Hosted at MGM National Harbor, the American Gaming Association (AGA) convened elected officials, local business owners, and gaming industry executives to discuss the importance of gaming’s positive impact in Maryland for the Get to Know Gaming series.

Representative Anthony Brown (MD-04) delivered opening remarks emphasizing the positive growth gaming has brought to the state, saying, “Put simply, gaming strengthened our public schools, our neighborhoods, and our local economy. Maryland made a big bet on gaming. Yes, the pun is intended. But as our casinos turned in their fourth-best month in gaming revenue numbers ever this past August, we’re seeing that bet pay off.” Brown also encouraged the industry and policymakers to continue to work together to “out-compete and out-innovate” other gaming destinations, but to do so in a responsible way.

AGA released Casinos & Communities: Maryland at the event, which offers a narrative look at the gaming industry’s economic and social contributions to Maryland communities. The research couples key data on gaming’s economic impact—15,364 jobs supported and $713 million in wages generated annually—with testimonials from local business owners, nonprofits, and elected officials about gaming’s positive impact in their communities.

The event, held during Responsible Gaming Education Week, also focused on the efforts of Maryland operators to promote responsible gaming. AGA President and CEO Bill Miller emphasized this, “Like their peers across the country, Maryland operators go above and beyond, contributing millions to statewide RG programs and working together to share best practices and evolve their own efforts as part of the Maryland Alliance on Responsible Gaming.”

Maryland gaming regularly engages and supports area small businesses, creates new partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, and provides good jobs that pave a path to the middle class for workers of all backgrounds and experiences. Owner of Be-Clean Cleaning Services, Carla Truitt, shared how gaming has impacted her small business. Through perseverance, ingenuity, and a conviction that “anything you touch can be cleaned,” she won the business of MGM National Harbor, which has allowed her business to grow from four employees to 32 in less than five years.

The event also included Mary Drexler, Program Director, MD Center of Excellence on Problem Gaming, Melonie Johnson, president and chief operating officer of MGM National Harbor, and William Parker, Owner, The Parker K-9 Group. Former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III moderated the discussion.

Media Highlights

• Gaming official: industry benefits Md., The Baltimore Sun
• Maryland Casinos Tout Success But Seek To Remain Competitive, Gambling Compliance
• AGA takes ‘Get to Know Gaming’ campaign to Maryland, SBC Americas

The American Gaming Association and its members prioritize responsible gaming as an integral part of our industry’s daily operations. Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW)—September 15-21, 2019—provides an opportunity to showcase our dedication to responsible gaming programs. It also provides a specific opportunity to refresh employee training, promote transparency and gaming literacy to customers and work with community partners on advancing responsible gaming initiatives.

• Read tips for how to participate in RGEW with your employees, customers and community.
• Order responsible gaming brochures and buttons here.

Check back as more resources are added leading up to Responsible Gaming Education Week.

Questions? Feel free to reach out to Elizabeth Cronan and Cait DeBaun.

Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW) was created by the AGA in 1998 to increase awareness of problem gambling among gaming industry employees and customers and to promote responsible gaming nationwide.

The AGA and the entire gaming industry realize that education is essential to promoting responsible play and increasing awareness of gambling disorders, and RGEW provides gaming companies with an opportunity to expand on work they do every day educating employees and patrons about the issue.

We invite you to use our RGEW materials to make the most of this important week of education and awareness.

Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW) was created by the AGA in 1998 to increase awareness of problem gambling among gaming industry employees and customers and to promote responsible gaming nationwide.

The AGA and the entire gaming industry realize that education is essential to promoting responsible play and increasing awareness of gambling disorders, and RGEW provides gaming companies with an opportunity to expand on work they do every day educating employees and patrons about the issue.

We invite you to use our RGEW materials to make the most of this important week of education and awareness.

WASHINGTON – The PGA TOUR joined the American Gaming Association (AGA) as the newest Have A Game Plan._­^® Bet Responsibly. public service campaign partner to educate golf fans on responsible sports betting.

As part of the campaign, the TOUR will develop content that encourages its fans to “Know When to Lay Up” and bet responsibly. The co-branded responsible gaming content will appear on social and digital platforms along with public service announcements that will air on PGA TOUR Radio.

“A key pillar of the PGA TOUR’s sports betting strategy is responsible gaming and ensuring our fans are equipped with the appropriate resources so they are properly prepared and educated,” said Scott Warfield, VP of Gaming at the PGA TOUR. “By aligning with the American Gaming Association in support of its Have A Game Plan campaign we’re able to align our efforts and provide a consistent message focused on responsible gaming.”

The TOUR joins NASCAR and the National Hockey League (NHL) as league partners in the campaign, which focuses on the fundamentals of responsible sports betting: setting a budget and sticking to it, keeping betting social, knowing the odds, and playing with trusted, regulated operators. Monumental Sports & Entertainment and the Vegas Golden Knights have also committed inventory in support of the campaign.

“The AGA is thrilled welcome the PGA TOUR to our growing responsible sports betting campaign,” said Casey Clark, AGA Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications. “As legal sports betting continues to expand in both availability and popularity, it is imperative that responsible gaming education keeps pace. Today’s announcement is a testament to the TOUR’s thoughtful approach to sports betting and marks an important step in continuing to engage all industry stakeholders in our shared responsibility to educate fans on safely and responsibly betting on sports.”

Launched in 2019, the AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign provides consumers with a state-by-state guide on where to find legal operators, spotlights the basics of sports betting, and raises awareness on signs of problem gambling.

This partnership is the latest in a string of progressive and industry-leading sports betting initiatives by the TOUR. Following the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the TOUR instituted a robust integrity program in collaboration with Genius Sports and later that year announced a global partnership with IMG ARENA to license its official, live scoring data to betting operators all over the world. The TOUR’s official sports betting partners include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet, and the organization continues to evolve its innovative GolfBet partnership with The Action Network. The TOUR is also a platinum member of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Background

• 25 states and Washington, DC have now legalized sports betting, with 20 jurisdictions already operational.
• 45%, or 115 million, of American adults now live in a jurisdiction where wagering on sports is legal.
• Between June 2018 and November 2020, bettors legally wagered more than $35 billion on sports nationwide, generating nearly $2.5 billion in sportsbook revenue and approximately $330 million in tax revenue to state and local governments.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Delaware North, a global leader in hospitality and entertainment, is partnering with the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ campaign to promote responsible sports wagering.

As a campaign partner, Delaware North will add to its current responsible gaming communications this spring by promoting Have A Game Plan onsite and via online and social channels.

“Responsibility is not only core to Delaware North’s commitment to our customers, but essential to the sustainable growth of legal sports betting,” said Delaware North Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Jack McNeill. “We’re proud to work with the AGA on this important initiative to educate fans on responsible gaming.”

The company operates gaming in eight states and sports wagering in Arkansas and West Virginia through its Betly platform, with operations planned to begin in several other states in 2022. Last year, Delaware North announced a sports betting and iGaming joint venture, Gamewise, with Belgian gaming and sports betting leader Gaming1.

Delaware North joins more than 20 partners across the sports betting ecosystem in supporting Have A Game Plan, which promotes four principles of responsible gaming: setting a budget and sticking to it, keeping betting social, knowing the odds and playing with trusted, regulated operators.

“Delaware North’s reach across gaming, entertainment and sports adds an important voice to Have A Game Plan,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “We’re grateful for their partnership and leadership in advancing responsible gaming and ensuring bettors have the tools to wager responsibly.”

The AGA launched Have A Game Plan in late 2019 to teach consumers the fundamentals of responsible sports betting as sports betting expands nationwide. The campaign has broad support from across the sports betting landscape, including sports leagues and teams, media companies, gaming operators and suppliers and others.

Sports betting is now legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Today, 31 jurisdictions are operational, offering more than 130 million American adults the protections of legal wagering in their home market.

Delaware North is also a sustaining member of the National Council on Problem Gambling. The announcement comes during Problem Gambling Awareness Month (#PGAM22).

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) and its members prioritize responsible gaming as an integral part of our industry’s daily operations. Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW)—September 19-25, 2021—provides an opportunity to showcase our dedication to responsible gaming programs. It also provides a specific opportunity to refresh employee training, promote transparency and gaming literacy to customers, and work with community partners on advancing responsible gaming initiatives.

RGEW 2021 will highlight responsible sports wagering through Have A Game Plan® as the gaming industry ensures its commitment to responsible gaming grows in unison with the expansion of legal gaming.

WASHINGTON – Fans in legal sports betting states will see in-arena responsibility messaging due to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) new public service campaign designed to educate fans and consumers about responsible sports betting practices.

The Have a Game Plan™, Bet Responsibly campaign is currently live in Capital One Arena in Washington, DC and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, with plans to launch in other sports betting markets soon. Through the campaign, the AGA is leading the gaming industry in responsible sports betting promotion, both in key markets and nationally. The effort also focuses on bolstering responsible gaming engagement from sports leagues, teams, and other new entrants into the sports betting ecosystem.

“This is a watershed moment for sports betting in the United States,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “Roughly 100 million Americans will be able to legally wager on sports in their state by the end of this year. It’s more important than ever that the gaming industry, and our new partners in the sports betting ecosystem, are proactive in equipping patrons with the tools they need to engage in these offerings in a responsible manner.”

The campaign focuses on four responsible sports betting principles:

• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Keep it social: play with friends, family, and colleagues.
• Be informed: learn the details of the games you’re playing.
• Play with trusted licensed, regulated operators.

“By encouraging consumers to have a game plan when they wager, the industry is making good on its commitment to instill responsibility as a key tenant of every new legal sports betting market,” added Miller.

“When it comes to legal sports betting, nothing can be more important than responsibility,” said Jim Van Stone, president, business operations and chief commercial officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “Monumental Sports is proud to support the AGA’s Have a Game Plan™ campaign in Capital One Arena and establish a high bar for responsibility, even before legal sports betting launches in Washington, DC.”

“The Golden Knights are pleased to work with the American Gaming Association to extend our state’s longstanding commitment to responsibility by encouraging all of our fans to Have a Game Plan™,” said Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz. “Gaming should always be enjoyed responsibly. We look forward to working with the AGA on educating our fans and reinforcing this messaging during our home games at The Fortress.”

Background

• On the first anniversary of the invalidation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) last May, the AGA and its members announced self-regulation of sports betting advertising.
• Fourteen states now offer legal, regulated sports betting, with six more states and the District of Columbia poised to open legal markets in the coming months.
• Americans have legally wagered more than $19 billion on sports nationwide since PASPA was overturned, generating $175 million in tax revenue to state and local governments.
• The AGA’s interactive sports betting map enables fans to stay up to date on where sports betting is legally available.

The campaign announcement coincides with Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The AGA and its members are committed to providing consumers with responsible gaming education and resources to help keep sports betting and other gaming activities a form of fun, adult entertainment.

Gaming Industry Outlook: Gaming Growth Slows Following Period of Brisk Expansion

U.S. gaming industry expansion slowed in recent quarters and the near-term outlook is more tempered than in prior years, according to the AGA Gaming Industry Outlook.

The Gaming Industry Outlook provides a snapshot of the current and future economic health of the industry based on executive sentiment, casino-visitation plans, gaming revenue and economic indicators. The Outlook includes two separate indices:

• The Current Conditions Index for Q3 2024 was 97.3, which is consistent with real annualized contraction of 2.7 percent. The Current Conditions Index measures real economic activity in the industry, as measured by gaming revenue, employment and employee wages and salaries.
• The Future Conditions Index, a leading indicator of changes in industry conditions, measured 98.9 in Q3. This indicates an environment in which real economic activity in the gaming sector, after controlling for underlying inflation, is expected to moderately decrease over the next six months (1.1% annualized rate).

The Future Conditions Index reflects gaming CEO growth expectations that have softened relative to six months ago – with the share of executives expecting decelerating growth outweighing those expecting accelerating growth – and an economy that has shown solid growth recently, but which is expected to slow moderately in coming quarters.

Index Highlights

The Current Conditions Index indicates that real economic activity in the industry, as measured by gaming revenue, employment and employee wages and salaries, expanded briskly during Q4 2023 and Q1 2024, but there are initial indications activity decelerated during the most recent two quarters. The Current Conditions Index for Q3 2024 was 97.3, which is consistent with real annualized contraction of 2.7 percent, following a reading of 99.0 in Q2 2024 (consistent with 1.0 percent annualized contraction). Because gaming revenues and employee wages are adjusted for inflation, the Current Conditions index was tempered by still-elevated inflation through Q2 2024, though inflation was less of a factor in slowing growth in Q3 2024.

The smoothed version of the Current Conditions Index, which is reported with a two-quarter lag and is less impacted by short-term fluctuations, stood at 109.0 in Q1 2024 (three-quarter weighted average). This indicates that industry activity has been expanding in recent quarters at an annualized pace of 9.0 percent, representing sustained real growth even when controlling for the effects of inflation.

Gaming CEO growth expectations have softened relative to six months ago, according to the Gaming Executive Panel, a major input in the Future Conditions Index. In aggregate, across a set of outlook questions, the share of more conservative responses on measures such as future business conditions outweighed more positive responses by 8.7 percentage points this quarter (8.7% net negative), compared to 6.3% net positive in Q1 2024. For example, in this quarter’s survey, slightly more gaming executives anticipate the pace of revenue growth to decelerate rather than accelerate over the next three to six months (16% net negative).

The Future Conditions Index also reflects Oxford Economics’ current forecast that the U.S. economic growth will slow in coming quarters relative to recent growth but avoid recession. It appears fears of labor market weakness are overdone, and consumer spending growth is expected to remain positive, accompanied by further gains in household net worth, and only a slight increase in the unemployment rate. The Federal Reserve recently made the first of what is anticipated to be a series of cuts in short-term interest rates, moderating one factor that is contributing to slower economic growth. Oxford Economics expects inflation, as measured by the PCE price index, will slow from 2.4% year-over-year in Q4 2024, to 2.2% by Q4 2025. The share of consumers that expect to visit a casino over the next 12 months remains solid, having improved relative to a year ago.

The Future Conditions Index provides a leading indicator of changes in industry conditions. The 98.9 reading on the Future Conditions Index in the third quarter indicates an environment in which real economic activity in the gaming sector, after controlling for underlying inflation, is expected to moderately decrease over the next six months (1.1% annualized rate).

Gaming Executive Panel Highlights

A majority of gaming executives now cite uncertainty around the economic environment as a key factor limiting operations (56%). Also, there has been a notable shift since Q1, with a greater share of respondents now expecting a decrease in customer activity over the next three to six months (28% net negative, compared to 4% net negative in Q1), with respondents expecting slowing growth across each customer category.

More executives now expect a decrease in the pace of hiring (56% net negative), revenue growth (16% net negative), and capital investment (15% net negative), than expect an increase. Though panelists generally still see overall balance sheet health improving (34% net positive).

More executives (16%) are reporting a negative outlook of the business situation than in Q1 (10%), while fewer respondents characterize the current business situation as good or satisfactory (88% in Q3 compared to 94% in Q1).

Inflationary or interest rate concerns continue to be cited by some as a key factor limiting operations (28%). However, nearly all gaming executives report that financial conditions are accommodative, with more viewing access to credit as easy (19%) than restrictive (3%) for the first time in two years.

Gaming equipment suppliers now believe the pace of capital investment will decrease (13% net negative) and are cautious about the sale of gaming units for replacement use (13% net negative) and new or expansion use (13% net negative).

Hotel (56%) and food and beverage facility (also 56%) investments continue to be the main and growing focus among respondents, followed by live entertainment (28%), which increased relative to the Q1 survey (16%).

Methodology

The Gaming Industry Outlook Index is prepared on the behalf of the American Gaming Association by Oxford Economics. It provides a timely measure of recent growth and future expectations. This is the seventh release of the index.

Current Conditions Index:

• The Current Conditions Index measures activity in the U.S. casino gaming industry during the most recent quarter. It is based on three components: gaming revenue, employment and wages and salaries. Each component is adjusted to control for seasonal patterns and monetary measures are adjusted for inflation. Data is estimated through the most recent quarter for each index component based on available monthly data as of the point of index calculation. The index is re-estimated as additional information becomes available for past quarters.
• The Current Conditions Index reflect the composite growth of the three components, on an annualized basis. Index values above 100 indicate activity expanded during the quarter, while index values below 100 indicate a contraction. Index values are scaled to be consistent with annualized growth. For example, an index values of 103 is consistent with a three percent annualized pace of growth. The index controls for typical seasonal patterns, and index values may be directly compared to the pace of change in previous periods.
• When shown graphically, the Current Conditions Index compresses the most extreme values (index values below 80 or above 120). Individual observations are shown as well as a smoothed series, similar to a moving average, to help convey shifts in industry conditions.

Future Conditions Index:

• The Future Conditions Index measures the expected direction of conditions in the U.S. casino gaming industry over the coming six months. It is based on the following three components: economic conditions (measured as Oxford Economics’ forecast for growth in personal disposable income, household net worth and consumer spending on services), consumer intentions to visit a casino in the future, and the aggregate sentiment expressed in the Gaming Executive Panel. The Future Conditions Index is scaled so that index values correspond to the expected growth rate in industry conditions as measured by the Current Conditions Index. For example, an index values of 103 is consistent with a three percent annualized pace of expected growth.
• The economic conditions measure is based on Oxford Economics’ forecast of growth in real disposable income, household net worth, and consumer spending on services. The components of the index were selected based on the contribution each indicator makes to predicting future movements in the Current Conditions Index. Casino executive sentiment is measured through the aggregate measure of positive responses minus negative responses across a set of survey questions.

• • For example, one of the survey questions included in this aggregate is the pace of hiring new employees. The net positive response for that question is calculated as the share of responses that expect an increase in the pace of hiring new employees over the next three to six months, minus the share that expect a decrease in hiring. This net positive response is averaged with responses to a selected set of other survey questions (e.g., pace of revenue growth, pace of growth in wages and benefits, expectations of future business conditions) to calculate the average net positive response as a measure of casino executive sentiment.

• The Future Conditions Index is based in part on Oxford Economics’ outlook for the economy:
  • S. economic growth will slow in coming quarters relative to recent growth but avoid recession. It appears fears of labor market weakness are overdone. The unemployment rate is rising because recent hiring is not strong enough to fully absorb new labor force entrants. This type of rebalancing in the labor market is not significantly undercutting household spending trends. Also, while the personal saving rate remains low, it’s justified by near-record levels of household wealth relative to incomes. While the presidential election introduces a source of uncertainty, it typically takes time before policies of a new president can shape the economy, and the likely outcome with divided government further limits policy shifts. The Federal Reserve recently made the first of what is anticipated to be a series of cuts in short-term interest rates, moderating one factor that is contributing to slower economic growth.
  • Each of the economic drivers in the Future Conditions Index (disposable income growth, household net worth and consumer spending) are expected to show positive growth in real terms, though growth the remainder of the year and into 2025 is expected to be weaker.

Gaming Executive Panel

• The Gaming Executive Panel consists of senior-level AGA member executives selected to represent the breadth of the casino gaming sector. Respondents were segmented across three primary categories: casinos operators and owners, gaming equipment suppliers and iGaming and/or sportsbook operators.
• The Q3 2024 survey was conducted between August 21 and September 6, 2024. A total of 32 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.

WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) announced a new partnership to combat the unchecked spread of unregulated gaming machines throughout the United States. The ongoing campaign will focus on providing state and local policymakers, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies with new resources and tools to stop the proliferation of unregulated gaming machines.

Casino gaming is one of the most highly regulated industries in the U.S., with more than 4,000 state and tribal regulators dedicated to overseeing all forms of gaming, including electronic gaming machines. The recent growth of unregulated machines across the country raises a host of concerns which the organizations outlined in a fact sheet released today. Among them are the lack of testing, consumer protections, and responsible gaming measures, which underscore the need for states with gray market and illegal machines to make this a priority area of focus.

“Stamping out the illegal market that threatens the safety of consumers will always be one of the gaming industry’s highest priorities,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “We are proud to work with the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers and our fellow industry partners to combat the spread of illegal machines. The AGA is encouraged that policymakers in some states such as Virginia have begun to recognize the dangers of these machines and have taken recent legislative action toward outlawing them. Unfortunately, other jurisdictions where these machines have become pervasive may believe their only recourse is to regulate and tax them. Rewarding bad behavior is not the answer, and we hope our education efforts will make it clear that the only real solution is to stop the spread of these devices.”

“The regulated gaming industry has rarely been more united on a singular issue and now we have a tool to address the misinformation and deception that unregulated machine companies use to confound law enforcement, the courts, and local citizens,” said Marcus Prater, executive director of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers. “The spread of these machines represents a serious threat to the overall regulated market that has invested billions in infrastructure while also creating thousands of jobs and substantial tax benefits in the communities they serve. Moreover, unregulated machines prey on confused players who see slot machine symbols and think they’re getting a fair chance when they absolutely are not.”

More than 20 professional gaming organizations have joined the AGA and AGEM in opposition to the spread of unregulated gaming, including the National Indian Gaming Association, the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, the International Center for Responsible Gaming, the National Council on Problem Gambling, multiple state casino and tribal associations, and both of the leading independent gaming equipment test labs. View the full list here.

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.

About AGEM
AGEM is a non-profit international technology trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of electronic gaming devices, lotteries, systems, game content, table games, online technology, sports betting, key components and support products and services for the gaming industry. AGEM works to further the interests of gaming equipment suppliers throughout the world. Through political action, regulatory influence, trade show partnerships, educational alliances, information dissemination and good corporate citizenship, the members of AGEM work together to create benefits for every company within the organization. Together, AGEM has assisted regulatory agencies and participated in the legislative process to solve problems and create a business environment where AGEM members can prosper while providing a strong level of support to education and responsible gaming initiatives. For more information, visit www.AGEM.org.