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
Entain
Advancing Sustainability
Lowering Carbon Emissions
In 2018, Entain set a target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15 percent per colleague by the end of 2021 and achieved this target early. While this decrease in emissions was expedited by the pandemic and resulting shop and office closures, data demonstrate Entain was already on track to achieving its goal based on pre-pandemic GHG emissions.
In early 2021, Entain committed to net zero GHG emissions by no later than 2035, 15 years ahead of the 2050 target for carbon neutrality set by the Paris Agreement. The Company also invested in GHG offsets for the first time in 2020. It purchased its offsets from Brynk, an independent platform that facilitates tree planting and reforestation projects. By 2023, these investments alone are predicted to offset its global Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Entain also works with its suppliers to decarbonize the supply chain. As one example, Entain is highly engaged with its major third-party data centers, which make up most of the Company’s data center energy consumption.
Additionally, Entain started to focus in 2021 on increasing efficiency and transparency of minor suppliers in order to reduce Scope 3 emissions.
To integrate our commitment internally, Entain’s Green Ambassador program consists of 120 employees that work to identify practical ways they can improve environmental efficiency in the workplace.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Increasing Board and Management Diversity
Twenty three percent of Entain’s Senior Management are women, which represents an improvement over the previous three years. Entain is working to continue the trend to realize additional improvement. Women now make up 40 percent of the Board of Directors.
Strengthening Employee DEI
Entain recognizes the need to strengthen diversity within its Company to remain at the forefront of customers’ needs and innovation. It launched its international diversity and inclusion strategy in 2018, “Everyone’s in the Game,” to create a more inclusive business within three years in four main areas: recruitment, progress and policy, people development, and awareness and education. Currently, women make up 47 percent of Entain’s total employee population.
Supporting Racial Equality and Social Justice Efforts
Entain actively supports diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry through the All-in Diversity Project, an industry-driven initiative that highlights diversity, equality and inclusion for the global betting and gaming sector.
Entain Foundation
In September 2019, the Entain Foundation committed to donating more than $131 million over five years to projects and foundations related to responsible betting and gaming, recreational sports, diversity in technology and local community projects near Entain’s offices.
Investing in Communities
Expanding Education and Career Opportunities
Entain launched two initiatives in early 2021 for young women interested in pursuing careers in technology. Additionally, Entain supports Girls Who Code and Tech Girls Movement in Australia. Currently, women make up 30 percent of Entain’s technical roles.
7 Principles for Safer Betting and Gaming
Entain has established seven principles that aim to make betting and gaming safer than ever before:
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- Understanding the problem by funding research to find the best possible solutions.
- Educating stakeholders about the potential risks of gambling and how to avoid them.
- Promoting responsible attitudes through advertising, marketing, and sponsorships.
- Empowering customers by adding features that help customers gamble safely.
- Funding addiction treatment.
- Championing responsible product design principles to make sure products are as safe as they are fun.
- Changing gaming for the better by making it safer across the board.
Responsible Leadership
Educating Customers
Entain aims to educate its customers through the Advanced Responsibility and Care Program, which utilizes evidence-based markers to identify risky behaviors.
Establishing and Following Rigorous Business Standards
In 2020, Entain continued to grow its responsibility programs by introducing its Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC) program. The strategy is fully aligned with the UK Gambling Commission’s principal objectives to ensure betting and gaming is crime-free, fair, conducted openly and protects children and other vulnerable persons.
Training Employees
All team members are trained on safer betting and gambling practices. Starting in 2021, Entain employees were assessed on whether certain milestones of the (ARC) Program have been achieved.
Investing in Research and Partnering with Advocacy Groups
In 2021, Entain increased its research, education and treatment (RET) for problem gambling with a commitment to increasing RET to 1 percent of gross gaming yield by 2023. This commitment exceeds the four largest operators in the UK. Entain is on track to realize this commitment in 2022, a full year early.
Entain will continue to compile evidence and coordinate its response with other betting and gaming operators within the gaming industry.
Entain partners with The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) as well as Cognacity at Lean House to help young people avoid gambling related harm through education, safeguarding, and treatment services.
Supporting the Legal Sports Betting Market
Since the federal ban was overturned in 2018, states and sovereign tribal nations have had the opportunity to establish frameworks for legal sports betting, which protect consumers and create tax benefits for local communities.
Embracing America’s Passion Through Effective Regulation
In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a decades-old federal law that prevented states other than Nevada from allowing legal, regulated wagers on collegiate and professional sports. This federal prohibition inadvertently created a massive illegal market — along with a myriad of associated public policy problems.
The Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision was a win for millions of Americans who seek to participate in sports wagering in a safe, legal and regulated manner. States and tribal nations can now set their own policies to legalize and regulate sports betting in an effective manner that protects consumers and creates tax benefits for local communities.
Since May 2018, sports betting is legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C., and has generated more than $2.45 billion in federal, state and local taxes.* This tax revenue funds infrastructure, education, responsible gaming education, problem gambling services, and other core priorities.
*Based on AGA’s compilation of state gaming regulator reporting and estimates of federal excise tax.
Repealing Federal Excise Tax on Sports Betting
The Internal Revenue Code currently imposes a federal excise tax of 0.25 percent on the amount of any legal sports wager with a sportsbook, as well as an additional $50 annual head tax for every employee engaged in receiving wagers for or on behalf of any legal sports betting operator. This tax was established in the 1950s, not as a revenue source, but rather as a tool for prosecuting illegal bookmaking operations that didn’t pay the tax.
Currently, this tax serves no dedicated purpose and represents an added operating cost to legal sportsbooks that illegal operators do not pay, further impeding customers’ move away from the predatory, illegal market to safe, regulated sports betting channels. Congress can help empower the success of a safe, regulated marketplace by repealing the federal excise tax that unnecessarily disadvantages legal sports betting operations.
Resources
Bringing Gaming Together to lead gaming forward
As the premier national trade group for the U.S. casino industry, the AGA fosters a policy and business environment where legal, regulated gaming thrives.
Our Strategic Pillars
AGA leads a rigorous, inclusive process to define our industry’s positions on all significant issues. We support policies that promote industry reinvestment and innovation. We prioritize issues that provide our industry and members the most leverage and greatest business value.
Gaming by the Numbers
America’s gaming industry is an economic powerhouse that improves communities across the country by providing new job opportunities,
a diversified tax base, and a broad set of entertainment options.
Our Membership
AGA represents U.S. gaming industry stakeholders and serves as the single most effective advocate for commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and allies in the gaming industry, which includes financial institutions, industry vendors, state associations and media.
Core Members
Commercial Operators
Bally’s Corporation
bet365
Churchill Downs
Circa Resorts LLC
The Cordish Companies
Delaware North
DraftKings, Inc.
ECL Entertainment, LLC
Entain PLC
Fanatics Betting & Gaming
FanDuel Group
Genting Americas, Inc.
Greenwood Racing
J&J Ventures Gaming, LLC
Las Vegas Sands
MGM Resorts International
PENN Entertainment
Rush Street Gaming
South Point Hotel & Casino
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
VICI Properties, Inc.
Wynn Resorts
Tribal Operators
Cherokee Nation Entertainment, LLC
The Chickasaw Nation
Choctaw Nation
FireKeepers Casino Hotel
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
Seminole Hard Rock Gaming
Wind Creek Hospitality
Diversified Gaming Suppliers
Ainsworth Game Technology
Aristocrat Technologies
Bluberi
Everi
Evolution
Games Global
GeoComply
IGT
Incredible Technologies
Interblock
Konami Gaming
Light & Wonder
Novomatic
OpenBet
Playtech
Sportradar
Independent Testing Labs
BMM Testlabs
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI)
Payment & Transaction Systems
FABICash
JCM Global
NRT Tech
Nuvei Technologies Inc.
Pavilion Payments
PayNearMe
Paysafe
Shift4
Sightline
Trustly
Worldpay
Ally Members
Financial Institutions
Raymond James
Non-Gaming Vendor: B2B
Covington & Burling LLP
Fitch Ratings
Garmisch Gaming Consultants
State Associations
Casino Association of Indiana
Colorado Gaming Association
Illinois Casino Gaming Association
Iowa Gaming Association
Louisiana Casino Association
Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association
Missouri Gaming Association
Nevada Resort Association