WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) released new Payments Modernization Policy Principles, reflective of an 18-month, collaborative industry effort, that provide a framework for regulatory flexibility allowing digital payments on the casino floor. The principles come at a time when the majority (57%) of past-year casino visitors report the option for digital or contactless payments on the casino floor is important to them because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enabling payment choice allows casino customers the ability to supplement cash with safe and secure digital payment options on the casino floor. This not only improves responsible gaming efforts by equipping customers with digital tools to help them monitor their gaming and set limits, but also provides operators, regulators, and law enforcement increased transparency into matters of anti-money laundering and monitoring of financial transactions.

“Advancing opportunities for digital payments has been one of our top priorities since my first day at the AGA. It aligns with gaming’s role as a modern, 21^st century industry and bolsters our already rigorous regulatory and responsible gaming measures,” said Bill Miller, AGA president and CEO. “The COVID-19 pandemic made it all the more important to advance our efforts to provide customers with the payment choice they are more comfortable with and have increasingly come to expect in their daily lives.”

Early last year, the AGA convened a working group of members to evaluate the regulatory, processing, and consumer landscape related to expanding payment options on the casino floor. The Payments Modernization Policy Principles, the product of that collaborative effort, seek to educate state and tribal regulators who are considering expanding payment choice:

1. Equip customers with more tools to wager responsibly.
2. Give customers payment choice and convenience.
3. Ensure state laws enable a flexible regulatory approach, capable of keeping pace with evolving forms of digital payments.
4. Address heightened customer public health concerns.
5. Provide customers confidence in digital payment security.
6. Create a uniform regulatory environment for casino operators, suppliers, and regulators.
7. Empower law enforcement to better identify offenders through digital payment analysis.

The principles reflect the AGA’s ongoing coordination with regulators, card networks, responsible gaming and problem gambling advocates, financial institutions, and other key players in the payments ecosystem.

Recent AGA research found that 59 percent of past-year casino visitors are less likely to use cash in their everyday lives because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This translates to customer preferences on the casino floor, as more than half (54%) indicate that they would be very likely to utilize a digital or contactless payment option when they gamble.

The AGA is supporting regulator, operator, and supplier efforts to introduce digital payments as part of a number of contactless measures to promote public health on the casino floor.

More information on the AGA’s payments modernization efforts and the full policy principles are available here.

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About the AGA
The American Gaming Association (AGA) 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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen as the association’s next chairman. The AGA board of directors elected Allen to succeed Aristocrat Technologies CEO and Managing Director Trevor Croker, who has served as AGA chairman since January 2020. His two-year term begins in January 2022.

Allen has served on AGA’s board of directors since 2015, where his leadership and experience has played an integral role in driving association priorities. For twenty years, Allen has led all gaming, hospitality and entertainment operations for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, vastly expanding the tribe’s gaming operations across the state and country.

“This is a pivotal juncture for the gaming industry and I’m honored to serve as the AGA’s next chairman,” said Allen. “The AGA has played an essential role in uniting the industry throughout the pandemic, and I’m thankful to Trevor and the AGA board of directors for entrusting me to help lead the industry’s continued recovery.”

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jim as AGA chairman,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Jim brings decades of experience in commercial casino operations and tribal gaming—a perspective that will be invaluable as we work to set the industry’s agenda, accelerate gaming’s comeback and strengthen our value to communities across the country.”

“Trevor has been a tremendous chairman of the AGA and trusted advisor to me over the past two years, guiding the industry through the most challenging time in its history,” continued Miller. “The AGA and entire gaming community are indebted to his service to the industry.”

“It has been a privilege to serve as AGA chairman,” stated Croker. “I’m incredibly proud of our success in laying the foundation for gaming’s recovery and ensuring our future is brighter than ever. I have the utmost confidence that Jim, Bill and the entire association will continue to lead the gaming industry forward.”

The AGA’s executive committee recently extended Miller’s contract to remain the association’s president and CEO for an additional three years. Since joining in 2019, Miller and the AGA have advanced important industry priorities, including:

• Accelerating gaming’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the industry’s historic inclusion in the CARES Act.
• Securing a favorable regulatory environment for the industry to help pave the way for casino payments modernization and other industry innovation.
• Expanding responsible gaming efforts as the industry grows, including the establishment of AGA’s Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign.
• Amplifying gaming’s voice to the public and policymakers through communications and research and building gaming champions on Capitol Hill.

WASHINGTON – U.S. commercial gaming revenue topped $11 billion in Q1 2021, matching Q3 2019 as the industry’s highest-grossing quarter ever, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. The revenue total marks a 4.1 percent increase over the industry’s pre-pandemic performance in Q1 2019 and is a 17.7 percent increase over Q1 2020, when the entire gaming industry shut down in March due to COVID-19.

Commercial gaming’s strong Q1 revenue numbers signify an accelerating recovery for the industry, with Q1 2021 revenue up 21.1 percent over Q4 2020. Gains in gaming revenue were largely driven by the industry’s performance in March, the highest-grossing revenue month in history for U.S. commercial gaming.

More than half of states with commercial casinos saw quarterly gaming revenue increases over Q1 2019, with several states reporting record quarters.

“Today’s report shows gaming’s comeback is ahead of schedule,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our industry has faced numerous challenges head-on while still reopening responsibly and providing a safe, exciting environment for customers.”

Despite significant COVID-mandated restrictions on casino capacity and amenities across the country, traditional brick-and-mortar casino games generated 90 percent of their Q1 2019 revenue, with March 2021 revenue for slots and table games coming within one percent of March 2019 totals.

Sports betting revenue for Q1 2021 saw a quarterly U.S. record of $961 million, up 270 percent over Q1 2020 and surpassing 2019’s full-year total of $909 million. Boosted by the January launch of online casinos in Michigan, iGaming generated $784 million nationwide in Q1 2021, more than tripling U.S. iGaming revenue from Q1 2020.

“The gaming industry is generating these impressive results with one hand tied behind our back as capacity and amenity restrictions remain across the country,” said Miller. “This is a testament to gaming’s hard work to help ensure our team members’ safety and well-being, which enabled us to reopen safely. We applied those same standards to our customers, whose clear pent-up demand was met by our responsible industry.”

Background

• 30 states and the District of Columbia featured operational commercial gaming markets in Q1 2021, including casino gaming, sports betting and iGaming.
• By the end of Q1, 454 (97.8%) of 464 commercial casinos in the U.S. were open. While some states had returned to full capacity, most U.S. casinos were still operating with capacity restrictions ranging from 25-75%.
• COVID-related restrictions on casino capacity and amenities vary on a state and local level. AGA’s COVID-19 casino tracker is tracking casino capacity restrictions on a state-by-state basis.

WASHINGTON – Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released the 2018 edition of State of the States: The AGA Survey of the Commercial Casino Industry, AGA’s flagship publication. The annual report provides a comprehensive overview of the commercial casino industry and the significant economic impact it has in the 24 U.S. states with commercial gaming operations.

Key findings from the 2018 State of the States report include:

• The commercial gaming industry brought in $40.28 billion in gaming revenue in 2017, a 3.4 percent increase over 2016;
• In 2017, states received $9.23 billion in revenue from commercial gaming taxes alone; and
• 20 commercial casino states experienced revenue increases in 2017, reflecting strong macroeconomic trends and sustained job growth in most parts of the country.

“Each year, AGA’s State of the States report provides the most detailed snapshot available of our complex industry, and the many benefits AGA members provide for their employees, partners and communities,” said Stacy Papadopoulos, interim CEO of the American Gaming Association. “This year’s report demonstrates the commercial gaming industry’s role as a job creator and revenue generator in states across the country, and we’re proud of the industry’s steady growth over the past few years.”

AGA’s annual State of the States report includes state-by-state analyses of revenue, tax data and wage and employment information from the previous year. For the first time, the 2018 edition combines two of AGA’s signature publications: State of the States and U.S. Gaming Industry Review – into one comprehensive overview of the 24 U.S. states with commercial casino gaming. The report also provides a state-by-state breakdown of the legality of types of gaming and number of casinos, as well as a look at the primary competition faced by casinos in each state and summarizes the year’s major gaming policy discussions relevant to gaming operators and suppliers.

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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LAS VEGAS – Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA), with partner Reed Exhibitions, formally announced the cancellation of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the gaming industry’s top global event. The show’s organizers are committed to facilitating economic, education, and networking opportunities for the global gaming industry through a series of virtual G2E events throughout the rest of the year to better reflect the current environment. G2E was scheduled to take place October 5-8, 2020; the next in-person edition of the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) will take place October 4-7, 2021 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

“In light of continued uncertainty around a viable marketplace at a physical G2E show, global travel restrictions, and currently unknown guidance on large public gatherings this fall, we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that we simply cannot hold an in-person G2E this year,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Health and safety have always been our top priority and the uncertainty created by the ongoing pandemic makes this the prudent decision ahead of critical deadlines for exhibitors planning to participate.”

For 20 years, G2E has welcomed nearly 30,000 attendees annually from across the globe, including executives representing key industry partners such as the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, as well as the world’s top casino operators, sports betting companies, and FinTech and digital payments facilitators, among others.

“We arrived at this decision after thoughtfully engaging with national, state, and local public health authorities, as well as exhibitors and buyers who have shared industry observations and priorities. Ultimately, it became clear that proceeding with an in-person gathering simply was not feasible,” said Hervé Sedky, Reed Exhibitions Americas President.

“It is our commitment to use G2E’s platform, as the leading convener of the global gaming community, to continue to deliver unparalleled education content, inspiring collaboration, and innovative ideas as the industry readies for continued growth,” added Sedky.

“As the country works to reopen, the American gaming industry continues to adapt and provide the safest possible experience for our employees and customers while continuing to support the communities in which we operate. We look forward to the moment when we can convene together again with our colleagues from across the world and celebrate the resilience that our industry is known for,” concluded Miller.

The event organizers will announce plans for virtual events and education in the near future.

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About Global Gaming Expo
Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the largest gathering of global commercial and tribal gaming professionals in North America, showcases the latest developments in gaming technology and features new educational content that is fast-paced and actionable. Attendees will experience firsthand the new products and innovative technologies showcased on the expo floor. G2E has everything you need for your casino floor and across your entire operation—from traditional casino fare to non-gaming amenities and digital products—G2E is where business growth is accelerated.

About the 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. The 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 achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.  

About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is a leading global events business. It combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 500 events in almost 30 countries across 43 industry sectors, attracting more than 7 million participants. Our events, organized by 35 global offices, leverage industry expertise, large data sets and technology to enable our customers to generate billions of dollars of revenues for the economic development of local markets and national economies around the world.  Reed Exhibitions is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.reedexhibitions.com

As part of its Get to Know Gaming series, the American Gaming Association (AGA) hosted a panel discussion at the National Minority Supplier Development Council Conference & Business Opportunity Exchange (NMSDC) to highlight casino gaming’s commitment to working with minority and women-owned small businesses.

Geoff Freeman, AGA president and CEO, commented on the event, “The gaming industry’s commitment to a diversified workforce has never been stronger. AGA is proud to partner with the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council and we look forward to actively supporting their mission to advance business connections that count for many years to come.”

The panel was a continuation of the AGA’s American Gaming Small Business Jobs Tour, which highlighted several minority and women-owned businesses throughout the year, including:

• Eastern Food Services, a minority-owned business in Laurel, Maryland that works with MGM National Harbor to provide MLife water bottles to the property.
• St. Louis-based Regents Maintenance Supply, a minority-owned janitorial supplier and equipment provider to the region’s casinos.
• Edwards & Hill Office Furniture, a minority-owned office furniture supply and installation firm in Annapolis, Maryland that works closely with Maryland Live Casino.

Each company said their business grew exponentially thanks to their work with the gaming industry.

As part of its Small Business Tour, the AGA released The Gaming Industry’s Impact on Small Business Development in the United States, a report examining nearly a dozen U.S. gaming markets and assessing casino gaming’s direct and indirect impact on local small businesses. The study concluded that while gaming’s widespread impact is felt in markets across the country, it makes an outsized impact in small to mid-sized communities where local businesses work to integrate into gaming operations.

Nationwide, the report concluded that the casino gaming industry generates $52 billion in annual revenue for American small businesses and supports $13 billion in small business employee wages, amounting to 350,000 jobs. Upwards of half of casino industry-supported jobs are at non-gaming businesses such as local restaurants and shops that see an increase in traffic from nearby casino properties. In addition, $52 billion in annual small business revenues go toward real estate, finance, health care, STEM, manufacturing, information technology, and other industries.

Along with Freeman, the day’s panel included Stacey Taylor, SVP & chief procurement officer, MGM Resorts International; Jessica Rosman, vice president of procurement, Caesars; Renee Boyce, president, CEO and founder, My Next Career Path Staff, LLC.; Jacci Woods, VP of public relations and community affairs, MotorCity Casino Hotel; Paul Jenkins, MiG Construction; and Shaundell Newsome, founder, Sumnu Marketing.

Media Highlights

• AGA Highlights Industry Commitment to Diversity at National Minority Supplier Development Council, CDC Gaming Reports
• Beyond The Neon: American Gaming Association Highlights Industry Commitment To Diversity At National Minority Supplier Development Council, Huffington Post

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.

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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.

WASHINGTON – The Oklahoma casino gaming industry supports more than 75,000 jobs statewide and has an annual economic impact of $9.8 billion, the American Gaming Association (AGA) announced today at a Get to Know Gaming event hosted in Oklahoma City, OK, following a reception yesterday in Tulsa, OK.

AGA’s Get to Know Gaming tour aims to engage local leaders about gaming’s role as a community partner in 40 states across the country. Thursday’s roundtable panel at the Petroleum Club Event Center included members of Congress, Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) and Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05); Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Bill Lance; Choctaw Nation Senior Executive Officer Janie Dillard; Cherokee Nation Dep. Attorney General Chrissi Nimmo; and AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell moderated the discussion.

Today’s event also marked the release of AGA’s latest report, Casinos & Communities Oklahoma, an in-depth look at how the gaming industry supports local communities. According to the research, Oklahoma’s gaming industry supports 75,885 jobs and $4.3 billion in wages in the state. The full report can be viewed here.

“For nearly three decades, sovereign tribal nations and gaming companies have been engines of growth and opportunity in the state of Oklahoma, creating partnerships with local organizations, supporting small businesses and providing good jobs for workers of all backgrounds,” said Bill Miller, President and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association. “Today, we’re pleased to spotlight how the relationships between Oklahoma’s tribal nations, elected officials, small business owners and community leaders serve as a model of success for states around the nation.”

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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