Guest Comment: Bill Miller
Supporting the industry through the CARES Act and beyond By Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association
T
he U.S. gaming industry started the year with a promising outlook: Americans’ favorability toward gaming was at an all-time high, casinos reported year-overyear visitation growth, and across the country, new states legalized sports betting as legislatures wrapped up their sessions. But as our industry prepared for a blockbuster March Madness, COVID-19 brought gaming to a complete standstill. Unprecedented government mandates closed all 989 commercial and tribal casinos in the country, impacting more than 650,000 direct gaming employees, 17,000 gaming supplier employees, and 350,000 American small business workers who are supported by the gaming industry. In all, these closures endanger more than $74 billion in wages annually for our employees and their families. When our doors close, it deeply impacts every community where we operate. Casino gaming supports thousands of local small businesses and more than $41 billion in annual tax and tribal revenue sharing nationwide, which funds local hospitals, first responders, and essential public services. Our commitment goes beyond tax dollars, which is why gaming companies across the country are donating thousands of meals to local food banks, contributing millions of personal protective equipment to health care workers, and setting up emergency funds to support employees. Supporting our communities—in good times and bad—has cultivated champions in every corner of the country and made our collective voice stronger than ever. Previous federal responses to natural disasters and financial crises have explicitly excluded gaming companies from economic assistance available to the broader business community, making our inclusion in the CARES Act a significant, precedentsetting moment. The COVID-19 economic relief package provided gaming companies access to $454 billion in loans and loan guarantees; important tax Volume 16: Issue 139
Bill Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Association
relief measures; $8 billion in targeted aid for tribal
communities; and extended benefits for furloughed casino employees. But our work is far from done. As Congress considers additional relief efforts, the AGA will continue to work with our members to ensure that gaming’s interests are prioritized. This includes pushing back on bureaucratic rules to ensure all gaming businesses receive relief equal to other industries and advocating for measures that will support the industry’s short and long-term financial outlook. Looking beyond the pandemic, the AGA is already working with operators and regulators to research and guide reopening best practices to get the industry back on its feet and welcome consumers when it is safe to do so. The gaming community has proved its resiliency time and again, and this will be no different. At the AGA, we are committed to helping lead the industry through such a pivotal chapter in its history. 7
