WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Football Team has joined the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign, making it the first National Football League (NFL) team to partner with the AGA to promote responsible sports betting.
The Washington Football Team will connect Have A Game Plan in-stadium activations, sponsored content on washingtonfootball.com, and campaign promotion on the team’s upcoming preseason radio and television broadcasts.
“With legal sports betting now permitted across our region, we are ensuring responsible gaming serves as a foundation for how we engage in this exciting commercial market,” said Washington Football Team’s Chief Partnership Officer Scott Shepherd. “We’re not only proud to partner with the AGA, the architect of Have A Game Plan, but also proud to lead by educating fans as they enjoy football in an engaging, new way.”
“Getting sports betting right is a shared responsibility for everyone involved,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “The Washington Football Team’s partnership demonstrates their leadership and commitment to making responsibility core to their sports betting strategy. Today’s announcement puts Have A Game Plan in front of more fans and is a step further in building a responsible, sustainable legal market.”
The season-long campaign will launch during the team’s first home preseason game on August 20 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. The Washington Football Team’s preseason radio and television broadcasts will include 20-second spots encouraging fans to bet responsibly and directing fans to AGA’s Have a Game Plan website for resources and other information.
Sports betting is now legal and live in 22 states and the District of Columbia. During the NFL season, six additional states are expected to launch. The NFL has a long-standing partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling.
The AGA launched Have a Game Plan in late 2019 to educate sports fans on the principles of responsible sports betting. As the first NFL team to join the campaign, the Washington Football Team joins official campaign partners DraftKings, FanDuel, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, NHL, PGA TOUR, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Vegas Golden Knights, and UFC.
About the Washington Football Team
Headquartered at Inova Sports Performance Center in Ashburn, Virginia, and owned by Dan and Tanya Snyder since 1999, the historic Washington Football Team has won five World Championship titles including the 1937 and 1942 National Football League Championship games, as well as Super Bowls XVII, XXII and XXVI. Founded in 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts, the team relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1937. Since then, the Washington Football Team has become one of the most recognizable professional sports franchises in history, featuring multiple Hall of Fame coaches, 19 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and one recipient of the Walter Payton Man of The Year Award, Darrell Green. Since 1997, the Team has played their home games at FedExField, a multi-purpose stadium located in Landover, MD.
To mark the 20th anniversary of Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), the American Gaming Association (AGA) hosted a roundtable in Atlantic City, NJ to highlight the industry’s commitment to this important issue.
Resources
Press Coverage Summary
CDC Gaming Reports – AGA Unites with Gaming Leaders to Underscore Industry-Wide Commitment to Responsible Gaming
CDC Gaming Reports – AGA: As gaming continues to evolve, so must responsible gaming efforts
Press of Atlantic City – American Gaming Association releases responsible gaming code
Seminole Gaming & Hard Rock
“Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming are built on shared values, expressed in our mottos Unconquered Vision, Love All Serve All, Take Time to Be Kind, and All is One. We draw upon our rich heritage of community investment, philanthropy and responsible gaming to grow and evolve who we are with expanded efforts in the areas of DEI and sustainability.”
Advancing Sustainability
Lowering Carbon Emissions
100 percent of surveyed Hard Rock properties utilize some form of renewable energy, and six properties source between 25 and 100 percent of energy from renewables. More than 80 percent of properties have a plan to reduce energy along with various HVAC efficiencies.
In 2019, Hard Rock joined the WWF’s Earth Hour Movement. In 2021, it conserved more than 200,000 kilowatts of energy. 24 hotels, 10 casinos, and 67 cafes participated by turning off non-essential lights for an hour and hosting special performances and events. In 2020, proceeds from a co-branded “Save the Planet” t-shirt made with recycled yarns to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contributed $50,000 to WWF’s conservation programs.
Reducing Resource Consumption & Waste
The “Save The Planet” motto has been a part of Hard Rock Seminole’s culture for decades, inspiring positive sustainability action, operational improvements, energy and water efficiency and diverted waste. Hard Rock Seminole forges partnerships with environmental organizations and best practice collaborations with vendors.
To date, 83 percent of surveyed properties have fully eliminated plastic straws, have implemented water efficient technologies, and eliminated a guest-facing waste item or replaced it with an environmentally friendly version.
Since 2018, Hard Rock has partnered with Clean the World, converting containers of leftover soap and hygiene products into Clean the World Hygiene Kits. Kits are donated to shelters, disaster recovery organizations and food pantries to help fight preventable diseases worldwide. To date, the program has diverted 13,660 pounds of plastic waste and distributed almost 66,370 bars of soap.
Strengthening Diversity & Inclusion
Strengthening Employee DEI
Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming work to be the employer of choice for diverse talent and are building a culture of inclusion and driving equitable practices. Chairman and CEO Jim Allen’s commitments to DEI began in December 2020 with the selection of Stephanie Piimauna, SVP & Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. She immediately began to develop and implement a a robust and comprehensive DEI strategy.
The company has instituted programs to support diverse hiring and the development and advancement at the manager, director, vice president and above levels. In addition, a diverse slate policy and diverse sourcing strategy is underway. The company has also enhanced career advancement programs for Women in Leadership as well as the Tribal Career Development Program.
Beginning in January 2022, new workforce demographic dashboards will allow the company to track and report diversity progress as well as employee engagement.
Supporting Racial Equality and Social Justice Efforts
Seminole Hard Rock developed and launched ongoing unconscious bias workshops in 2021 for all employees. With a measurable goal of 20 percent employee participation by the end of 2022, these interactive experiences focus on minimizing the impact of bias in day-to-day practices and actions.
Save the Planet Practice Library
Harnessing the power of Hard Rock’s global footprint, the Save the Planet Practice Library shares best sustainability practices across casinos, hotel and cafes by presenting short case studies implemented by at least one of Hard Rock’s 200+ properties. The library outlines the business case for implementing initiatives like introducing re-fillable water bottles, diverting waste and working with community partners. The library is updated regularly, sharing ideas that lead to immediate action worldwide.
Investing in Communities
Delivering in Times of Crisis
To support team members during the pandemic, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Hard Rock International contributed more than $90 million to continuation of pay, benefit extensions and grocery gift cards during closures.
Love All-Serve All
Hard Rock’s Love All-Serve All philosophy guides its philanthropic activities aimed at advancing environmental sustainability, social conditions, health, wellness, economic well-being and disaster relief.
The Hard Rock Heals Foundation has invested more than eight million dollars in causes including autism awareness, cancer prevention, human trafficking prevention, hunger relief, children’s hospice care, elderly learning, cognitive training, peace-building in war-torn regions and improving socioeconomic circumstances. The foundation supports programs that inspire people’s connection to music, including education, artistic development, culture, history and performance.
PINKTOBER: $10 Million+ raised for breast cancer research and education over 20 years
FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER: $6.8 million raised in partnership with WhyHunger since 2018 to combat global hunger and poverty,
HARD ROCK HEALS: $8 million+ invested to support music-based programs and partnerships around the world.
Responsible Leadership
Protecting & Empowering Consumers
Responsible gambling succeeds when education helps prevent risk for new, casual and regular players, and when those experiencing risk and harm get the help they need.
Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock’s award-winning PlayersEdge program measures interactions employees have on the gaming floor, message-reach for players, and helping those who need resources to find them. To date, PlayersEdge has delivered:
- 10 percent increase in casino players seeking treatment based
- 3+ million educational impressions
- 18,234 team members trained online
- 1,502 supervisors trained in classroom
- 92 percent evaluation scores of training
The Hard Rock Game Plan Challenge has reached more than 14,000 U.S. high school students in classrooms across 47 states, teaching them to avoid risks common to both social/console games and gambling. Hard Rock also partners with and funds gambling addiction services in Florida.
Training Employees
Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming’s PlayersEdge casino team member training program received the 2020 National Council on Problem Gambling Corporate Responsibility Award, an annual recognition for one organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to social responsibility as it relates to problem gambling.
Anti-Human Trafficking
To combat human trafficking, Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock have implemented training and education programs across all managed and franchised casinos, hotels and casino-hotels. Training 27,000+ team members have been trained to detect and respond to signs of trafficking
In November 2021, Hard Rock launched the Social Identity Quest (SIQ) in partnership with ECPAT-USA. Across U.S. high schools, youth are challenges youth to examine how they express themselves online and reduce the risks of being lured. To date, 300,000+ students have completed SIQ in 44 states
On average, students demonstrate a 12 percent increase in online safety literacy, based on evaluation of learning.
Washington, D.C. – The American Gaming Association (AGA) board of directors elected Michael Rumbolz, Executive Chair of the Board of Everi Holdings Inc., as the association’s new chairman. He will succeed Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen, who has served as AGA chairman since January 2022. Rumbolz begins his two-year term in January 2024.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to help shape gaming’s future as the AGA’s next chair,” said Rumbolz. “From stopping illegal gambling to evolving responsible gambling, the AGA is tackling transformational issues and I am eager to build on the progress made during Jim’s tenure.”
Working from a busboy to the c-suite, Rumbolz’s career spans all levels and aspects of the gaming industry with experience encompassing gaming equipment manufacturing and distribution; hotel and casino operations; casino fintech; digital gaming; and gaming legislation and regulation. Rumbolz previously served as President and CEO of Everi, Member and Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and Chief Deputy Attorney General of Nevada.
“It’s an honor to welcome Mike—an industry legend in his own right—as the next AGA chairman,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Mike’s career as an operator, manufacturer and regulator is unparalleled and will be vital to driving meaningful progress on industry priorities.”
During Allen’s tenure as chairman, the AGA supported the industry’s record-setting COVID recovery while working to evolve the industry’s approach to responsible gaming and launching a new effort to stop illegal gambling.
“Jim’s knowledge, insight and guidance have helped the AGA advance our mission and maximize our impact for the industry. He’s been a trusted advisor to me, and I am thankful for his partnership over the last two years,” Miller continued.
“Our industry and this association have never been stronger. I am immensely proud of our success over the last two years accelerating gaming’s recovery while defining and advancing new priorities,” said Allen. “The AGA is well-positioned under Mike and Bill’s leadership.”
WASHINGTON – American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Bill Miller delivered remarks today on the future of gaming’s recovery, policy developments for gaming in Washington, DC, and AGA’s priorities for 2021.
Miller cited vaccine distribution, responsible reopening, and consumer confidence as reasons for optimism in the coming year, “There’s huge pent-up demand for gaming—and I’m upbeat about the second half of the year in particular. As vaccines roll out, people will be excited to travel, hungry for entertainment, and desperate to get out and have fun again. That’s an environment where gaming will thrive.”
AGA research shows one-in-three American adults plan to visit a casino in 2021—the highest rate since the AGA began tracking last March. Eighty percent of future casino visitors agree the industry has done a good job at safely reopening.
Miller emphasized that the AGA’s singular agenda in 2021 is accelerating the gaming industry’s recovery, highlighting four areas of focus:
- Securing additional COVID-19 economic relief for the industry through temporary liability protections, investment in travel and tourism, supportive tax policy, and additional tribal relief.
- Developing gaming champions on Capitol Hill and in the Biden administration.
- Blocking harmful policies and advance specific reforms to enhance industry competitiveness.
- Using proprietary research and strategic communication efforts to ensure the gaming industry is heard.
“We come into 2021 with a strong foundation, a clear focus, record levels of support among Americans, and a loyal customer base that wants the excitement only gaming can deliver,” concluded Miller.
Miller’s remarks referenced three new AGA resources that were released today:
- AGA’s Accelerating Gaming’s Recovery priorities, which provide industry stakeholders with a detailed outline of the association’s 2021 priorities.
- Casinos & Communities: COVID-19 Response, which spotlights first-hand accounts of how the gaming industry has supported its communities, aided frontline workers, and responsibly reopened throughout the pandemic.
- Miller’s letter to the 117th Congress, which highlights AGA’s economic importance to the U.S. economy and details gaming’s federal policy agenda for accelerating recovery.
Advocacy in action
AGA unites the American gaming industry to advance a policy agenda that ensures gaming thrives and contributes to local communities. We advocate for casino operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and employees, speaking for the industry on a range of business, legislative, and regulatory issues.
Policies
Congressional Gaming Caucus
The Congressional Gaming Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Dina Titus (D-NV), serves as a key advocate for the gaming industry on Capitol Hill. Through collaboration with AGA, the bipartisan, geographical diverse caucus champions policies that support responsible growth, protect jobs, and ensure the industry’s ongoing success across the country.
AGA PAC
Strengthen the gaming industry’s efforts to foster congressional champions. With countless interests competing for attention in today’s political environment, AGA’s bipartisan political action committee (PAC) raises awareness and extends the gaming industry’s reach in Washington, D.C.
This critical tool gives our industry the edge it needs to support lawmakers who share the industry’s perspective on key issues.
WASHINGTON – The Iowa gaming industry employs over 15,000 people statewide, supports $618 million in wages and has a total economic impact of $2.5 billion, the American Gaming Association (AGA) announced today at a Get to Know Gaming event hosted in Des Moines. AGA welcomed local business and non-profit leaders to today’s event which highlighted the productive partnership between gaming and the state of Iowa.
Friday’s event is part of AGA’s Get to Know Gaming campaign, which aims to educate local leaders about gaming’s role as a community partner in 40 states across the country.
Today’s event also marked the release of AGA’s latest report, Casinos & Communities Iowa, an in-depth look at how the gaming industry supports local communities through small business investments, non-profit partnerships and local workforce initiatives. The full report can be viewed here.
“For more than a quarter century, Iowa has benefited from the significant impact of gaming on local communities,” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs of AGA. “The economic impact of gaming runs deep in Iowa, with the industry generating over $300 million in gaming tax revenues annually and creating nearly twice as many jobs as the Iowa utilities sector. We as an industry remain focused on engaging with communities, supporting small businesses and creating stable jobs across the Hawkeye state, and the new Casinos and Communities Iowa research demonstrates the results of that commitment.”
“We are proud to call Polk County our home,” stated Brad Rhines, Chief Strategic Officer of Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel. “As you heard today, there is a real commitment in our industry to give back to the communities we serve. Since 1996, we have distributed more than $1.69 billion throughout the county and state, along with supporting dozens of area non-profits through our grant programs, event sponsorships, and in-kind donations.”
Friday’s roundtable in Des Moines included Wes Ehrecke, president and CEO of the Iowa Gaming Association; Paul Czak, vice president and general manager of Ameristar Council Bluffs; Brad Rhines, senior vice president and chief strategic officer at Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel; Angela Dethlefs-Trettin, chief community impact officer, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; Dory Briles, executive director, Des Moines Public Library Foundation; State Sen. Jake Chapman; and Slane.
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, as well as 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 – U.S. commercial gaming revenue for Q3 2020 totaled $9.04 billion, reaching 81 percent of the industry’s pre-COVID levels in Q3 2019, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. Q3 revenue is up 294% from the historic lows of Q2, caused by pandemic-driven, mandatory closures.
COVID-19 health and safety measures, including social distancing and capacity restrictions, have contributed to the gaming industry’s recovery lagging the country’s broader economic recovery. Gaming revenue is down 36.5 percent year-over-year (YoY) in the first nine months of 2020, compared to the U.S. GDP’s three percent decline in the same period.
“Our industry continues to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, customers, and communities above all else,” said Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO. “While these quarterly results are promising, the reality is a full recovery is dependent on continued public health measures to control prevalence rates.”
“As state and local officials respond to current COVID-19 outbreaks with additional restrictions, urgent Congressional action to provide COVID-19 relief is even more crucial. Gaming employees and communities depend on it,” Miller added.
More than 100 casinos reopened between July and September with 902 commercial and tribal casinos (90.8% of total) operational by the end of the third quarter, compared to 800 (80.8% of total) at the start of July.
Many states that saw encouraging gaming revenue growth in Q2 continued the positive trend in Q3 despite continued capacity restraints. Five states—Arkansas (+.3%), Mississippi (2.8%), Ohio (+7.5%), Pennsylvania (+3.8%), and South Dakota (+6.1%)—outperformed their Q3 2019 revenue figures. Looking only at the most recent month, September, the recovery trends continue with both Maryland (+1%) and New Jersey (+6.5%) also returning to YoY gaming revenue growth.
While nationwide slot and table game revenue remained down compared to Q3 2019, sports betting revenue bounced back in Q3 2020, bolstered by an unusually crowded sports calendar and strong consumer interest in new legal betting markets in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. Americans legally wagered a record $5.95 billion in Q3, generating $352.3 million in gaming revenue—the second-highest ever quarterly total.
iGaming continued to grow in Q3 2020, due, in part, to West Virginia launching in July. iGaming generated $435 million in Q3, up eight percent from Q2 and 232 percent from Q3 2019.
Background
- To date, 911 of 994 U.S. casinos properties across 40 states have partially reopened. This includes 442 commercial casinos (94.7% of total) and 469 tribal properties (89% of total).
- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a mandatory re-closure of casinos on Nov. 15, effective Nov. 18. Since late October, other states have taken steps to introduce overnight curfews or further restrict casino capacity.
- The AGA’s COVID-19 casino tracker lists the reopening status of every U.S. casino.
About the Report
AGA’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker provides state-by-state and cumulative insight into the U.S. commercial gaming industry’s financial performance based on state revenue reports. This issue highlights third quarter results, ending September 30 (Q3 2020), and year-to-date comparisons.
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.
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WASHINGTON – New research released today at a Get to Know Gaming event at the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, Mississippi, shows the Mississippi casino gaming industry strengthens communities by providing good jobs, supporting small businesses, and partnering with local charities.
The American Gaming Association’s (AGA) newest report, Casinos & Communities: Mississippi, provides an up-close look at the gaming industry’s economic and social contributions to communities in the Magnolia State. This new research 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 local nonprofit leaders, business owners, and elected officials.
“Mississippi’s gaming industry has been a true leader nationally, demonstrating to the rest of the country how a policy framework focused on growth and opportunity can take an industry to new heights,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “I’m amazed at how this industry, which began with dockside casinos, has expanded into an economic juggernaut for this state, turning around communities and supporting its neighbors at every turn.”
AGA’s Get to Know Gaming campaign engages local leaders in a discussion about the critical role gaming plays as a community partner. Wednesday’s Get to Know Gaming roundtable panel included Richard Bennett, state representative, Mississippi Legislature; Allen Godfrey, executive director, Mississippi Gaming Commission; Mike Alise, owner of Gulf Coast Produce; John McFarland, executive director, southeast Mississippi chapter of the American Red Cross; Duncan McKenzie, general manager, IP Casino Resort Spa; and Miller. Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, moderated the panel. You can view a recording of this morning’s discussion here.
Gaming industry stakeholders and local media packed a lecture hall at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute to hear remarks from:
- U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV);
- Dr. Bo Bernhard, executive director, International Gaming Institute, UNLV;
- Robin Bernhard, senior manager, marketing & education, BMM Testlabs;
- Jennifer Shatley, responsible gaming policies and compliance specialist, Caesars Entertainment;
- Connie Jones, director of responsible gaming, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers; and
- Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs, American Gaming Association.
Resources
Press Coverage Summary
Las Vegas Review-Journal – AGA expanding code of conduct for responsible gaming
Gambling Compliance – Responsible Gaming Advocates Hope Lawmakers Pass Legislation To Help Consumers
Associated Press – Casino trade group updates rules to include sports betting