Sports Betting/page/63/'. esc_url( site_url('search') ) .' - Page 3 of 32 - American Gaming Association

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 – New American Gaming Association (AGA) research shows consumers are moving their business away from illegal bookies and toward legal options. Average spending with illegal bookies fell 25 percent in legal sports betting states last year, while legal online and mobile betting spend increased 12 percent. Illegal offshore operators also saw a three percent increase in states with legal sports betting.

The most influential factors for bettors who had shifted from the illegal to legal market are confidence that bets will be paid out (25%), awareness of legal options (20%), and a desire to use a regulated book (19%).

“We’ve known for a long time that Americans like to bet on sports. This research affirms their interest in moving toward the protections of the legal market,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Giving consumers convenient alternatives to the illegal market, like regulated mobile offerings and competitive odds, is key for getting bettors to switch to legal channels.”

Bettors overwhelmingly prefer legal operators, with 74 percent saying it is important to only bet through legal providers. Despite this, 52 percent of sports bettors participated in the illegal market in 2019. The study found that illegal sports betting is driven largely by confusion about online operators. More than half (55%) of consumers who placed most of their wagers with illegal operators believed they bet legally.

“Illegal, offshore operators continue to take advantage of unknowing consumers,” continued Miller. “This only worsened during the sports shutdown, with unregulated bookmakers offering odds on everything from the weather and shark migration patterns to whether your friends’ marriage will survive the pandemic. The AGA is focused on educating customers on how to wager legally and the dangers of the illegal market, especially with the return of the MLB and NBA this month.”

To help educate bettors, the AGA’s interactive sports betting map includes a comprehensive directory of licensed online and retail sportsbooks in states where sports betting is legal. In addition, the AGA is actively collaborating with federal and state law enforcement to enhance our collective understanding of the illegal marketplace; engaging publishers and media to ensure their platforms do not promote the illegal marketplace; and educating the public about the dangers associated with illegal sports betting operators.

As states continue to consider legalizing sports betting, AGA’s newly updated sports betting principles encourage policymakers to build regulatory frameworks that protect customers, ensure robust oversight, create a competitive environment, and promote customer convenience.

Background

  • Eighteen states plus the District of Columbia now offer legal, regulated sports betting, with four more states poised to open legal markets in the coming months.
  • Before the COVID-19 shutdown, 2020 looked set to become another record-breaking year with $3.5 billion legally wagered in January and February, up from $1.9 billion the same time last year.
  • Legal sports betting is available to 22.4 million more American adults than before the COVID-19 pandemic, as Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. have all gone live since mid-March.
  • Americans have legally wagered more than $22 billion on sports nationwide since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA, generating upwards of $198 million in tax revenue to state and local governments.
  • In March 2019, the AGA released a first-of-its-kind study on the sports betting consumer.
  • The AGA’s Have A Game Plan™, Bet Responsibly public service campaign encourages responsible sports betting behavior, including using licensed, regulated operators.

Methodology
Heart + Mind Strategies conducted this survey on behalf of the AGA between December 2019 and January 2020. The survey includes 3,451 interviews among American adults over 21-years-old of various subgroups.

WASHINGTON & NEW YORK – FanDuel Group and the American Gaming Association (AGA) announced today an initiative to broadly promote responsible sports wagering through the AGA’s Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign. FanDuel is the first mobile sportsbook operator to sign on to the AGA’s national campaign to promote the fundamentals of responsible sports betting.

As part of this engagement, FanDuel is making a multi-million-dollar commitment of its media inventory, as well as league and team assets and directing them towards responsible gaming messaging. The company will also work with its league, team and media partners to grow the campaign across television, radio, digital and in-venue media. The company and the AGA are aiming to have responsible gaming content live in May 2021.

Through Have a Game Plan, the AGA and its partners provide consumers a state-by-state guide on where to find legal operators, spotlight the basics of responsible sports betting and raise awareness on signs of problem gambling.

“As the mobile gaming industry leader in the U.S., we believe promoting responsible gaming behaviors is a core tenet of growing our business and the industry as a whole,” said Matt King, CEO of FanDuel Group. “We are not only going to commit substantial FanDuel resources to promote Have a Game Plan but we intend to build a consortium of partners throughout the sports and gaming business to scale this initiative and we encourage other operators to join us.”

“FanDuel’s commitment to support and grow Have a Game Plan couldn’t come at a better time,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Responsibility to our customers has always been a pillar of AGA member operations. Extending this to meet the new realities of an expanded sports betting ecosystem is going to require full collaboration with everyone involved in it – gaming operators, media companies and leagues and teams. We’re excited to have a partner like FanDuel to help extend this important initiative.”

Fan and consumer education are critical as the legal sports betting market continues to expand throughout the United States. Today, sports betting is legal in 25 states and the District of Columbia. There are 17 active bills in state legislatures aiming to legalize sports betting in their jurisdiction.

The AGA launched Have a Game Plan in late 2019 to educate sports fans on the importance of responsible sports betting. As the first sportsbook partner involved in the campaign, FanDuel joins NASCAR, the NHL, the PGA TOUR, Monumental Sports and Entertainment and the Vegas Golden Knights as official campaign partners.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. If you or anyone you know needs help, resources are available through the National Center on Problem Gambling. Anyone seeking assistance is encouraged to call or text 1-800-522-4700.

 

About FanDuel Group

FanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favorite sports, teams and leagues. The premier gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, advance-deposit wagering, and TV/media, including FanDuel, Betfair US and TVG. FanDuel Group has a presence across 45 states and 12.5 million customers. The company is based in New York with offices in California, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon and Scotland. FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment plc, a leading international sports betting and gaming operator and a constituent of the FTSE 100 index of the London Stock Exchange.

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. 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.

The National Hockey League’s (NHL) annual revenue may increase by $216 million annually due to widely available, legal, regulated sports betting, according to a new Neilsen Sports study commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA).

The study analyzes the revenue streams that legal sports betting could generate for the NHL: revenue as a result of spending from betting operators on advertising, data and sponsorship, and revenue generated as a result of increased consumption of the league’s media and products.

According to Nielsen Sports, greater fan engagement and viewership could boost the NHL’s total annual revenue from media rights, sponsorships, merchandise and ticket sales by 3.5 percent, producing $151 million in new revenue from increased consumption of the league’s products.

Legal sports betting could help the NHL generate an additional $65 million in revenue as a result of spending by betting operators and data providers. The study projects that gaming operators may spend $24 million on advertising, which will directly increase the league’s rights fees by the same amount. An additional $35 million in sponsorship revenue and $6 million in data is also projected for the league and its teams.

“Today’s announcement reaffirms that legal, regulated sports betting will create significant new revenue opportunities for sports leagues,” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs for the American Gaming Association. “Much like the NHL’s recent successful expansion into Las Vegas, legal sports betting will continue to expand across the country, bringing with it a $216 million opportunity for the league.”

To quantify the value of a legal sports betting market to the NHL, Nielsen Sports surveyed more than 1,000 adult sports fans – including NHL fans – and self-identified sports bettors nationwide to model how a national, legal sports betting market would affect the sports consumption habits of non-bettors, casual bettors and avid bettors, and how this change in consumption would translate to increased revenue.

About the Research
On behalf of the American Gaming Association, Nielsen Sports conducted a custom survey of 1,032 U.S. 18+ adults, representative of census age, gender, geography and ethnicity, from May 15 through May 31, 2018. Nielsen is an independent measurement organization. Nielsen does not guarantee any results or performance, or endorse, rank, approve or recommend any products or services. All names and marks are the property of their respective owners and no sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement in expressed or implied.

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, 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.

The AGA has conducted what we believe to be the largest and most comprehensive survey of consumer sports betting behavior to date. That research, “Current and Future Sports Betting Behavior Post-PASPA,” was designed to shed light on Americans’ knowledge and opinions of sports betting and to gain insight into the behaviors, preferences and expectations of current and potential sports bettors.

Among the findings:

  • 39% of adult Americans – about 100 million people – are either current or potential future sports bettors.
  • There is widespread uncertainty concerning the current legal landscape. In states where casino sports betting is legal, only 56% are aware that it is. Only 41% of Americans know that placing a bet with a bookie is illegal.
  • 46% of current sports bettors in newly legalized states report that legalization has led to an increase in sports betting frequency.
  • 63% of current sports bettors say they would either replace or use a different credit card if their payment card is not allowed to be used for sports betting.
  • The ability to place a sports bet securely is the most important factor when consumers consider future sports bets.
  • Two-thirds of current sports bettors are at least somewhat familiar with esports.

The complete research is available to AGA members.

Methodology
This survey was conducted on behalf of the American Gaming Association by Heart + Mind Strategies between November and December 2018 and comprised a total sample of 6,777 interviews among 21+ year-old Americans of various subgroups.

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.

WASHINGTON – Sports betting adults are more affluent, younger, more diverse and better educated adults than the general population, according to an American Gaming Association (AGA) commissioned study from Nielsen Sports.

The research identifies groundbreaking demographic and behavioral characteristics of self-identified bettors who the AGA believes will populate the future legal U.S. betting landscape. A second, forthcoming element of the project will estimate the amount of revenue this demographic can help unlock for the major U.S. sports leagues.

Among this crucial demographic for sports leagues and broadcasters, 71 percent of those research participants who currently bet with a bookie say they would shift some or all of their betting activity to a regulated market if they had access to a legal platform.

According to Nielsen Sports, 44 percent of sports bettors are adults under the age of 35, as opposed to 31 percent of the general population. Twenty-nine percent of bettors earn a household income of more than $100K, almost double the proportion of the general population.

“The Nielsen Sports data supports what we’ve long expected: access to legal sports wagering will increase fan engagement in major sport contests and enable a significant revenue generation opportunity for major sports leagues and teams,” said Sara Slane, senior vice president of public affairs for the American Gaming Association.

“Expanding access to legal sports betting will bring millennial audiences back to sports broadcasts and stadiums, which is a huge benefit for sport enterprises across the country. However, this potential will only be realized with proper policy frameworks that empower consumers with competitive odds, access to all bets and the ability to tap into modern platforms including mobile. Without this focus on consumers, the illegal market will continue to thrive,” said Slane.

Nielsen Sports surveyed more than 1,000 adult sports fans – including fans of the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL – and self-identified sports bettors nationwide, identifying demographics and consumption habits to quantify the value of the legal sports betting market.

Additional research is underway to quantify how much each league can realize from widely-available, legal, regulated sports betting. Topline findings from the research are available here. Click here for individual graphs representing this research.

About the research

On behalf of the American Gaming Association, Nielsen Sports conducted a custom survey of 1,032 U.S. 18+ adults, representative of census age, gender, geography and ethnicity, from May 15 through May 31, 2018. Nielsen is an independent measurement organization. Nielsen does not guarantee any results or performance, or endorse, rank, approve or recommend any products or services. All names and marks are the property of their respective owners and no sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement in expressed or implied.

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, 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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Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct

The American Gaming Association (AGA) and its members pledge to prioritize responsible gaming as an integral part of our industry’s daily operations.

This pledge includes provisions on employee assistance and training, alcohol service, the provision of casino games including sports betting in person and online, and the advertising and marketing of casino gambling including sports betting. This Code also covers the commitment of our members to continue support for research initiatives and public awareness surrounding responsible gaming and underage gambling.
 

PLEDGE TO OUR PATRONS

To Promote Responsible Gaming

AGA members will make information available promoting responsible gaming and where to find assistance, including a toll-free help line number. This information will be available and visible on casino floors and at cash access devices.

AGA members will make available on their gaming-related websites information describing responsible gaming, their policies and practices related to responsible gaming and where to find assistance.

AGA members, where permitted by law, will make available to patrons and employees information generally explaining the probabilities of winning or losing at the various gambling games offered by the casino.

Each AGA casino and sports betting company will have a policy in effect for all of its casino properties providing opportunities for patrons to request in writing the revocation of their privileges for specific services such as:

  • Casino-issued markers;
  • Player club/card privileges;
  • On-site check-cashing;
  • Complimentaries; and
  • Gambling promotions.

In addition, each AGA member shall make reasonable efforts on a facility-by-facility basis to honor a written request from any person, that it not knowingly grant that person access to gambling activities. For each person who makes such a request, the casino will provide the person with a listing of resources in the area surrounding the casino where assistance with gambling – related problems is available.

AGA members reserve the right to exclude a patron from gambling, without a request from the patron.

To Prevent Underage Gambling and Unattended Minors in Casinos

AGA member companies will make diligent efforts to prevent underage individuals from participating in any gambling or sports betting at casinos, loitering in the gaming area of a casino or from gaining access to online, mobile or in-room gambling opportunities.

AGA member companies will communicate the legal age to gamble through messaging, as appropriate, in their properties, on their casinos’ online platforms and in gambling and sports betting promotions.

Employees working in relevant areas will receive training in procedures for dealing with unattended children, underage gambling and the purchase and consumption of alcohol and tobacco by minors.

If a child appears to be unsupervised or in violation of local curfews and other laws, security or appropriate personnel will be contacted and reasonable steps will be taken to locate the parent or responsible adult on property or by telephone.

To Serve Alcoholic Beverages Responsibly

AGA member companies will observe a responsible beverage service policy including the following elements:

  • Casinos will not knowingly serve alcoholic beverages to a minor.
  • Casinos will not knowingly serve alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated patron.
  • Casinos will make a diligent effort not to permit casino gambling by a visibly intoxicated patron.

AGA casino companies will ensure that appropriate casino employees are trained in the company’s responsible alcoholic beverage service policy, and will provide periodic refresher training to those employees.

To Advertise Responsibly

This Code applies to AGA member companies’ advertising and marketing of casino gambling including sports betting. It does not pertain to advertising and marketing that is primarily of hotels, restaurants and entertainment that may be associated with or operated or promoted by casinos.

For the purposes of this code, advertising and marketing includes, among other media: radio and television ads, print, direct mail, social media, billboards and Internet promotions.

Casino gambling including sports betting advertising and marketing will:

  • Contain a responsible gaming message and/or a toll-free help line number where practical.
  • Reflect generally accepted contemporary standards of good taste.
  • Strictly comply with all state and federal standards to make no false or misleading claims or create a suggestion that the probabilities of winning or losing at the various games offered by the casino, or by betting on sports contests, are different than those actually experienced.

Casino gambling including sports betting advertising and marketing will not:

  • Contain images, symbols, celebrity/entertainer endorsements and/or language designed to appeal specifically to children and minors.
  • Feature anyone who is or appears to be below the legal age to participate in gambling or sports betting activity or imply that underage persons engage in casino gambling or sports betting.
  • Depart from contemporary standards of good taste that apply to all commercial messaging, as suits the context of the message or the medium utilized.
  • Be placed with such intensity and frequency that they represent saturation of that medium or become excessive.
  • Contain claims or representations that gambling activity will guarantee an individual’s social, financial or personal success.
  • Be placed before any audience where most of the audience is ordinarily expected to be below the legal age to participate in gambling or sports betting activity.
  • Imply or suggest any illegal activity of any kind.

 

PLEDGE TO OUR EMPLOYEES

 
AGA members will educate new employees on responsible gaming.

AGA members will train gaming employees on responsible gaming and provide annual or periodic refresher training. Employee training should highlight the differences between responsible gaming and gambling that is problematic.

AGA members will implement communications programs for employees to improve their understanding of responsible gaming and related policies and procedures.

AGA members will provide information to new and existing employees about responsible gaming, the member company’s policies and practices related to responsible gaming, and where to find assistance. AGA members will also ensure that employees receive timely updates regarding new research and new topics that should be integrated into the industry’s responsible gaming training programs.

AGA members will post responsible gaming awareness information, including a toll-free help-line number, at various locations where employees congregate.
 

PLEDGE TO THE PUBLIC

 
AGA will work with stakeholders to assist in the distribution of information and raise awareness regarding the industry commitment to responsible gaming.

AGA members will support and promote research-based policies on responsible gaming.

AGA members will continue to provide funding for the National Center for Responsible Gaming, which is the leading source of science-based research and information on gambling and health.

AGA members will use this research to identify the best practices for casinos to follow to promote responsible gaming.

AGA members will continue to develop a dialogue surrounding scientific research on gambling and health to communicate to and educate patrons, employees and policy-makers.

To Provide Oversight and Review

Each AGA member company will implement the Code and conduct annual reviews of its Responsible Gaming program.

References in this Code to providing certain “information” to employees and customers mean that AGA members will use those means of communication appropriate for each message, which may include any or all of a range of traditional, electronic and social media such as written brochures, posters, website postings or direct electronic messages.

**All aspects of AGA’s Code of Conduct are subject to local, state and federal laws.**

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. – In a letter to federal lawmakers today, American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Geoff Freeman reiterated the gaming industry’s top priorities in the evolving debate on how to create a successful legal sports betting market in the United States.

Following last week’s momentous U.S. Supreme Court decision ending the federal sports betting ban, the casino gaming industry is dedicated to building the world’s most secure and successful sports betting system. As legal, regulated sport betting expands across the country, AGA and the gaming industry will work with all stakeholders who share our commitment to eliminating the vast illegal gaming market.

Below are the priorities the gaming industry will pursue:

  1. Empower State Regulation: More than 40 states and 260 jurisdictions have proven to be effective gaming regulators. AGA will be a resource to state policymakers and regulators as they consider sports betting legalization. AGA will also combat any attempts by the federal government to neuter state regulatory power.
  2. Place Consumers First: AGA encourages all stakeholders to understand the intricacies of the illegal marketplace and why consumers turn to it. AGA will promote strong consumer protections – which the illegal market fails to offer – and consumer-centric conveniences such as intrastate mobile wagering.
  3. Strengthen Game Integrity: Rigorous sports betting regulation strengthens game integrity, a primary aim shared by the gaming industry and sporting bodies. New technologies make it possible to track legal wagering and identify suspicious activities. The gaming industry supports establishing a national data repository to share any suspicious betting information with law enforcement, gaming regulators and sporting bodies.
  4. Promote Responsible Gaming and Responsible Advertising: The gaming industry encourages effective responsible gaming programs in all jurisdictions that enact regulated sports betting. To this end, the gaming industry will voluntarily pursue the creation of a self-regulatory model to guide sports betting advertising.
  5. Encourage Contracts over Statutes: Sports betting can benefit sporting bodies and gaming companies alike. The gaming industry supports strong contracts between these parties to address issues such as data and the value of other activities. The gaming industry will vigorously oppose efforts to use federal or state legislation to set basic business terms.

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 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.