STATESIDE
Stateside
Sharon Harris looks at the AGA’s progress and accomplishments via their year-end report.
Fighting Illegal Gambling Head On
T 8 FEBRUARY 2024
AGA President Bill Miller
he upcoming ICE show in London shortened the editorial deadline for CI. That abbreviated timetable challenged reporting on the constantly- evolving gaming landscape. In late December, American Gaming Association (AGA) President Bill Miller released a year-end report highlighting the year’s many
accomplishments. The summary included responsible gaming marketing, emphasizing sports betting, developing an industry anti-human trafficking guide and launching a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force component. DEI is a controversial concept in the U.S. and I’ll explain in an upcoming column/feature. One specific topic, “Fighting Illegal Gambling Head On,” reminded me that
“everything old is new again.” I benefit from being “seasoned” in amusement operations and gaming journalism, understanding this new twist to a similar plot. Reality sometimes interferes with the lofty goals. What are described as illegal, unregulated “skill” machines resemble slot
machines with touchscreens. Players insert their money and select a game. The distinction is that skill games require some physical or mental ability to win while the outcome for games of chance-i.e. gambling equipment-is random. The AGA revealed its successful five steps towards eliminating these games:
• Kentucky and Virginia outlawed the machines, but Pennsylvania is more complicated and will require more comprehensive action.
• Law enforcement in eight states had already seized these games. • The AGA secured federal House and Senate legislation that ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to take action against any type of illegal, unregulated gambling.
• The AGA notified gaming regulators, states attorneys general and U.S. Attorneys nationwide to coalesce and support all efforts to combat illegal gambling.
• The AGA developed a national and local media public relations campaign, highlighting the scope and threat of illegal gambling.
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