STATESIDE Melinda Nagy/Adobe Stock


To put this in context of how ridiculous it is, consider these real-life scenarios. Many of you reading this may not have been alive in 1977 when computer usage was barely a blip in the workforce. Would you drive a car or use appliances from that era? Has your salary had a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)? Even Social Security in the US rises every so often as needed. An enthusiastic AGA President/CEO Bill Miller said,


“Increasing the slot tax threshold to account for inflation is a long overdue change that will alleviate unnecessary administrative burdens on casino operators, their customers and an understaffed and overwhelmed IRS.” He’s right about the overwhelmed IRS staff. Reports claim that millions have still not received refunds from last year’s income tax filings, so I can only imagine how adding additional paperwork will clog the system. The second immediate issue is gas pricing. Every American who drives, regardless of their state, feels the pain at the pump to some degree. Between New Jersey and Florida, where I’ve spent the last few months, the best price I could find in both states is still well above $4 right now. In New York and California, gas has reached the upper $5 or $6 ranges, even hitting $7 in Los Angeles. Many in Congress and the White House have multiple


explanations, but polls show most of the public isn’t buying any of them. We need relief as the summer tourist season begins in a world where Covid is no longer everywhere.


10 APRIL 2022


I worry in Atlantic City, my home region, because it is a true summer destination point. Who knows if gas prices, higher highway/bridge tolls and airline costs will reduce the number of visitors and their discretionary leisure spending? These concerns are echoed at casino properties


nationwide, no matter their location’s access and environment. This is a fluid “wait and see” situation that I know I will report on over the next few months. On a positive note, the AGA predicts this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Men’s Division Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, will see 45 million Americans betting a projected $3.1 billion. The competition begins each year in March and the Final Four play for the championship in April. Of those 45 million, 20.9 million will bet at retail


sportsbooks, online, with a bookie or with their friends. That’s a real win for casino sportsbooks. The remaining bettors will wager on traditional brackets or similar pools. The Final Four again includes my hometown team


– Pennsylvania’s Villanova Wildcats. While I won’t bet this year, I will cheer them on… Go ‘Nova! So, the woman who wondered what I write about should know that I only get to scratch the surface each month on what is happening in US gaming.


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