Ty James – Rep. Thompson

202-225-5876

Elise Argall – Rep. Reschenthaler

202-225-2065

WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association congratulates co-chairs Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02) and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) for relaunching the Congressional Gaming Caucus for the 116^th Congress. The caucus, comprised of a broad representation of more than 30 members of Congress from across the country, will serve as a platform to discuss federal policy issues related to the U.S. casino industry and educate Congressional colleagues on related regulatory and legislative matters.

The $261 billion gaming industry is a national economic engine and job creator—providing good-paying jobs and career opportunities for nearly 2 million American workers. From supporting area small businesses to contributing to local nonprofits and philanthropic initiatives, the industry continues to prove itself as a good steward and active partner in the communities where gaming operates.

“Relaunching the Congressional Gaming Caucus is one of the American Gaming Association’s top priorities, and I’m grateful to Reps. Thompson and Reschenthaler for their leadership,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO. “As gaming expands, it’s more important than ever that members of Congress from both gaming and non-gaming states appreciate the important role our industry plays in communities across the country. The AGA looks forward to working with the caucus on policies that strengthen the gaming industry and tell our positive story on Capitol Hill.”

“Over the last several decades, the U.S. gaming industry has expanded beyond traditional gaming markets in Nevada and New Jersey to benefit new communities, including those in southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “I’m proud to relaunch this caucus, which will provide a valuable forum for advancing policies that allow the gaming industry to grow and spur economic development in districts like mine.”

“The gaming industry’s social and economic footprint can be seen in communities around the United States, with more than 88 percent of American adults viewing gaming as an acceptable form of entertainment,” said Rep. Thompson. “The Congressional Gaming Caucus will enable Congress to better represent the industry and our constituents’ interests on Capitol Hill.”

The reconstitution of the Congressional Gaming Caucus enables the AGA to augment the association’s efforts to address key priorities such as highlighting the gaming industry’s strong commitment to anti-money laundering compliance, ensuring responsible gaming is a signature industry priority, and maintaining state regulation of gaming, including sports betting.

WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) today released a new study quantifying the expansive annual impact the casino gaming industry has on the U.S. economy. Conducted by Oxford economics, findings show the U.S. commercial and tribal gaming industry:

• Contributes $328.6 billion to the U.S. economy.
• Supports 1.8 million jobs and $104 billion of wages and salaries across the country.
• Generates $52.7 billion in tax revenue to federal, state and local governments.

“The U.S. gaming industry delivers long-term growth and impact to communities, generating significant tax revenue, creating strong jobs, supporting local small businesses, and funding critical community priorities,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller during State of the Industry remarks at G2E 2023.

According to the report, America’s gaming industry directly employs more than 700,000 people in the U.S. Put in context with the broader U.S. economy:

• Gaming provides more direct jobs than the air transportation, postal service or motion picture and video sectors.
• Direct casino employment accounts for 1 in 33 leisure and hospitality jobs.

The $53 billion in taxes generated by the gaming industry provides critical funding for local public programs and services, including education, infrastructure and economic development, as well as supplemental revenue for state general funds.

Recent, related AGA research shows the economic benefits generated by gaming are widely recognized by Americans, with a record 71 percent of adults saying the casino gaming industry has a positive impact on the U.S. economy.

###

Background

• 45 states and the District of Columbia currently offer commercial and/or tribal gaming markets including casino gaming, sports betting and iGaming.
• AGA’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker shows that 2023 industry revenue through July is pacing 11 percent ahead of 2022’s record revenue year for commercial gaming.
• AGA’s State of Play Map charts gaming’s economic impact, industry regulations and casino locations on a state-by-state basis for both the commercial and tribal gaming sectors.

Washington, D.C. – Gaming executives remain upbeat about current business conditions with a neutral outlook on future conditions, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Gaming Industry Outlook presented in partnership with Fitch Ratings.

The overwhelming majority of gaming executives surveyed view the current business situation as good (42%) or satisfactory (55%), moderating from Q1 when 62 percent reported good conditions and 35 percent described them as satisfactory. When asked about future business conditions, more than half expect the next three to six months to be about the same (58%), with the remainder almost evenly split between those who anticipate better or worse conditions (3% net positive).

“The significant expansion and record demand for legal, regulated gaming in the post-pandemic era have allowed our members to consistently invest in our product and people to deliver innovative entertainment options for American adults,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Gaming CEOs remain focused on delivering world class entertainment options against the backdrop of broader economic uncertainty.”

Current Conditions Index
The Current Conditions Index measured 100.6, reflecting slight growth of 0.6 percent in casino gaming-related economic activity in Q3 2023 relative Q2 2023. Because gaming revenue and employee wages are adjusted for inflation, the Current Conditions Index was tempered by persistent high inflation through Q3 2023.

Future Conditions Index
The Future Conditions Index stands at 99.6, indicating annualized industry economic activity over the next six months is expected to decrease slightly. This outlook reflects Oxford Economics’ forecast that the U.S. economy will experience a mild recession beginning in Q4 2023. However, even with an anticipated slow down in consumer spending, consumer survey results continue to indicate that more than one-third of adults expect to visit a casino during the next 12 months, consistent with prior quarter results.

Gaming Executive Panel
Executive views on future financial conditions are mixed. On balance, respondents expect that their overall balance sheet health will improve (26% net positive) over the next three to six months and that their pace of capital spending will increase (24% net positive). However, on net, they expect the pace of revenue growth to decrease (13% net negative responses) and describe access to credit as somewhat restrictive.

At the sector level, gaming supplier CEOs broadly expect the pace of unit sales to increase through the end of the year while many operator CEOs plan to increase capital investments in their food and beverage offerings.

• Casino operators expect gaming units in operation to increase (11% net positive), while 67 percent expect greater than normal investments in food and beverage and 33 percent expect greater than normal capital spending on gaming machines.
• Gaming equipment manufacturers expect units for new or expansion use to increase (44% net positive), with an equal share expecting sales of gaming units for replacement use to increase.

When asked about top business challenges, 58 percent of executives cited inflation or interest rate concerns as factors limiting operations, followed by overall uncertainty of the economic environment (55%).

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 Q3 2023 survey was conducted between August 28 – September 6, 2023. A total of 33 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.

###

The gaming industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with technological advancements, regulatory changes and heightened awareness of responsible gaming practices. iGB in partnership with OpenBet, the number one pit-stop crew for the world’s top sports betting brands, bring you an exclusive webinar of industry experts and thought leaders to discuss key trends, challenges facing the industry today, and strategic insights on how gaming operators can enhance their player protection capabilities, and promote responsible gaming.

Join us as we dive deeper into the challenges gaming operators face in implementing effective responsible gaming measures.

Agenda:

• How to identify opportunities for operators to align their business strategies with responsible gaming goals
• Exploring successful examples and best practice insights from a leading US gaming operator, a world class player protection specialist and the national voice of the legal industry
• Have the chance to ask your most pressing questions on responsible gaming strategies in our live Q&A

Washington – Among Americans familiar with unregulated “skill” machines, a decisive majority recognize that these devices are games of chance, not skill, according to new American Gaming Association data. Two-thirds (65%) of those who are familiar with “skill” games say that they are no different from slot machines where wins are based on random chance, and that even a skilled player cannot reliably influence the outcome.

“Unregulated machine manufacturers have built their businesses by duping consumers and small businesses while avoiding taxes, oversight and consumer protections,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “These results are further evidence that Americans see these machines as a threat that should be eliminated, not regulated.”

“Skill” machines are often found in convenience stores, bars, strip malls and other community establishments, operating outside of the regulated gaming marketplace. Previous AGA research estimates that 580,651 unregulated gambling machines exist in the U.S., constituting 40 percent of all gambling machines nationwide.

The survey also reveals those familiar with “skill” games overwhelmingly view the machines as negative influences in their communities:

• 71 percent say “skill” machines lack the player protections that are available to players in casinos.
• 64 percent agree “skill” machines are too easily accessible to children.
• 56 percent say “skill” games increase the risk of crime and endanger employees and customers of businesses where devices are located.

Upon learning that “skill” machines are taxed at a far lower rate and lack the same regulatory oversight as casino slot machines, two-thirds of Americans familiar with “skill” games (64%) express concern about the presence of such devices in their communities.

“Keeping America’s gaming industry strong, safe and responsible can only be done through the robust infrastructure of the well-established legal market, not by rewarding bad actors with half-measures that fail to address the dangers of unregulated gambling,” continued Miller.  

The new AGA data comes as the AGA and other industry stakeholders testify today during a Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on the presence of “skill” games in the state, hosted by Chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Senator Katie Muth. The hearing will be held at 11am ET at the Radnor Township Municipal building in Wayne, PA (301 Iven Ave., Wayne, PA 19087) and can be streamed online here.

Background

• While most Americans see “skill” games as similar to traditional casino slots, AGA findings show for every dollar bet by consumers, regulated machines in Pennsylvania keep 7.7 cents on average, while unregulated machines across the country keep 25 cents.
• Americans wager $109 billion each year with unregulated “skill” machines according to AGA estimates, at an annual cost of $8.7 billion in state taxes and $27 billion in legal gaming revenue.
• In 2022, the legal gaming industry generated a record $13.49 billion in direct gaming tax revenue paid to state and local governments, not including billions more paid in income, sales and other taxes.
• Policymakers, regulators, consumers and gaming industry stakeholders and allies can find resources to join the fight against illegal gambling at StopIllegalGambling.org.

Methodology
Kantar, on behalf of the AGA, conducted an online survey from August 11-18, 2023, among a nationally representative sample of 2,002 American voters aged 21 and over. The margin of error is +/- 2 percent and greater among subgroups.

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.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released new research providing an in-depth examination of diversity in the gaming industry workforce. The findings show that the gaming industry is more diverse than national and hospitality industry benchmarks and boasts a diverse executive pipeline, while identifying opportunities on gender representation.

“Consumers, policymakers and investors are raising their expectations for all businesses on how they contribute to society beyond the bottom line,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Encompassing data from across commercial, tribal and manufacturing gaming verticals, the survey both highlights our industry’s leadership on diversity while presenting areas for continued progress.”

The study’s findings show tangible results of the industry’s broad reach and commitment to representing local communities:

• More than 6 in 10 (61%) of gaming industry employees are minorities, compared to 52 percent of the broader hospitality industry and 42 percent of the total U.S. workforce.
• 23 percent of gaming employees are Hispanic and 19 percent are Black—both higher than the national workforce and in line with the hospitality industry.
• 60 percent of operator employees are minorities, up nearly 20 percent from 2011 and higher than the hospitality sector and national workforces overall.
• 45 percent of gaming manufacturer employees are minorities, compared to 38 percent of the broader electronic manufacturing workforce.

Importantly, across job levels, gaming’s leadership pipeline is significantly more diverse than national averages at the first/mid-level manager and professional levels: 45 percent of first/mid-level managers are minorities while 43 percent of professionals are minorities, both 10 to 12 points above national and hospitality benchmarks.

Gender diversity presents an opportunity for the industry. Gaming’s workforce is 48 percent female, in line with the national workforce, but representation drops off at more senior level job classifications.

“As today’s report shows, our industry has made impactful strides toward becoming more diverse, but there is more work to do,” added Miller. “The AGA will use this research to engage our membership on how we can collectively advance DEI in gaming in the months and years to come.”

The benchmarking report comes a year after the AGA identified core pillars of ESG in gaming: advancing sustainability, strengthening DEI, investing in communities and leading responsibly.

Methodology
A total of 26 AGA member organizations participated in the study, including companies from the manufacturer (8) and the commercial and tribal operator (18) segments of the gaming industry. Through the EEO-01 form, participants provided gender, race/ethnicity and job classification data for their workforces. Participants submitted data to a third-party accounting firm which calculated the various diversity metrics and safeguarded confidentiality. The data submitted has been reviewed for consistency across participants.

###

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.

Marketing surrounding online sports betting is a constantly evolving landscape. From licensing to the review of advertising language and prohibited phrases, the U.S. has seen many different approaches to this area. Can the industry successfully regulate itself or will regulators need to step in to police the market? Are the recent fines levied in Ohio a sign of a changing regulatory perspective? Will there be a ripple effect in other regulated jurisdictions where previously regulation on marketing was light-touch? Hear from experts in the industry discuss their thoughts on the future of marketing regulation in the U.S.

As part of the the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Get to Know Gaming series, gaming industry stakeholders gathered at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington County, Pennsylvania to discuss gaming’s role in the state as a driver of economic growth and a community partner.

Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula moderated the discussion, beginning by sharing his perspective on gaming’s impact on the local economy, “[The Meadows’ impact] has been substantial. Not only do they employ over 1,000 employees, they also add to our economy, not only in purchasing locally but also in terms of giving back, in terms of community service.”

Bill Miller, AGA president and CEO, framed the discussion with AGA’s research report, Casinos and Communities: Pennsylvania, which was released in conjunction with the panel. Announcing, “Our industry generates $6.3 billion in total economic impact across the Keystone State, providing $1.8 billion in supported wages. Gross gaming revenue taxes alone reached $1.5 billion just last year—this represents 7% of all state sales tax collected throughout Pennsylvania in 2018.”

Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) corroborated these findings, commenting that gaming has been integral to revitalizing Pittsburgh’s North Shore Neighborhood. Reschenthaler also stressed the need to allow the gaming industry to continue to innovate and keep pace with changing demographics, remarking that, “We can only allow the industry to adapt and to grow if we make sure we’re updating the laws and regulations pertaining to gaming.”

Owner of The Ivy Green florist shop, Melissa Green, gave her firsthand account of gaming’s economic ripple effects, “In a one-mile radius from where my shop is, 10 flower shops were open when I purchased my shop and there’s two left.” Adding, “my partnership with the casino probably has prevented me from becoming one of those statistics.”

Continuing the discussion on community impact, North Strabane Township Fire Department Chief Mark Grimm recounted how his department recently partnered with The Meadows to organize the largest Toys for Tots donation in the area. “We do a lot in the community, and I think that one of the partnerships that we’re most proud of is with the casino because we’re both in business for customer service.”

As the conversation turned toward responsible gaming, Tim Wilmott, AGA chairman and Penn National Gaming CEO, explained, “We work with states to make sure that people can self-identify and self-exclude themselves from coming to the [casinos]…we certainly don’t want to have a business that is predicated on or supported by people that cannot control themselves within our environment.”

Representative Reschenthaler further remarked that, “The industry does a really good job of promoting responsible gaming,” adding that taking gambling out of illegal markets allows states to regulate the market, capture tax revenue, and ensure that people can get help if they need it.

Additional panel topics included sports betting and casino tax rates.

Media Highlights

• Bill Miller: Casinos are Job Creators, Community Partners, TRIB Live
• Gaming Industry Boosts Pennsylvania Communities, Casino Beats
• Pennsylvania Cashing In On Economic And Social Contributions of Casinos, PA Online Casino