"We made significant progress on combating illegal gambling and strengthening responsible gambling in 2023"

As 2023 comes to an end, Yogonet spoke with Cait DeBaun, AGA Vice President of Strategic Communications & Responsibility, on what the closing year has meant for the US gambling industry, as well as the challenges faced throughout the last 12 months.

Additionally, DeBaun explains the main focuses for AGA in 2024, emphasizing that stopping illegal gambling and strengthening responsible gambling are long-term priorities.

What were the major milestones and achievements for AGA and the US gambling industry in the past year? In which ways has the association supported the unprecedented growth seen in the US casino industry in 2023?

Through three-quarters of reporting, it’s clear that 2023 will mark the gaming industry's third straight year of record revenue—a truly remarkable feat following the challenges of COVID-19. Importantly, the industry continues to thrive across verticals, with land-based slots and table games, sports betting, and iGaming all pacing toward all-time annual revenue highs.

2023 marked significant milestones for legal sports betting and iGaming. In May 2023, the AGA celebrated the five-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court invalidating PASPA with new findings showing that 85 percent of Americans support the court’s decision a half-decade later. Meanwhile, November 2023 marked the 10-year anniversary of the advent of legal iGaming in the U.S., which has generated $4.04 billion in taxes according to AGA research.

The growth of these legal markets is supported by the AGA’s work to foster a business and regulatory environment for gaming to thrive. That means working on Capitol Hill and around the country to ensure a policy environment that is conducive to business, convening the industry on critical issues like responsible gaming and the illegal market, and providing a catalyst for industry growth by organizing G2E.

While gambling continues to grow, concerns have been raised about the looming threats posed by the black market and problem gambling. In what ways has AGA supported responsible gaming initiatives or addressed issues related to illegal gambling during the year?

The AGA's top priorities in 2023—combating illegal gambling and strengthening responsible gambling—are essential to creating a safe, sustainable legal gaming market. In 2023, we made significant progress on both of these fronts.

The AGA continued to bolster industry responsible gaming efforts this year by organizing another successful Responsible Gaming Education Month, strengthening our Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering, and growing our Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.  campaign with new partners and league activations.

We also drove significant progress on stopping illegal gambling by engaging federal policymakers and law enforcement, national and local media, as well as state lawmakers and regulators. Victories included:

• Bans in Kentucky and Virginia on "skill" machines.
• Enforcement action to seize thousands of unregulated "skill" machines and stop faux fantasy operations in key states.
• Language in U.S. House of Representatives and Senate legislation directing the U.S. Department of Justice to act against all forms of illegal and unregulated gambling.
• Ongoing national and local media coverage on the size and threat of illegal gambling.

As we enter 2024, the AGA will double down on our work, bringing relevant stakeholders together to make additional progress on these critical efforts.

The unprecedented growth we are seeing in the US is accompanied by rapid technological developments. Do you think new technologies such as AI will play a key role in the development of products and services in the gaming industry in 2024?

While the ways AI will be implemented in gaming remain to be fully seen, it’s clear that artificial intelligence will play an important role in the future of our industry. AI solutions for customer acquisition and retention will certainly be a focus, as will AI's influence on the gameplay itself.

What I am most excited to see, however, is how artificial intelligence will strengthen responsible gambling. From incentivizing safe betting habits to identifying and flagging risky behavior, AI has the potential to exponentially strengthen existing tools and safeguards.

Importantly, as we consider the various applications of AI, we need to consider ethical concerns and ensure transparency in its uses to maximize its application and minimize any potential consequences.

Where will AGA's focus be in 2024 and how will AGA support the gambling industry and the association's members in their endeavors? Are there any specific goals the association is trying to accomplish in 2024 and beyond?

Stopping illegal gambling and strengthening responsible gambling are long-term priorities and we believe our efforts around them will shape the industry for years to come.

On illegal gambling, we are making meaningful progress, and our opponents are not taking it lying down. In 2024, we won't let up the fight. We'll continue our full-court press to stop illegal gambling by empowering policymakers, courts, and law enforcement with the information they need to act, building on our successes in the court of public opinion, and going after the platforms and businesses that enable these bad actors.

On responsible gambling, the AGA is invested in uniting our industry in 2024. Our goal is to expand our commitments, align our actions, and speak with one, powerful voice. This will mean convening industry leaders, advocates, academics, regulators, and other key stakeholders to put aside individual interests, prioritize collaboration, and define the next era of responsible gambling.

Beyond these priorities, the AGA will continue to leverage original research, engage gaming champions, and highlight our industry’s role as an economic engine to ensure gaming is well-positioned as we enter the U.S. election cycle in 2024.