Senior representatives from firms, including Churchill Downs, Monarch Casino & Resort, and The Cordish Companies, have come together to form the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG).
The group has announced its arrival with the publication of a study called “Economic Impacts of iGaming Expansion”, compiled by The Innovation Group.
To put it bluntly, NAAiG aims to stop the proliferation and further growth of iGaming while setting out its key advocacy aims as follows:
– To enhance casino regulations and oversight in the interest of customer protection.
– To promote and encourage visitors to physical casino venues, as they “support local economies” and provide face-to-face safeguards.
– Lobbying policymakers on the “real risks” of iGaming.
– Striving to prevent the further growth of iGaming to avoid job losses, addiction issues, and financial difficulty.
Uniting stakeholders to push back
NAAiG’s commissioned study indicated limited benefits with the expansion of iGaming but noted several concerns. There is also the worry of online gaming “cannibalizing” retail casinos, with the claim that brick-and-mortar casino revenue underperforms by 16.5% after iGaming legalization.
The number comes from comparative results in iGaming states, which witnessed a drop of around 4.3% in retail revenue, set against those in states without iGaming, which recorded a growth of 12% over the last five years.
NAAiG underlines how double-digit revenue drops would lead to “substantial job losses, hundreds of millions of dollars in lost economic output, and reduced tax contributions that fund public services.”
The report also predicts that New York will see 4,921 job cuts and Illinois will lose 4,733 roles by 2029.
Jason Gunner, NAAiG board member and Executive VP and General Counsel of Monarch Casino & Resort, stated, “Beyond the lack of any real upside for states, iGaming puts vulnerable individuals at greater risk of problem gambling and financial instability.”
“NAAiG is uniting stakeholders to push back and stop the spread of these harmful trends and advocate for responsible gaming policies.”
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