addition, the AGA represents gaming on the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group (BSAAG), a group organized by FinCEN to collaborate with stakeholders in the financial sector.

Washington, D.C. – Gaming CEOs are optimistic about the industry’s continued growth and recovery, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Gaming Industry Outlook presented in partnership with Fitch Ratings.

More survey respondents (67%) rate the current business situation as “good” than six months ago (54%), while none describe it as “poor.” Meanwhile, four in ten CEOs expect the industry’s business climate to improve over the next two quarters compared to 13 percent that expect business conditions to worsen.

“Gaming executives are signaling confidence in our continued recovery that is in line with record-setting consumer demand for gaming,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “I’m optimistic that 2022 will see the return of a true sense of normalcy for gaming.”

While gaming CEOs are generally positive about the industry’s economic outlook, they also report macroeconomic impediments to business growth. Top concerns include:

• Supply chain issues (75%).
• Inflationary and interest rate concerns (67%).
• Labor shortages (54%).

Notably, COVID-19 and demand for meetings and events are no longer among the top five concerns for gaming CEOs.

“Like businesses across the country, our industry is grappling with supply chain, labor and inflation challenges that, if left uncontrolled, could dampen our continued growth and economic outlook,” added Miller.

The Gaming Industry Outlook includes two separate indices: the Current Conditions Index and the Future Conditions Index.

Current Conditions Index
Despite all-time high commercial gaming revenue through the first two months of 2022, the Current Conditions Index of 93.5 reflects a slowing in casino gaming-related economic activity compared to record industry growth in the fourth quarter of 2021. The index shows that the gaming industry has grown at an annualized pace of approximately 16.5 percent over the last three quarters.

Future Conditions Index
The Future Conditions Index stands at 101.1, reflecting anticipated expansion of casino gaming-related economic activity over the next six months at a modest 1.1 percent annualized rate—a return to normal industry growth after a year of tremendous industry expansion from pandemic-era lows in 2020.

Gaming Executive Panel
The majority of gaming CEOs surveyed (79%) expect the pace of wage and benefit growth to increase over the next three-to-six months, while 50 percent expect the pace of hiring to increase.

Among gaming operators, 53 percent plan to invest more capital than normal in hotel facilities in the coming year, while about one-third plan to invest more than normal in slots on the casino floor (27%) and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks (33%).

Suppliers report increased bullishness for sales growth over the next six months: 100 percent of respondents expect sales of gaming units for new or expansion use to rise; 86 percent expect sales of gaming units for replacement use to rise; and 71 percent expect the pace of their capital investment to rise.

About the Outlook
The AGA Gaming Industry Outlook is presented in partnership with Fitch Ratings and prepared biannually by Oxford Economics. It provides a timely measure of recent industry growth and future expectations. The Q1 2022 survey was conducted between March 21 – April 1, 2022. A total of 24 executives responded, including executives at the major international and domestic gaming companies, tribal gaming operators, single-unit casino operators, major gaming equipment suppliers and major iGaming and/or sports betting operators.

Fitch Ratings is acting as a sponsorship partner in connection with the AGA Gaming Industry Outlook. Views expressed herein do not represent analytical views of Fitch Ratings.

The Great Equalizer: Addressing Responsible Gaming for the Omnichannel Environment

CEO Roundtable: a fireside chat with the AGA and the CGA
The IAGA CEO Roundtable brings the leading executives of North America’s three largest gaming organizations together to discuss their opinions on the hot topics facing the industry within their respective markets. Covering a wide range of issues including what can and should be done to stop the proliferation of unregulated and unlawful gaming including grey machine proliferation, the lessons learned from the pandemic and their predictions for the year ahead, this is unique opportunity to hear from the leaders who help shape public policy and perception about gaming in all its forms.

Moderated by Daron Dorsey, the Executive Director for the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the panelists include:

• Paul Burns, President and CEO, Canadian Gaming Association
• Bill Miller, President and CEO, American Gaming Association

Gambling advertising’s race to acquire customers: are we heading for a crash?
In late 2018, Italy’s advertising and communications regulator Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) introduced a blanket gambling advertising ban aimed at reducing rates of gambling addiction and ratcheting up player protection efforts. This quickly drew the attention of regulators and legislators elsewhere, resulting in tighter advertising restrictions or consideration of bans in other European countries. Given the exploding North American sports betting markets and the corresponding dramatic increase in player acquisition advertising, are we perilously heading toward a similar fate? This panel will take a deep dive into gambling advertising bans, debating issues like whether the European experience could be replicated in the US, whether bans or tighter restrictions have an impact on problem gambling, whether they represent a perceived or real failure of the industry to implement appropriate controls and safeguards, and what effect a bombardment of gambling advertising has on the industry’s reputation. Is gambling advertising a regulatory issue? A responsibility issue? Our panel will aim to answer these questions and more.

Moderated by Cait DeBaun, Vice President – Strategic Communications and Responsibility for the American Gaming Association (AGA), the panelists include:

• Chris Hebert, Gaming Division Director, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office
• Louis Rogacki, Deputy Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement