The Republican National Committee announced it will hold presidential primary debates in gambling-friendly states including Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa and Florida. Casino gaming in those states generates billion in economic activity, delivers billion dollars in taxes and provides 473,500 jobs. The Republican presidential nominating process will end in the casino-host city of Cleveland for the Republican National Convention.
Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association, said, “As presidential candidates travel in the coming months, the American Gaming Association will ensure they know that gaming is driving big economic results in these communities. And the nearly half-a-million gaming employees will know which candidates support their industry as they head to the voting booth.”
Below is the tentative debate schedule and gaming’s economic impact, according to recent reports conducted by Oxford Economics, in the state hosting each debate:
The process will begin in August in Ohio where, according to the AGA-commissioned Oxford Economics report, the gaming industry supports 14,000 jobs, has a $2.2 billion economic impact and generates $673 million in taxes. The next stop will be in October in Colorado, where the gaming industry supports 10,000 jobs, generates $1.5 billion in economic impact and delivers $342 million in taxes. Then the candidates will debate in December in Nevada, where the gaming industry provides 425,000 jobs, has a $53 billion economic impact and generates $7.9 billion in taxes. In January 2016 the primaries move to Iowa, where the gaming industry supports 17,000 jobs, has a $2.5 billion economic impact and generates $726 million in taxes. Finally, in February 2016 the candidates will meet in Florida, where the gaming industry supports 7,500 jobs, generates $1.2 billion in economic impact and delivers $359 million in taxes.
Casino gaming in the U.S. is a $240 billion industry that supports 1.7 million jobs and generates $38 billion in federal, state and local taxes, according to an Oxford Economics study released last fall.
