The American Gaming Association last week built on two important initiatives that are designed to reduce illegal gambling and encourage the legalization of sports wagering.
The AGA and National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) last week announced a partnership to expose illegal gambling that will include training for law enforcement officials at Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the world’s largest gaming trade show that takes place September 27-29 in Las Vegas. The first-ever comprehensive training is part of NDAA’s Comprehensive Training Series and AGA’s “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative.
The joint presentation and training will feature prosecutors and representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Texas Lottery Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board, as well as experts on Tribal sovereignty and other casino industry representatives. Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt and representatives from the Arizona and Mississippi attorneys general offices are also expected to participate.
“This partnership offers the latest evidence that illegal gambling, including the massive illegal sports betting market, is a priority for law enforcement at every level across the country,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “Global Gaming Expo offers the perfect opportunity to convene district attorneys and others in law enforcement with gaming industry professionals to learn best practices for exposing shady operators that are tied to organized crime and who siphon revenues from governments and the legal, regulated gaming industry.”
“Through our partnership with the American Gaming Association, we will be better equipped to expose and ultimately crack down on illegal gambling operations across the country,” said Mike Ramos, NDAA president. “This training is about focusing on best practices and building relationships in an effort to protect consumers from the predatory operators of illegal gambling operations.”
This latest partnership is part of AGA’s “Stop Illegal Gambling – Play it Safe” initiative, which is uniting gaming and law enforcement to expose the growing illegal gambling market that preys on consumers, siphons tax revenues and funds violent crime. Through the initiative, AGA, since April 2015, has:
• Gathered more than 30 law enforcement leaders from across the country for the first-ever Law Enforcement Summit in Washington, D.C. to better understand the massive illegal sports betting market in the U.S. and what steps can be taken to address it.
• Launched a partnership with the FBI to receive illegal gambling tips;
• Supported in the formation of the first-ever Gaming Committee as part of the influential National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG);
• Formed the Illegal Gambling Advisory Board;
• Released a PSA with the Humane Society of America and the National Sheriffs’ Association;
• Partnered with the Clubs Australia;
• Partnered with the European Casino Association;
• Joined with the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers to highlight a massive illegal gambling market in Texas;
• Released authoritative research tying illegal gambling to organized crime activities; and
• Highlighted the massive underground sports betting market, including the billions of dollars bet illegally on college and professional football and March Madness.
More information can be found at StopIllegalGambling.org.
And in Missouri last week, the AGA met in St. Louis to discuss the upcoming election.
With the state playing an important role in the 2016 presidential election, the state’s casinos today delivered a clear message to Republicans and Democrats alike: look no further than the gaming industry for examples of consistent job creation and robust economic development. The AGA convened a roundtable forum at Pinnacle’s River City Casino with Missouri gaming executives, St. Louis-area business and community leaders, and state and local elected officials to note the $8 billion in tax and admission revenue generated by the industry since the first casino’s doors opened in the state in 1994.
“Thanks to unmatched career opportunities, tax revenues and charitable contributions, casino gaming is a valued community partner in St. Louis and across Missouri,” said Freeman. “However, the policies that worked yesterday will not work tomorrow. We encourage elected officials to take a progressive view of gaming policy that encourages greater reinvestment, flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing consumer demands and commonsense regulations that help the industry generate even greater tax revenue.”
“Missouri’s casinos are proud to be good neighbors and good corporate citizens,” said Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Association. “Today’s panel provided a portrait of the many ways in which we boost St. Louis and communities throughout our state.”
Participants also focused on the industry’s impact on the state and local communities, workforce development and diversity. Women make up nearly half of the Missouri gaming workforce, while more than 40 percent of employees are people of color. Further, Missouri casinos routinely purchase from minority-owned, women-owned and small disadvantaged businesses.
“The gaming industry consistently provides unmatched career opportunities for employees from diverse backgrounds and a range of experiences,” said Virginia McDowell, president and chairwoman of Global Gaming Women, a 501(c) 3 with a mission to support women in the gaming industry.
Freeman also spoke of the enormous opportunity legalized sports betting presents for Missouri if the 24-year federal government ban is lifted. Americans bet at least $150 billion on sports illegally last year alone, and AGA is aggressively building a broad coalition that will urge Congress to adopt a new approach. Legal, regulated sports betting could generate significant tax revenue for state and local governments in Missouri.
Participants in the panel included: Chris Plant, vice president and general manager, River City Casino & Hotel; Todd George, vice president and general manager, Penn National Gaming; Donn Mitchell, chief administrative officer, Isle of Capri; Jeff Danis, chief procurement officer, Pinnacle Entertainment; Mike Donovan, vice president, marketing & hotel operations, Lumière Place Casino & Hotel; Virginia McDowell, chair, Global Gaming Women; Sandra Marks, chief executive officer, Marks & Associates Consulting; Andrea Scales-Williams, president, Document Imaging Systems; and Ed Bryant, vice president, Diverse Business Solutions, St. Louis Chamber of Commerce.
St. Louis is the latest stop on AGA’s “Gaming Votes” tour, which aims to highlight the industry’s role as a strong community partner for candidates. Polls show Missouri poised to be a battleground state this fall, and presidential candidates will debate in St. Louis just weeks before Election Day. AGA has hosted similar events in in Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Mississippi. Casino gaming supports more than 1.7 million jobs in 40 states.
