AGA State Stakeholders Summit Highlights Industry Partnership with Policymakers on Legalized, Regulated Sports Betting

Event convenes leading associations representing state and local elected officials, gaming regulators, law enforcement and consumers
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2018
CONTACT: Casey Clark
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202-552-2684

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The American Gaming Association (AGA) Tuesday held its first ever State Stakeholders Summit, convening industry experts and invested stakeholders to drive the evolving national debate on expanding legalized, regulated sports betting. Held at the Hall of States, the event focused on potential policy solutions for state and federal legislatures and regulatory bodies. Drawing upon critical guidance from gaming regulators and AGA policy principles, stakeholders discussed the need for sound policy that would enhance law enforcement resources and drive customers to a legal, regulated market.

Within the next 70 days, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a ruling on Murphy v. NCAA, the state of New Jersey’s challenge to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The 1992 law, which largely outlawed sports betting outside of Nevada, has failed to offer sport or consumer protection. Rather, PASPA restricts state and federal economic benefits, exhausts law enforcement resources and perpetuates a thriving illegal sports betting market in the United States that AGA estimates to be in excess of $150 billion annually. Event participants included those who joined AGA in filing amicus briefs with the Supreme Court in support of New Jersey. 

“This meeting was an opportunity to continue our longstanding dialogue about shutting down the illegal sports betting market with some of the most important stakeholders in the debate,” said AGA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Slane. “States are anticipating and are preparing to offer legal, regulated sports betting in a way that meets the needs of their constituents. The organizations represented are central to advancing effective and sensible sports betting laws and regulations, and enacting and enforcing these new rules.” 

Participants included members of AGA’s Sports Betting Task Force, former and current gaming regulators, and representatives from the National Governors Association, Conference of Western Attorneys General, National Conference of State Legislatures, American Legislative Exchange Council, Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Association of Counties and the Council of State Chambers, among others. 

The Stakeholder Summit preceded a meeting of AGA’s Public Policy Committee, which convenes biannually to discuss industry policy priorities and activities.

AGA will issue an after-action report outlining lessons learned from the Summit, and next steps for advancing sound sports betting policy that shuts down the illegal market.
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About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $240 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.7 million jobs in 40 states. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.