AGA: Capitol Hill changes provoke industry response
Bill Miller, President and CEO of the AGA, details the association’s policy priorities at federal and state level after the gaming industry bounces back with record revenues across the board.
From illegal gambling machines and advertising campaigns through to the Super Bowl and changed perceptions on Capitol Hill, Bill runs through the whole gamut of America’s booming gaming scene.
Te AGA’s recent State of the Industry event cited four key areas of gaming expansion in 2022:
1. Expansion of legal markets with mobile sports betting (New York, Louisiana, Maryland).
2. Launch of new legal sports betting states (Ohio, Nebraska).
3. Brick and mortar opening in new markets (Virginia, Nebraska).
4. Potential legalisation in new states (sports betting pending in nine states, iGaming in four states).
Whilst the American Gaming Association will continue to focus on gaming’s recovery, Bill Miller says it will also pursue new and renewed efforts to champion responsibility in sports betting - especially as it relates to advertising and marketing – as well as showcase AGA member efforts on ESG issues and advance policy priorities in Washington.
POLICY PRIORITIES
"We want to ensure Washington and the state capitals in which we work recognise the value we bring to local economies. We are still a long way from full recovery. Full recovery for our industry, just as it is in much of the hospitality sector, comes from bringing international and business travel back to pre-pandemic levels.
"Conventions and conferences are really important to strengthening the gaming industry, and to the degree that there is congressional action to help spur and incentivise trade shows,
Bill Miller President and CEO American Gaming Association
we are supportive of that. It is an election year and typically this means it is quite difficult to move big pieces of legislation, but we're working on ensuring we are treated the same as everyone else.
"Tere is a federal sports betting excise tax that has existed since the days of the mob running sportsbooks which is anachronistic and should be eliminated. We are also working with the Treasury and IRS to raise the slot tax threshold of $1,200 - a limit set back in the 1970s and not adjusted for inflation since. We are working hard on drawing attention to these issues in Congress.
"Generally, this industry is state regulated and that is an important differentiator from European countries. We have federalism and states decide what level of gaming they want, and we think that's a good thing. We support the level of federal engagement being limited.
"By and large, Congress recognises the role that we play in our industry and has been supportive of the 4,000-plus regulators at the state level who understand gaming and the level of gaming each individual state wants in their jurisdiction. Tey don't want to usurp that."
TACKLING ILLEGAL MACHINES Last year, the AGA released a white paper
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