Sports-betting victory lauded as latest result of industry coming together
Geoff Freeman, reflecting on his five years as president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, said the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling removing the federal ban on sports betting reflects a larger reality that has developed during his time at the AGA: Gaming has gone mainstream.
Freeman, who announced in early June that he will leave AGA in August to accept a similar position with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, told an audience at last week’s East Coast Gaming Congress that the industry should build upon the mainstream acceptance it has achieved.
“Don’t discount the power, the significance of policymakers wanting to be closer to what we now have, a mainstream industry,” Freeman said. “Let’s capitalize on that. The more mainstream we are, the more likely we can achieve mainstream policies, the more likely we can achieve reasonable regulations; the more likely we can talk about taxes, the more likely we can talk about going mobile.”
Freeman also lauded the industry for working together on vital issues such as the Internal Revenue Service’s proposal to lower the tax reporting threshold from $1,200 to $600, which the IRS dropped after educational meetings with the AGA, and on the sports betting issue.
“Remember what we just did,” Freeman said. “Remember the power of community; remember the power of collaboration; remember how we got there. We got here by thinking big picture. We got here by growing the pie and giving everyone a fair shot at winning their fair share.”
On sports betting, Freeman listed five areas of focus for the gaming industry:
Keep regulation at the state level.
“States and tribal sovereign nations have proven to be effective at being regulators, Freeman said. “The states have this under control. Just like they have with other activities, they will prove to be effective.”
Keep legal sports betting competitive with the illegal market.
“If policymakers don’t understand the efficiencies of the illegal market, they’re likely to build a legal market in name only,” said Freeman, who cited Mississippi regulations that restrict sports betting to brick-and-mortar facilities. “We’re putting our heads in the sand if we don’t recognize the alternatives customers have. Build a market that works for them.”
Emphasize integrity in sports betting.
“We cannot have a viable betting market if people think the fix is in,” he said. “I get what the leagues have at risk and that people are concerned. We share that risk.”
Maintain responsible gaming safeguards.
“We have to acknowledge that there are risks associated with (gambling), Freeman said. “We can police ourselves as industry and do the right thing. It’s absolutely critical to the future of sports betting.”
Make private contracts with sports leagues, not public laws.
“There is absolutely no reason for government to get in middle of one private entity sharing money with another private entity. The leagues have the potential to be tremendous partners. I hope you work together to expand this market as quickly as possible into other states to bring consistency in policymaking and to move people to the legal market from the illegal market.”
