WASHINGTON – American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Bill Miller released the following statement on the Nevada Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 4:

“The AGA and our members applaud the bipartisan effort by the Nevada Legislature and Governor Sisolak to protect all businesses by limiting exposure to potential COVID-related lawsuits. This allows our members to focus on what’s most needed right now: sustained economic and community recovery.

“As the gaming industry responsibly reopens across the country, it continues to adapt in incredible ways to protect the health and safety of workers and customers. Gaming properties, led by our deep-rooted culture of compliance, continue to follow, and often exceed, government reopening guidelines nationwide.

“While we have worked diligently to safely reopen our doors and welcome our team members back to work, we remain concerned that already-suffering gaming businesses will be forced to defend against an onslaught of frivolous lawsuits. Capacity restrictions and significant safety expenditures are already taking their toll. This bill helps to mitigate the costs of burdensome litigation that will ultimately affect state and local taxes and jobs.

“But, this is truly a national crisis. It is incumbent upon Congress and the administration to follow Nevada’s leadership and enact timely, targeted, and temporary liability relief provisions to safeguard responsible actors against frivolous lawsuits. This protection is essential for businesses to continue to contribute to a safe and effective economic recovery from the pandemic.”

Background

• The AGA joined a coalition of nearly 500 business organizations in calling on Congress to promptly address the liability issue at a national level.
• To date, 850 of 990 U.S. casinos properties across 39 states have partially reopened. This includes 417 commercial casinos (89.7% of total) and 433 tribal properties (82.4% of total). The AGA’s COVID-19 casino tracker lists the reopening status of every U.S. casino.
• Read an overview of the various practices that gaming companies may implement based on a review of member health and safety plans.

Among Americans familiar with unregulated “skill” machines, a decisive majority recognize that these devices are games of chance, not skill, according to 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.

“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 gaming machines in the U.S.

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 far lower 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.

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 keep 25 cents.

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.

“Skill machines” were defined as machines located in gas stations, truck stops, bars, taverns, restaurants, convenience stores, strip malls or other non-casino locations that resemble and often function like casino slot machines, in that a player inserts money for the chance to win more money. They often include player interaction beyond pressing a button and sometimes include memorization games, using hand-eye coordination, or demonstrating knowledge of the game mechanics.

The American Gaming Association released the following statement after Gov. Pritzker signed a bill to legalize sports betting in Illinois:

“Today, Illinois became the 17th U.S. jurisdiction to legalize sports betting, joining a growing number of states that have taken action since the Supreme Court deemed PASPA unconstitutional last year,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “As the state rolls out its sports betting framework, it’s critical that Illinois sports teams and other newcomers to the gaming business follow the lead of the state’s licensed gaming operators in advancing responsible gaming practices that ensure protections for consumers, bets and game integrity.”

WASHINGTON – American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Bill Miller released the following statement on bipartisan legislation introduced today by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) that would repeal the federal sports betting excise tax on legal operators:

“The federal sports betting excise tax was enacted more than 70 years ago as a tool to prosecute illegal sports betting operators. Today, with sports betting legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C., this antiquated tax puts legal operators at a competitive disadvantage and rewards illegal offshore bookmakers that pay no federal or state taxes, offer no responsible gaming tools, and have no systems in place to prevent underage customers from using their platforms.

The AGA is grateful to Senators Cortez Masto and Hyde-Smith for their commitment to providing a safe, responsible sports betting market and to continuing to help migrate bettors out of the illegal market, which is bereft of consumer protections and a haven for bad actors and tax evaders. The AGA will continue to work with policymakers to enact legislation to address this harmful tax.”

Background

• The Internal Revenue Code currently imposes a federal excise tax of 0.25% on the amount of any legal sports wager, 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 is applied to the amount wagered and not the revenue, unlike any other excise tax. Meanwhile, the $50 head tax on each sportsbook employee further discourages job creation.
• Established in 1951, the excise tax was never intended to be a revenue source, but rather a tool for prosecuting illegal bookmaking operations that did not pay the tax.
• Even before paying the federal excise tax, sportsbooks are low margin businesses with high operating costs including licensing fees, state taxes and other compliance expenses.

 

It’s been one year since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the failed federal ban on sports betting.

At the American Gaming Association (AGA), we’ve made it a priority to understand how the expansion of legal markets affects consumers, operators, governments, leagues and other stakeholders.

Check out the one pagers on the right of this page for AGA’s top research on sports betting and an infographic showing all of the progress from the past year.

Washington, D.C. – American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement after the announcement of the Supreme Court’s opinion on Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Court’s ruling on the case today determined that the federal ban on sports betting as established by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) is unconstitutional, paving the way for the legalization of sports betting in all 50 states.

“Today’s decision is a victory for the millions of Americans who seek to bet on sports in a safe and regulated manner. According to a Washington Post survey, a solid 55 percent of Americans believe it’s time to end the federal ban on sports betting. Today’s ruling makes it possible for states and sovereign tribal nations to give Americans what they want: an open, transparent, and responsible market for sports betting. Through smart, efficient regulation this new market will protect consumers, preserve the integrity of the games we love, empower law enforcement to fight illegal gambling, and generate new revenue for states, sporting bodies, broadcasters and many others. The AGA stands ready to work with all stakeholders – states, tribes, sports leagues, and law enforcement – to create a new regulatory environment that capitalizes on this opportunity to engage fans and boost local economies.”

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $240 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.7 million jobs in 40 states. 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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A record 45.2 million Americans (18%) plan to wager on the 2021 National Football League (NFL) season, according to research released today by the American Gaming Association (AGA). Compared to last year, 36 percent more Americans will place a bet on the league’s games this season.

The sharp rise in betting plans this year can be traced to the expansion of legal sports betting options and increased enthusiasm overall for the upcoming season. Fans in 18 states and Washington, DC had access to operational, legal sports betting at the start of the 2020 season. As the 2021 season kicks off, Americans will be able to place legal sports wagers in 26 states and Washington, DC, with five additional states likely to offer legal sports betting by the end of the season.*

“Sports betting is more popular than ever among Americans, and the enthusiasm of bettors for the upcoming NFL season highlights the remarkable growth of the industry over the past three years,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Importantly, when the 2021 NFL season begins, more than 111 million* American adults will be able to wager safely with regulated sportsbooks in their home states rather than with the predatory illegal market.”

While NFL betting is projected to be up across all wagering methods, betting with online sportsbooks is expected to see the largest increase over 2020 while illegal bookies are expected to see the slowest growth:

• 21.7 million American adults will bet on the 2021 NFL season casually with friends, up 31 percent from 2020.
• 19.5 million will place a bet online (legal and illegal), up 73 percent from 2020.
• 14.6 million will participate in a paid fantasy contest or other type of pool competition, up 69 percent from 2021.
• 10.5 million will place a bet at a physical casino sportsbook, up 58 percent from 2020.
• 6.7 million will place a bet with a bookie, up 13 percent from 2020.

AGA research also shows sports betting’s significant value to the league, with 37 percent of NFL fans planning to wager on this year’s NFL season, including nearly half (47%) of self-described avid NFL fans. Moreover, 44 percent of all Americans and 63 percent of NFL fans believe that in-venue sportsbooks will add entertainment value to attending sporting events in-person.

Along with the expansion of the legal market, increased fan enthusiasm will also drive NFL betting this year, as 25 percent of Americans say they are more excited about the upcoming season than previous seasons, up from 18 percent last year.

Fans from the Northeast (21%) are most interested in betting on the NFL this year, followed by the West (18%), Midwest (17%) and South (15%).

“Fans are the heartbeat of professional sports, and leagues like the NFL are realizing the full potential of sports betting to drive fan engagement,” added Miller. “To capitalize on this tremendous opportunity, the NFL and its 32 teams must also realize their responsibility to educate fans and promote responsible gaming.”

Among expected bettors, the Chiefs are the most popular pick to win the Super Bowl (15%), followed by the Buccaneers (11%) and Cowboys (7%).

*Includes anticipated launch of Arizona, South Dakota, and Washington by NFL kick-off on Sept. 9.

Background

• The NFL and its teams have formed 52 data sharing and marketing partnerships since May 2018.
• Sports betting is currently legal in 32 states and Washington, DC, with 26 jurisdictions already offering operational markets and seven legal markets yet to launch. 16 of the 23 states that are home to NFL teams have legalized sports betting.
• Americans have legally wagered nearly $27 billion on sports in the first seven months of 2021, generating more than $350 million in federal, state, and local taxes.
• AGA’s interactive sports betting map tracks sports betting legalization, including active legislation, on a state-by-state basis.
• AGA’s Have A Game Plan.^®Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign brings together sports leagues and teams, media, and gaming companies to promote sports betting education. The Washington Football Team is the first NFL team partner with the campaign.

Methodology

Morning Consult, on behalf of the American Gaming Association, conducted an online survey August 25-30, 2021 among a national sample of 2,200 American adults. The data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, educational attainment, gender, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/-2 percent.

Mark your calendar for the 6th annual Regulator Roundtable presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) taking place on Thursday, October 8 from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM PDT / 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM EDT. Due to the cancellation of Global Gaming Expo 2020, this year’s Regulatory Roundtable will be held in a virtual format.

The Roundtable offers a great opportunity for regulators and other stakeholders to hear from colleagues about the latest regulatory developments and challenges in various states. The program for this year is anticipated to include a fireside chat with a prominent industry pioneer, insight from the regulatory community on how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the gaming industry, and discussion around responsible gaming and sports betting

Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released the following statement after the D.C. Council passed the “Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018” (Bill 22-944).

“We are encouraged by the D.C. Council’s vote today to authorize sports wagering in the District. This decision represents a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting consumers and the integrity of sports,” said Sara Slane, AGA’s senior vice president of public affairs. “We’re pleased the bill adheres to a number of AGA’s priorities for successful sports betting legislation, including promoting responsible gaming, instituting a reasonable tax rate and excluding any ‘integrity fees’ or ‘exclusive data fees,’ which have been rightfully rejected in every other jurisdiction that has enacted sports betting legislation.

“While the vote today is progress, we remain deeply concerned about giving the lottery a virtual monopoly in the mobile market. Predictably, this will result in less investment and innovation, to the detriment of consumers and the ability of a nascent legal marketplace to compete with the accessibility and convenience offered by many established illegal wagering operations. AGA urges District policymakers to reevaluate the merits of this key aspect of their framework and allow greater competition in the future. AGA remains available to serve as a resource to the District and any other jurisdiction looking to create legal sports betting markets, protecting consumers and generating economic benefits in the process.”

State of the Industry

August 17, 2021 | 9:30 – 10:30 AM

Featured AGA Speaker:

Jess Feil
Vice President, Government Relations & Gaming Policy Counsel
American Gaming Association

 

Responsible Play & Marketing

August 17, 2021 | 10:45 – 11:45 AM

Featured AGA Speaker:

Cait DeBaun
Vice President, Strategic Communications & Responsibility
American Gaming Association