The American Gaming Association, which in the past said states and cities should decide if they want gaming with no outside influences, believes it played a role in the 60-40 ballot referendum vote for casinos in Massachusetts. Chief Executive Officer Geoff Freeman said, “Expansion is a local issue and it needs to remain a local issue. But critics have sold unchecked stories tied to public policy. It’s our job to dispel misinformation.”
The AGA ran a series of “Get To Know Gaming” advertisements in the Boston area in the weeks leading up to the vote. The ads explained the economic benefits of casinos found in a study conducted by the research arm of Oxford University. MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Penn National Gaming, which all have a stake in Massachusetts gaming, were the primary financial backers of the $12 million campaign to defeat the anti-casino referendum. The campaign also noted gambling has generated $240 billion in annual economic impact across the country, $38 billion in taxes and more than 1.7 million jobs.
Freeman said the AGA does not want to be viewed as an advocate when casino legalization appears on a ballot, nor does it want to say nothing. The AGA, he noted, should be the group to clear up misconceptions or untruths about a regulated casino industry, as it did in Massachusetts and will do in other markets as required.
Freeman said he hopes other states reviewing their gaming regulations will view the association as a resource, such as Indiana, which is considering if riverboat casinos should be allowed to move onto land; Delaware lawmakers are considering changes to the state’s gaming policies; and Florida, Texas, and Kentucky may again debate legalized casinos.
One topic on which the AGA will not take a stand is online gambling. In fact last March, MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren, chairman of AGA board, advised Freeman to refrain from lobbying on behalf of legalizing internet poker. Murren said the topic was dividing the group’s membership: Las Vegas Sands Corporation and Wynn Resorts oppose legalizing online gambling, and Caesars Entertainment Corporation and MGM Resorts support it. Going forward, Freeman said, the AGA will choose its battles carefully.
