Bill Miller, the president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association (AGA), has shared his thoughts on the rapid growth of betting. In a publication published by Newsweek, he expressed his opinions on the matter and provided insight into the association’s view of the market.
Legal Betting Continues to Grow and That’s a Good Thing Since the repeal of the PASPA, 38 US states and the District of Columbia have launched at least some form of betting. While some have critiqued the industry’s expansion, Miller emphasized that it is a voluntary entertainment option that is supported by 9 in 10 Americans.
He also pointed out that legal gaming is one of America’s most regulated industries as the government and operators want to make sure that the industry is sustainable. Because of that, customers of legal operators are provided access to a variety of tools to moderate their playtime and shield themselves from risk.
Miller noted that prior to that, players would play with unlicensed black market companies that intentionally offered none of these player protections.
Legal Gaming Does Not Necessarily Cause Financial Strain Miller furthermore insisted that the idea that legal betting leads to widespread financial hardship is simply wrong and contradicts recent research. He suggested that Americans face greater financial challenges from healthcare and housing expenses than from discretionary spending on entertainment.
Additionally, data shows that sports betting represents a small fraction of all spending on entertainment, with the average bettors putting no more than $100 on the line a month. For perspective, he noted that Americans spend $141 a month on phone bills, $300 on dining out, and $734 on car payments.
Despite that, Miller still recognized the fact that a small portion of bettors do experience gambling problems. Because of that, however, the legal market invests almost half a billion dollars a year in the study of gambling addiction and the creation of better responsible gambling tools.
America Trusts Its Citizens to Make Informed Choices Miller reiterated that the expansion of betting is ultimately good for America because of the significant tax revenue it provides and the fact that bettors now have a legal outlet to entertain themselves and do not have to seek out dangerous offshore companies.
At its core, legal sports betting reflects a trust in the ability of American adults to make informed choices about how they engage with entertainment. The vast majority of sports bettors participate responsibly, enjoying the excitement and camaraderie that come with rooting for their favorite teams.
Bill Miller, president & CEO, AGA The Path Forward Lies in Collaboration Miller suggested that the demonization of the industry and its consumers based on a few worst-case scenarios is counterproductive. Instead, he believes that the US should focus on advancing the understanding of gambling harms and devising better safer gambling tools.
The AGA CEO firmly stated that legal betting is not a “societal ill or a threat to the fabric of America” but rather a great success story that shows how moderate regulation and sustainability can benefit both players and communities.
Miller concluded that he believes the path forward “lies in collaboration, transparency and commitment to enhancing consumer safeguard while embracing the economic and social benefits of this thriving industry.”
