Dear Gaming Industry Colleagues,
As 2025 draws to a close, our industry can look back on a year of both meaningful progress and serious challenges that will shape gaming’s future.
We began the year navigating a challenging economic environment, shaped by uncertainty around tariffs, inflation and broader market conditions. Yet despite those conditions, we’re ending the year on strong footing. Executive sentiment has rebounded to its highest level since late 2022, and we recently marked our 20th consecutive quarter of growth, putting us on track for another record-setting year.
That success reflects focused, coordinated action across the industry and by the AGA. In 2025, we delivered meaningful results across several fronts:
Protecting the Legal Marketplace
This was a significant year in confronting illegal and unregulated gaming. Through close collaboration with state and tribal regulators, attorneys general, and law enforcement, we saw real momentum – from cease-and-desist orders and state-level bans that forced sweepstakes casinos out of key states, to a letter signed by 50 attorneys general urging the Department of Justice to act against offshore operators, alongside new FBI guidance underscoring the scope of the threat. We also took decisive action against prediction markets attempting to bypass established gaming law and state and tribal authority, reinforcing the importance of a clear, accountable regulatory framework.
Advancing Responsible Gaming
From launching Play Smart from the Start to a highly successful Responsible Gaming Education Month and expanded year-round initiatives, the industry continued to lead on consumer protection.
Modernizing Policy Frameworks
We secured a long-overdue update to the federal slot tax reporting threshold – modernizing an outdated policy. We also made progress advancing broader tax and regulatory priorities that strengthen and support legal gaming.
Convening the Global Industry
We marked G2E’s 25th anniversary by bringing the global gaming community together – reinforcing G2E’s role as the premier event for our industry.
Looking ahead to 2026, three priorities will drive our continued work:
Championing State and Tribal Authority
Our position is clear and unwavering: sports event contracts are gambling, and gambling is regulated by states and tribes. In 2026, we will continue to defend this framework and uphold state authority and tribal sovereignty.
Strengthening the Legal Market
Recent high-profile betting scandals have reinforced that the regulated market works. Collaboration between licensed operators, leagues, state regulators, and law enforcement continues to detect suspicious activity and drive swift enforcement action. Combating the illegal market also remains a central focus of our work as illegal and offshore operators operate without consumer protections, responsible gaming safeguards, and directly undermine the legal marketplace.
Ensuring a Favorable Business Environment
In 2026, we will continue advocating for policies that support sustainable growth, including restoring fair tax treatment of gaming losses – ensuring the legal market can continue to innovate, invest, and deliver economic benefits to the communities we serve.
As we close out 2025, thank you for your continued partnership and leadership across the industry. I wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a prosperous 2026.
Best regards,
Bill