The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced today the induction of three honorees into the Gaming Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019: Elaine Hodgson, co-founder, president, and CEO of Incredible Technologies; Stanley Mallin, real estate, hotel, and casino developer; and Ernie Moody, president of Action Gaming and creator of Triple Play Poker.

Since its establishment in 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has recognized leaders who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the gaming industry.

“Elaine, Ernie, and Stanley are pioneers in the gaming industry and have earned their well-deserved induction into this elite group,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “Under Elaine’s leadership, Incredible Technologies introduced the most successful pay-to-play game in the U.S., Ernie’s resilience and innovation changed the landscape of video poker, and Stanley’s contributions to the trend of themed casino properties are ubiquitous. We’re pleased to honor them with this great distinction.”

The 2019 inductees’ accomplishments include:

Elaine Hodgson, president and CEO, Incredible Technologies

In 1985, Hodgson founded Incredible Technologies (IT) in a basement with fewer than a dozen employees, establishing IT as a pinball and amusement gaming hardware manufacturer with co-founder Richard Ditton. In 1989, IT created Golden Tee Golf and in 2007 strategically decided to enter the casino gaming market. Today, IT is one of the fastest growing U.S. video slot game developers, with Hodgson overseeing all aspects of the company and its staff of more than 250. She takes great pride in the brand and reputation she’s built while breaking barriers and overcoming obstacles, and continues to guide her teams to create original products, focusing on their operator and player audiences, rather than competitors.

Ernie Moody, president, Action Gaming

In the 1990s, Moody created Triple Play Poker and several other poker games that are still performing strongly on casino floors, including Five Play, Ten Play, and Hundred Play Poker. He has created new video poker concepts such as Spin Poker, Super Times Pay Poker, and Ultimate X Poker, and continues to create games to this day. With 20,000 machines across North America utilizing his patents and inventions, he single-handedly changed the video poker industry, providing massive value to his casino customers, players, and to IGT, his longtime manufacturer and distributor. He has continued to invent games for nearly 20 years and is a prominent part of the Las Vegas community.

Stanley Mallin, real estate, hotel, and casino developer

Stan Mallin grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and served in the U.S. Army during WWII. After the war, he completed his college years at the University of Missouri. It was during college where he and Jay Sarno forged their relationship and ventured into real estate and hotel/motel development. They built the well-known Atlanta Cabana hotel, Dallas Cabana, and Palo Alto hotels before their big venture into gaming and Las Vegas. In 1966, they opened Caesars Palace for $24 million, starting the trend of themed casinos in Las Vegas, and sold the property in 1969 for $60 million. He also introduced the concept of experiential casino properties with the opening of Circus Circus in 1968, which was leased in 1974 and ultimately sold to William Bennett and William Pennington.

Headshots of the Class of 2019 inductees can be downloaded for editorial use by clicking here. An invitation-only ceremony honoring the inductees will take place during the Chairman’s Reception at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E).

Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming executives. This year’s selection committee members were:

• Holly Gagnon, CEO, Seneca Casinos
• Phyllis Gilland, past chair, Global Gaming Women and SVP & general counsel, Golden Entertainment
• Eileen Moore, regional president, Caesars Entertainment
• Phil Satre, president, National Center for Responsible Gaming Board of Directors
• David Schwartz, associate vice provost, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Howard Stutz, executive editor, CDC Gaming Reports
• Steve Sutherland, president and CEO, Konami Gaming, Inc.
• Ellen Whittemore, EVP and general counsel, Wynn Resorts
• Tim Wilmott, chair, American Gaming Association and CEO, Penn National Gaming

Washington, D.C. – A record 46.6 million American adults (18%) plan to bet on the upcoming National Football League (NFL) season, up three percent year-over-year, according to new American Gaming Association (AGA) research.

Importantly, since the NFL kick-off coincides with the beginning of Responsible Gaming Education Month, nine in ten (92%) U.S. sports bettors report awareness of responsible gaming tools.

“The sustained interest in NFL wagering reflects the growth and continued maturation of legal sports betting across the country,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Consumers clearly want legal sports betting options and understand the regulated industry’s foundational commitments to responsibility.”

As legalization spreads, bettors are moving away from bookies and toward regulated options. Of American adults:

• 23 million will place a bet online this season, up 18 percent from 2021.
• 6 million will place a bet in-person at a sportsbook this season, up two percent from 2021.
• Just 13 percent of NFL bettors say they will use a bookie, down two points from last year (15%) and five points from 2020 (18%).
• Bookie usage is 50 percent higher in states without legalized sports betting.

Today, more than half (132 million) of American adults can legally wager in their home state, 18 million more than this time last year. Demonstrating consumer confidence in regulated sportsbooks, nine in 10 (89%) of past-year sports bettors say it is very or somewhat important that they bet with a legal, regulated sportsbook.

Consumer protections are central to the legal marketplace, and past-year sports bettors recognize the industry’s responsibility commitments:

• 90 percent recall seeing or hearing about responsible gaming in the past year.
• 51 percent saw or heard more responsible gaming information in the past 12 months than they had in previous years.

The majority of past-year sports bettors believe responsible gaming programs are very or somewhat effective (82%) and that the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combatting problem gambling (81%).

“Responsibility is an underpinning of regulated U.S. sports betting and a clear competitive advantage as we continue to build a sustainable marketplace,” Miller added.

Among NFL bettors, the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9%) are the most popular picks to win Super Bowl LVII, followed by the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs (8%) and the Dallas Cowboys (7%). The Super Bowl will be played in a legal sports betting jurisdiction (Arizona) for the first time in February 2023.

Background

• Sports betting is currently legal in 36 states and Washington, D.C., with 32 jurisdictions already offering operational markets. 18 of the 22 states that are home to NFL teams have legalized sports betting.
• Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland and Wisconsin launched new markets since the start of the 2021 NFL season.
• Americans have legally wagered more than $50.4 billion on sports in the first seven months of 2022, generating more than $809 million in federal, state and local taxes.
• AGA’s Have A Game Plan.^®Bet Responsibly™ campaign is bringing sports betting stakeholders together to promote responsible gaming. NFL team partners include the Washington Commanders and New York Jets.

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Methodology
Morning Consult, on behalf of the American Gaming Association, conducted an online survey August 25-27, 2022, among a national sample of 2,210 American adults regarding their betting plans on the upcoming NFL season. The data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, educational attainment, gender, race and region. The margin of error is +/-2 percent and greater among subgroups. Bettors include those who expect to place a bet online, with a bookie, with a casino sportsbook, in a pool, squares or paid fantasy contest, or casually with family or friends.

Kantar, on behalf of the American Gaming Association, conducted an online survey August 17-23, 2022, among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 American voters aged 21 and over related to responsible gaming and industry perceptions. The margin of error is +/- 2 percent and greater among subgroups.

LAS VEGAS — The American Gaming Association (AGA), European Casino Association (ECA), and the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) announced today the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of a collaboration grounded in shared industry values and priorities. The MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation, and security.  

“This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices. 

“By fostering dialogue and cooperation across borders, the AGA, ECA, and BGC are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success,” Miller added.   

The MOU will create a platform for undertaking joint research projects and bringing each organization’s staff and members together to share expertise.  

“The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders”, stated Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association. “The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protections and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community. On behalf of the ECA, I look forward to participating in the forthcoming law enforcement roundtable and to sharing the benefits of these learnings with our members.” 

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst, said, “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry. BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.” 

The first initiative under this MOU will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling. Scheduled for January 2025, this roundtable will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss the impact of illegal gambling on legal operators, consumer safety, and the global financial system. The session will also explore strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges. 

Washington, D.C. — The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced the expansion of its Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign with the introduction of a fifth pillar: “Keep Your Cool.” This new pillar reinforces the campaign’s mission to promote responsible sports wagering by emphasizing athlete harassment is never appropriate.

The announcement comes as data highlights the growing effectiveness of responsible gaming programs across the country. According to recent research, 66% of Americans believe the gaming industry’s responsible gaming initiatives are effective, up from 59% in 2023. Among those who actively participate in gaming, 79% of physical casino players and 85% of sports bettors agree these programs are working, including an impressive 73% of young bettors aged 18-24.

“Responsible gaming efforts like Have A Game Plan and other proactive efforts by legal operators are resonating with consumers and making a difference,” said Bill Miller, President and CEO of the AGA. “‘Keep Your Cool’ builds on this momentum by reminding bettors that a betting result – good or bad – is not an invitation to criticize a team, official, or athlete.”

Since its launch in 2019, Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ has educated bettors through four foundational pillars:

1. Set a Budget: Establish and stick to a financial limit.
2. Keep It Social: Bet responsibly as part of a shared activity.
3. Know the Odds: Know the terminology and understand risks before placing bets.
4. Play Legally: Use regulated, legal betting platforms.

The new “Keep Your Cool” pillar complements these principles by promoting sportsmanship and emphasizing the social aspects of sports betting:

• Respect the Game: Winning and losing are part of sports betting, nobody is perfect; the result of a bet should not prompt negative actions – in person or online – towards athletes and officials.
• Stay Focused on Having Fun: Sports betting is entertainment.

NASCAR, an early supporter of Have A Game Plan®, underscored the importance of the new pillar. “At NASCAR, we believe responsible gaming enhances the overall fan experience,” said Joe Solosky, Managing Director of Sports Betting at NASCAR. “‘Keep Your Cool’ reflects our shared commitment to encouraging fans to bet responsibly while maintaining a respectful approach to the sport they love.”

With responsible gaming messaging resonating stronger than ever, Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ continues to foster a more enjoyable betting environment for fans. For more information on the campaign and responsible gaming resources, visit haveagameplan.org.

About Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.^™
Have a Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ is a national initiative designed to educate sports fans on the fundamentals of responsible sports betting. Launched in 2019, the campaign encourages bettors to set a budget, keep betting social, understand the odds, play with trusted and licensed operators, and keep your cool. Supported by sports leagues, teams, media companies, and gaming operators from across the country, Have A Game Plan® reflects the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming and fostering a positive gambling environment. Learn more at haveagameplan.org.

The AGA and our members are making strides on responsibility efforts across multiple fronts, including diversity, equity and inclusion and responsible advertising. Below, please find details on these initiatives as well as additional AGA updates.

💡 ICYMI: One week left to submit your ideas for the G2E 2023 Call for Speakers & Content

AGA Reports on Diversity in the Gaming Industry

Yesterday, the AGA released an in-depth examination of diversity in the gaming workforce, showing the industry is more diverse than national and hospitality industry benchmarks, while identifying areas for continued progress.

The findings:

• More than 6 in 10 (61%) of gaming industry employees are minorities, compared to 52% of the broader hospitality industry and 42% of the total U.S. workforce.
• 23% of gaming employees are Hispanic and 19% are Black—both higher than the national workforce and in line with the hospitality industry.
• 60% of operator employees are minorities, up nearly 20% from 2011 and higher than the hospitality sector and national workforces overall.
• 45% of gaming manufacturer employees are minorities, compared to 38% of the broader electronic manufacturing workforce.

Dive Deeper: While gaming has a significantly more diverse management pipeline than the broader hospitality industry and total U.S. workforce, the industry has opportunities to advance female representation and leadership.

• 45% of first/mid-level managers are minorities while 43% of professionals are minorities, both 10 to 12 points above national and hospitality benchmarks.
• 48% of gaming’s workforce is female, in line with the national workforce, but representation drops off at more senior level job classifications.

Download the full report and stay tuned for more from the AGA as we work to advance DEI in gaming in the months and years to come.

AGA Updates Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering

In March, the AGA announced updates to its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. Developed in collaboration with our members, these changes:

• Enhance protections for college-aged audiences by:
• Prohibiting college partnerships that promote, market or advertise sports wagering activity (other than to alumni networks or content focused on responsible gaming initiatives or problem gambling awareness).
• Prohibiting sportsbook NIL deals for amateur and college athletes.
• Add age restrictions (21+) for any individual featured in advertising.
• Change all references to the “legal age of wagering” in the Code to 21+.
• Ban all use of “risk free” in advertising.

Why it matters: These updates raise the bar for responsible advertising and demonstrate our membership’s intention and ability to evolve as the still nascent legal U.S. sports betting market grows. The code updates also formalize an annual review process, ensuring the industry can continue to stay agile as we navigate market expansion and build a sustainable sports betting environment.

What we’re saying: “Advertising plays an essential role in migrating consumers away from predatory illegal sportsbooks and into the protections of the legal, regulated market while providing responsible gaming resources. The AGA and our members are committed to building a sustainable marketplace that protects vulnerable populations and gives consumers the knowledge and tools to keep sports betting fun for adults.” – AGA President and CEO Bill Miller

What We’re Reading

• AGA CEO Bill Miller defends industry leadership on responsibility in The Hill.
• Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) commends AGA members in The New York Times.
• Agency EFE highlights diversity in the gaming industry workforce.
• Tech offerings bolster gaming’s global economic impact, AGEM study finds.
• UNLV study demonstrates how digital payments can strengthen problem gambling detection.

One More Thing

Kentucky recently became the first state to pass standalone legislation to ban unregulated gambling machines. The Bluegrass State joins Virginia in taking proactive government action to eliminate these pervasive bad actors, which take advantage of consumers and communities by posing as legal, regulated slots.

More than 580,000 of these machines exist throughout the U.S., according to AGA estimates. Read our full study.

WASHINGTON – U.S. commercial gaming revenue for the second quarter of 2020 totaled $2.30 billion, a steep 78.8 percent year-over-year contraction, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) new Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. gaming industry saw revenue decline in nearly every reported vertical compared to Q2 2019.

“COVID-19 has undoubtedly posed the most difficult economic challenge the gaming industry has ever faced,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Yet, gaming’s record popularity prior to COVID-19, as well our resilience in the midst of such adversity, is evidence of the industry’s foundation for continued success as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Contrary to recent revenue declines, commercial casinos demonstrated strong consumer demand in 2020 when open for business. Before all 989 U.S. brick-and-mortar casinos closed their doors in March, combined commercial gaming revenue for January and February was up 10.4 percent year-over-year. Following the return of casino gaming in Q2, several states have reported a year-over-year uptick in average daily GGR per open casino despite operating with limited capacity, game availability, and amenities. This includes South Dakota (+42.5%), Ohio (+19.3%), and Indiana (+7.4%).

While April and May both experienced year-over-year GGR declines north of 90 percent, June saw nearly 300 commercial casinos reopen throughout the month and, as a result, revenue was nearly four times greater than the previous two months combined. More than 85 percent of U.S. casinos are now open, including nearly 9 in 10 commercial casinos, all of which have implemented stringent, regulator-approved health and safety plans.

“The gaming industry has been a leader in implementing rigorous, innovative protocols that have allowed the vast majority of our properties to reopen and stay open,” continued Miller. “With business returning to casino floors and sportsbooks seeing increased action, the gaming industry is steadily charting a responsible path to recovery that prioritizes health and safety, supports the communities where we operate, and offers first-class entertainment.”

Sports betting experienced a sharp decline in GGR in the second quarter due to the shutdown of sports activity, but is still up slightly (4.1%) in the first half of 2020 as a result of a record start to the year and increased legal options.

iGaming, the only gaming vertical to experience year-over-year growth in Q2 2020, marked the first full quarter generating more revenue than sports betting in the post-PASPA era. Online casino gaming is only legal in six states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Nevada (poker only), New Jersey, and Michigan (not live).

AGA’s reporting on the financial performance of the U.S. commercial casino industry will continue on a quarterly basis as the association tracks the industry’s economic recovery. Monthly updates will be available on AmericanGaming.org.

Background

• The AGA’s State of the States 2020 report found that the U.S commercial gaming industry generated record revenue in 2019. The companion AGA State of Play map houses economic impact and regulatory data for each of the 44 gaming states.
• To date, 851 of 990 U.S. casinos properties across 40 states have partially reopened. This includes 417 commercial casinos (89.7% of total) and 434 tribal properties (82.8% 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 have implemented based on a review of AGA member health and safety plans.

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. The first issue highlights second quarter results, ending June 30 (Q2 2020), and year-to-date comparisons.

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.

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In stark contrast to the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact on gaming, 2019 further solidified our industry’s role as a vital economic engine for states and local communities. The AGA’s State of the States report shows U.S. commercial casino gaming industry revenue topped $43.6 billion in 2019, up 3.7 percent from 2018.

Not only did annual commercial casino revenue hit a new high in 2019, but direct commercial gaming tax revenue generated more than $10 billion for state and local governments for the first time ever. This is a 4.1 percent increase from 2018 and does not account for the billions more in sales, income, and other taxes from gaming. The $10.2 billion in taxes benefit the states and communities in which casinos operate by funding education initiatives, health insurance programs, infrastructure and economic development projects, responsible gaming programs, and more. State-by-state breakdowns of the distribution of gaming taxes can be found in the report.

The increases in gaming revenue and taxes can be attributed in part to the continued expansion of legal sport betting, which 14 states legally offered in 2019. Americans wagered more than $13 billion on sports with legal operators in 2019, resulting in legal U.S. operators earning $908.9 million in sports betting revenue. This is more than double the $430.7 million revenue in 2018.

In 2019, the top 15 commercial casino markets by total gaming revenue maintained their previous rankings, but there was significant jostling for positions between the 16th and 20th largest markets. The downtown Las Vegas market overtook Shreveport/Bossier City for the 16th largest market. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh/Meadowlands area surpassed New Orleans for the 19th spot on the list.

Top Five Gaming Markets

21 of the 25 commercial gaming states reported increases in annual gross gaming revenue (GGR) from the previous year. The largest increase came in Massachusetts, reflecting the June opening of the state’s second casino-resort just outside of Boston. The steepest decline came in Louisiana amid expanded competition in neighboring states. Fourteen states—Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Rhode Island—recorded record gaming revenue.

Top Five Year-Over-Year Gaming Revenue Increases

About the Report

State of the States 2020 is the definitive economic analysis of the U.S. commercial casino industry and its significant economic impact in the 25 U.S. states with commercial gaming operations. For each of the 25 jurisdictions, the report analyzes gaming revenue and gaming taxes generated by commercial casino locations for the calendar year 2019. The report provides a breakdown of the legality of types of gaming and the number of casinos by state, summarizes major gaming policy discussions, and previews opportunities and challenges for the industry. AGA’s State of Play map provides the report findings in an easy-to-use, interactive tool.

Note, tribal casinos are subject to different reporting requirements and timelines. According to the most recently available data from the National Indian Gaming Commission, the tribal gaming sector’s revenue reached $33.7 billion in 2018.

As part of the the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Get to Know Gaming series, gaming industry stakeholders gathered at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington County, Pennsylvania to discuss gaming’s role in the state as a driver of economic growth and a community partner.

Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula moderated the discussion, beginning by sharing his perspective on gaming’s impact on the local economy, “[The Meadows’ impact] has been substantial. Not only do they employ over 1,000 employees, they also add to our economy, not only in purchasing locally but also in terms of giving back, in terms of community service.”

Bill Miller, AGA president and CEO, framed the discussion with AGA’s research report, Casinos and Communities: Pennsylvania, which was released in conjunction with the panel. Announcing, “Our industry generates $6.3 billion in total economic impact across the Keystone State, providing $1.8 billion in supported wages. Gross gaming revenue taxes alone reached $1.5 billion just last year—this represents 7% of all state sales tax collected throughout Pennsylvania in 2018.”

Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) corroborated these findings, commenting that gaming has been integral to revitalizing Pittsburgh’s North Shore Neighborhood. Reschenthaler also stressed the need to allow the gaming industry to continue to innovate and keep pace with changing demographics, remarking that, “We can only allow the industry to adapt and to grow if we make sure we’re updating the laws and regulations pertaining to gaming.”

Owner of The Ivy Green florist shop, Melissa Green, gave her firsthand account of gaming’s economic ripple effects, “In a one-mile radius from where my shop is, 10 flower shops were open when I purchased my shop and there’s two left.” Adding, “my partnership with the casino probably has prevented me from becoming one of those statistics.”

Continuing the discussion on community impact, North Strabane Township Fire Department Chief Mark Grimm recounted how his department recently partnered with The Meadows to organize the largest Toys for Tots donation in the area. “We do a lot in the community, and I think that one of the partnerships that we’re most proud of is with the casino because we’re both in business for customer service.”

As the conversation turned toward responsible gaming, Tim Wilmott, AGA chairman and Penn National Gaming CEO, explained, “We work with states to make sure that people can self-identify and self-exclude themselves from coming to the [casinos]…we certainly don’t want to have a business that is predicated on or supported by people that cannot control themselves within our environment.”

Representative Reschenthaler further remarked that, “The industry does a really good job of promoting responsible gaming,” adding that taking gambling out of illegal markets allows states to regulate the market, capture tax revenue, and ensure that people can get help if they need it.

Additional panel topics included sports betting and casino tax rates.

Media Highlights

• Bill Miller: Casinos are Job Creators, Community Partners, TRIB Live
• Gaming Industry Boosts Pennsylvania Communities, Casino Beats
• Pennsylvania Cashing In On Economic And Social Contributions of Casinos, PA Online Casino 

Elected officials, tribal gaming leaders, and industry representatives met in Tulsa, OK to discuss the impact of gaming on Oklahoma’s economy and communities.

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

The event was held in tandem with the release of the AGA’s Casinos and Communities: Oklahoma report, which offers an in-depth look at how the gaming industry supports local communities in the Sooner State. According to the report, Oklahoma’s 141 tribal and commercial casinos support 75,885 jobs and $4.3 billion in wages in the state, amounting to $9.8 billion in total economic impact and $1.7 billion in taxes and tribal revenue share payments.

Speaking on the gaming industry’s investment in communities, Choctaw Nation Senior Executive Officer Janie Dillard shared that the Choctaw Nation is “all about servant leadership,” working in partnership with surrounding communities to make road improvements, build fire stations, and lead infrastructure improvements. She concluded, “We’ve taken those casino dollars and reinvested into our local communities.”

Cherokee Nation Dep. Attorney General Chrissi Nimmo briefed the audience on the “life-changing impact of gaming proceeds,” relaying, “[Cherokee Nation] is set this year to open a 469,000 square-foot outpatient facility at a cost of $200 million. We are also, next year, opening the first tribally affiliated medical school in the United States…we were able to do that only because of gaming proceeds.”

Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Bill Lance emphasized that responsible gaming is the foundation of the gaming industry, describing how Oklahoma tribes earmark funds to support problem gambling treatment, maintain a state-wide self-exclusion database, conduct extensive employee training programs, offer robust mental healthcare to tribe members, and partner with the Oklahoma Association of Problem and Compulsive gaming.

U.S. Representative Tom Cole (OK-04), a fifth generation Oklahoman and enrolled member of Chickasaw Nation, called the establishment of tribal gaming “the single most transformative economic development in recent Oklahoma history,” as it has led to tribes becoming the third largest employer in the state. He elaborated that, because of gaming, tribes have “brought in more outside investment and job creation than anybody else could,” especially to the traditionally most challenged regions of Oklahoma. Cole added, “[tribal gaming] has been a goose that has been laying a lot of golden eggs for the people of Oklahoma.”

Additional panelists included Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05), as well as Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, who moderated the discussion.

Media Highlights

• Point of View: Oklahoma’s casinos, communities working together to spur growth, The Oklahoman 
• American Gaming Association: Oklahoma Gaming Supports Small Businesses, Native Business
• AGA hails gaming as engine of growth as tour lands in Oklahoma, SBC Americas
• Casino gaming industry brings growth to Oklahoma, Casino Beats