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Dear Gaming Colleague,

As we begin this year's Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), I'm pleased to announce that today the American Gaming Association (AGA) activated the enforcement process for our Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. The code sets the industry standard-overseen by a Code Compliance Review Board (CCRB)-for sports betting advertising target audiences, outlets, and materials branding, while mandating responsible gaming messaging.

I would like to thank the many stakeholders who played a role in bringing this process together, especially those that will be joining the CCRB:

• Joe Bertolone, Executive Director, UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation (co-chair)
• Becky Harris, Distinguished Fellow in Gaming, UNLV International Gaming Institute (co-chair)

• Laura McAllister Cox, Vice President of Regulatory Compliance & Legal Counsel, Rush Street Gaming
• Stephen Martino, Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International
• Sharon Otterman, Chief Marketing Officer, William Hill
• Paul Pellizzari, Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock
• Chris Soriano, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, Penn National Gaming

This is an important moment for the sports betting industry. While gaming is one of the most regulated industries in the United States, our ability to effectively self-regulate in areas like advertising earns us the trust of the public, regulators, and policymakers. And, most importantly, it allows us to deliver against one of our core principles: responsible gaming.

This year's RGEW also gives us the opportunity to highlight AGA's consumer education efforts through our Have A Game Plan.? Bet Responsibly. public service campaign. I am excited to see many of you adapt this message during RGEW and hope to see it carried throughout the year. You can find toolkit resources to join the AGA in this effort here or contact AGA's Casey Clark for more information.

Betting with licensed, regulated operators is a key tenet of Have A Game Plan.? Accordingly, the AGA recently published a new legal guide on the offshore market, explaining how these illegal operators violate state and federal law and exploit consumers. This will be an essential document as we continue to show policymakers and the media the harmful effects of the illegal market. I welcome you to use it in your own work as well.

RGEW allows us to highlight all the great work AGA members do throughout the year to advance responsible gaming with our employees, customers, and communities. Thank you for ongoing commitment and happy RGEW 2020.

All the best,
Bill Miller
President & CEO

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Dear Gaming Colleague,

At the invitation of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, I testified this afternoon at a hearing on "Protecting the Integrity of College Athletics." While the hearing centered on name, image, and likeness issues, it also included discussion on the impact of legal sports betting on the integrity of college sports.

My testimony focused on familiar themes: the failure of the 25-year federal prohibition on sports betting (PASPA); the dangers of the pervasive and predatory illegal market; and the protections for the entire system that only exist within legal, regulated markets. Americans have a longstanding interest in sports betting that predates the Supreme Court's invalidation of PASPA, and I used today's hearing to reinforce the responsibility that everyone involved in the sports betting ecosystem shares to continue to get this right.

Importantly, I impressed upon the committee that sports betting regulation should continue to be led by the more than 4,000 experienced state and tribal regulators nationwide. The federal government can be a strong partner in combatting the illegal market and leveling the playing field for operators playing by the rules. A link to my testimony is available below.

It is a great privilege to represent the U.S. casino gaming industry every day, and that was especially true on Capitol Hill today.

All the best,
Bill Miller
President & CEO

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

As the gaming industry continues on the road to recovery, it''s more important than ever to highlight the leadership and innovation that has helped the industry move forward. The American Gaming Association''s new video series, Cards on the Table with Bill Miller, features one-on-one discussions with gaming''s top leaders on how they have handled COVID-19 and gaming''s road to recovery.

From casino and sportsbook operators to gaming suppliers, each interview highlights the innovative thinking that has overcome countless hurdles throughout the pandemic, provides insight into the latest business trends, and shares ideas that will propel the industry''s resurgence.

Tune in to the latest episodes below.

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Jon,

I am hard-pressed to think of a more challenging time then we've all seen in the past week. Already devastated by the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19, Americans are hurting as we mourn and speak out against the senseless killing of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police.

Not far from my home, outside the steps of the American Gaming Association office, the streets of Washington, like so many across the country, have filled nightly as thousands peacefully protested in the name of injustice. The destruction that followed left the community vandalized and all of us shaken.

Our society is based on a foundational principle that we are all created equal. Yet, for far too many, and for far too long, that ideal has not been a reality. This must change. We all have a responsibility to listen, exercise greater compassion, and stand up for what's right.

In my relatively brief tenure in the gaming industry, I've come to appreciate, admire, and value the close-knit nature of our business. There's no clearer example than the relationships we've built with communities all across the country. Our industry's presence often begins in underserved communities in need of a willing partner to kickstart their resurgence. From Boston to Tunica, Mississippi, communities across Oklahoma to Southwestern Ohio, and Detroit to Northern Nevada, we've contributed to the rebirth of communities, hired local, diverse workforces that reflect these communities, and thrived as a result.

In recent years, gaming has felt the sting of natural disasters and human tragedy, rebuilding each time with the fundamental belief that we are better and stronger together. Now, as economies begin to reopen, we have an opportunity and an obligation as a community engine to be the example of inclusion and collaboration once again.

I am eager to see and feel the heartbeat of American gaming, Las Vegas, shine again when Nevada casinos reopen their doors tomorrow. This can be a pivotal moment in our recovery. We must ensure that our industry's strong history of diversity and inclusion is met with stronger resolve for an even more diverse and inclusive future for communities all across this country.

Despite these trying times, I remain hopeful for our future, and confident that for our industry and our nation, brighter days are ahead.

All the best,

Bill Miller
President & CEO

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Jon,

As gaming expands to new formats and audiences, the American Gaming Association (AGA) is exploring how the industry can extend our responsible gaming efforts to match gaming''s growth.

I hope you will be able to join us this Tuesday, October 6 at 2:30 PM EDT/11:30 AM PDT to hear leading responsible gaming experts discuss the next generation of responsible gaming programs.

Please find additional information and a registration link to save your spot below.

Best,
Cait DeBaun
Senior Director, Strategic Communications &?Responsibility

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Dear Gaming Colleague,

Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker results from Q3 2020 showing our industry's recovery is well underway. Q3 revenue totaled $9.04 billion, up 294% from Q2 2020 and reaching 81 percent of Q3 2019 revenue. This is a testament to the gaming industry's efforts to responsibly reopen with health and safety protocols that allow employees and guests to return safely.

While these figures are promising, a full recovery for gaming is dependent on public health measures to control prevalence rates. There is a long road ahead, especially as state and local officials introduce reclosures and restrictions, making urgent Congressional action on additional COVID-19 relief even more crucial. The AGA continues to advocate for a package that aids employee retention and rehiring, provides liability protections for responsible operators, supports tribal nations, and jumpstarts the travel and tourism industry.

These upward trends are a gratifying demonstration of our diligence in reopening. As we navigate the weeks and months ahead, our success will come from working together. This has certainly been the most challenging year for our industry, but, importantly, our unified efforts have created a sustainable foundation for recovery.

Please find our full Q3 Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker below.

All the best,
Bill Miller
President & CEO

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

With sporting events largely curtailed for most of the second quarter, sportsbooks recorded $64.2 million in gross revenue in Q2, down 46.3% from 2019 and marking the first quarter with negative year-over-year growth in the post-PASPA era. The near complete closure of physical sportsbooks and limited sporting events was compounded by the continued inability of consumers to remotely register mobile wagering accounts in Iowa, Nevada, and Rhode Island.

Despite the enormous quarterly decline year-over-year, sports betting revenue for the first half of 2020 remains up 10.4% from the same period last year. Q1 2020 outperformed 2019 by 49.3 percent due, in part, to legal sportsbooks going live in 12 states over the past year.

Amid the absence of traditional gaming options, iGaming has continued to break revenue records throughout the first half of 2020, growing 253.8% in the second quarter from 2019. Q2 also marked the first full quarter with iGaming generating more revenue than sports betting in the post-PASPA era. Between the demise of PASPA and the outbreak of COVID-19, sports betting had consistently been growing at a higher rate than iGaming, but that trend has shifted for the time being. To date, iGaming revenue has nearly tripled (189.8%) in 2020 from the same period last year.

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Dear Gaming Colleague,

Today, the American Gaming Association (AGA) and National Hockey League (NHL?) announced that the NHL will partner with the AGA on our Have A Game Plan.? Bet Responsibly. public service campaign. Through the partnership, the NHL and its teams in legal sports betting jurisdictions will use co-branded materials to promote responsible sports betting online and in arenas during the league's coming seasons.

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Dear Gaming Colleague,

The American Gaming Association (AGA) released new research today finding that more than 33 million American adults plan to bet on the upcoming NFL season, with greater shares of bettors planning to place NFL wagers with both brick-and-mortar and online sportsbooks than in 2019.

While overall fan enthusiasm for the 2020 NFL season is down, sports bettors report that they are far more likely to be excited for the season than both avid and casual NFL fans. This report is the latest illustration of the power of sports betting to engage fans, and, importantly, do so even when league interest is otherwise down.

As more American adults access legal betting options closer to home, it is important they do so responsibly. The AGA built Have a Game Plan.? Bet Responsibly. to bring the core tenets of responsible sports betting to consumers and provide access to gamblers who may need additional support. Driving bettors away from illegal operators and toward the legal market is also a focus of this initiative.

Please find our full research findings, including Super Bowl betting favorites, below.

Best,
Casey Clark
Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications

Teams receiving the greatest share of wagers to win the Super Bowl:?

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Dear Gaming Colleague,

While gaming continues to responsibly reopen across the country, our industry remains among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and additional federal support is needed to weather this storm. Initial relief efforts through the CARES Act, which the AGA fought to ensure our industry was eligible for, provided a first step to stabilize the economy in March.

After months of delay, Congress finally appears poised to deliver more relief. Senate Republicans released their proposal, the HEALS Act, earlier this week as a starting point for negotiations with Democrats who passed the HEROES Act in May. The HEALS Act includes the following key provisions that can support gaming:

• Liability protection for businesses from COVID-19 exposure claims.
  
• Tax relief through the employee retention tax credit, work opportunity tax credit, credit for PPE and health and safety measures, and full deduction for business meals.
• Provides tribes, if they follow the federal fiscal calendar, 90 days flexibility after the last day of their 2021 fiscal year to spend the March relief package funds.
• Increases reimbursement for unemployment benefits costs incurred by tribes to 75%, up from 50% under the CARES Act.

We are encouraged to see liability protection included in the HEALS Act, as well as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's firm support of it. We heard across all gaming segments that this relief measure is critical for our industry to reopen and stay open. The AGA will continue to fight to ensure this is a core element of any deal that emerges.

At the same time, we recognize this may be the last major congressional action to stabilize the economy over the next several months. We are committed to ensuring the gaming industry not only continues to be eligible for the economic relief extended to all businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic, but that Congress prioritizes measures that will provide the greatest assistance to the commercial and tribal gaming industry. Notably:

• Enhanced employee retention, general business, and PPE tax credits.
• Provisions targeted at restarting the travel and tourism industry such as incentives for conventions and business travel, spending on meals and entertainment, and other measures to get Americans traveling again.
  

Negotiations this week have thus far yielded little progress toward a bipartisan agreement. There are significant gaps between the HEALS and HEROES Act, with many thorny issues that will need to be resolved - including extension of unemployment benefits and funding for state and local governments. We will keep you updated throughout the process as policymakers work to pass a bill before August recess.

Your input and your engagement are critical as this unfolds over the next several weeks. Please reach out with your questions, feedback, and concerns as we continue to make our voice heard on Capitol Hill.

All the best,
Bill Miller
President & CEO

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States

Dear Gaming Colleague,

Congress took an important step this evening in its ongoing COVID relief efforts by passing bipartisan legislation, which will support many Americans and businesses that continue to struggle as a result of the pandemic. After months of legislative gridlock, it is encouraging that leaders were able to set aside their partisan differences to deliver some much-needed relief before the end of the year.

While this compromise legislation, unfortunately, does not address all of our industry''s critical priorities, it does include some important measures that the AGA fought for:

• Expansion of the CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credit.
• Extension of Coronavirus Relief Fund availability for tribes to December 31, 2021.
• Restoration of full deductibility for business meals in 2021 and 2022.

Clearly, much work remains to be done in Congress to urgently address the many economic challenges facing our nation and our industry.

The gaming industry has been especially hard hit by the pandemic, but through it all, we have met each challenge with resilience. By investing heavily in health and safety protocols and working together to responsibly reopen, we have helped lead our nation's economic recovery while keeping our communities safe. Moreover, our outsized economic impact in communities across the country-supporting nearly two million American jobs, providing critical tax revenue, and serving as vital economic engines-means our continued recovery is essential to the recovery of our nation.

The AGA will continue to tell this story in the new year. We are engaged with the incoming Biden administration and leadership for the 117th Congress to quickly advance new measures that will provide:

• Additional tax relief to save gaming jobs and alleviate costs.
• Liability protections to advance responsible reopening.
• Incentives for reviving travel and tourism.
• Further support for tribal nations.

These measures will set up our industry-and the broader economy-for what will be a resurgent spring and summer in the coming year as COVID-19 vaccines become broadly available.

Thank you for your continued support of the AGA and our united efforts on behalf of the gaming industry. Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Bill Miller
President & CEO

American Gaming Association
799 9th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
United States