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State of Play’s TL;DR
- The American Gaming Association says its new policy platform will prioritize illegal gambling, anti-money laundering, tribal gaming, and next-generation gaming policy.
- The organization says it will also weigh in on tax reporting and sports betting research.
The American Gaming Association is sharpening its Washington agenda with a new policy platform that puts illegal gambling, anti-money laundering, tribal gaming, and “next-generation” gaming policy at the center of its lobbying work.
The move matters because it also touches tax reporting, sports betting, and the broader rules shaping how the gambling industry operates in the US.
The platform was aligned at the AGA’s inaugural Public Policy Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., which brought together more than 25 senior gaming industry representatives, according to CDC Gaming.
AGA sets four core policy priorities
The AGA said its core issues are:
- Next-generation gaming
- Illegal gambling
- Anti-money laundering
- Tribal gaming
With next-generation gaming, the group plans to release a policy framework aimed at streamlining regulation and removing barriers to innovation.
On illegal gambling, the AGA said it will commission research on the size and forms of the market and deepen partnerships with elected officials, law enforcement, and regulators.
On AML, the group said it intends to work more closely with the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and other federal agencies, with a Financial Action Task Force review of US anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance on the horizon.
The platform also includes tribal gaming, with Kevin K. Washburn, US Department of the Interior’s assistant secretary for Bureau of Indian Affairs, participating in committee discussion about tribal and commercial casino issues.
Tax reporting and sports betting also enter the conversation
Beyond the four headline issues, the AGA said it is engaged on an IRS notice that would change tax reporting rules for players’ slot winnings. Sports betting was also described as an emerging major public policy issue. The article points to comments from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, other major sports leagues, and lawmakers, and says the AGA plans to encourage a board-level task force to study the topic and begin research on market size and member impact.
The group is also continuing work on related business issues such as competitiveness, labor and employment, and travel and infrastructure.
Based on reporting for Geoff Freeman for CDC Gaming.
