American Gaming Association Names Bill Miller As New President

The American Gaming Association (AGA), a trade association which lobbies on behalf of the casino industry, has named Bill Miller as its next president and chief executive officer. The long-time lobbyist’s appointment follows a four-month executive search, with Miller due to assume office effective January 14, 2019.

“I am honored to join a team with a well-earned reputation for advancing the casino gaming industry’s legislative and communications priorities and addressing the issues that matter most to its members,” stated Miller during a press release.

American Gaming Association

The American Gaming Association represents a casino industry that is estimated to be worth more than $260 billion per year, and provides employment for around 1.8 million people across the United States. It is by far the country’s most powerful lobbying group on behalf of casino gambling, and has strong businesses and legal ties extending all the way from the local level to the federal government.

For the past five years, Geoff Freeman was the AGA’s President and CEO, but in July he announced his departure from the role in order to become the new president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Since August 1, Stacy Papadopoulos has served as the organization’s Interim CEO, but now the AGA’s Board of Directors have decided that Bill Miller would make a perfect replacement for Freeman.

Who Is Bill Miller?

Miller has a law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. From 1994-1999, he then became chief of staff to former Republican Congresswoman Constance Morella of Maryland. Miller subsequently worked for thirteen years as national political director for the US Chamber of Commerce, before in 2012 serving as Senior Vice President at Business Roundtable, a body consisting of chief executive officers from major US corporations with a combined $6 trillion in yearly revenues, and 14 million employees.

Sports Betting Key

The American Gaming Association has been searching for an experienced lobbyist with strong political contacts in order to better represents the casino industry’s interests in the sports betting arena. Miller’s is therefore seen as the right person to take on the role. Commenting upon his appointment, Tim Wilmott, who chairs the AGA’s board of directors, explained:

“Bill’s extensive work with federal policymakers and as a seasoned leader of membership and industry advocacy organizations was critical to our decision. He joins a successful organization at a time when our industry is enjoying great momentum, thanks in part to a major policy achievement – the ending of the federal sports betting prohibition.”

PASPA Reversal On The Cards?

In May, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992, paving the way for individual states to determine their own legal stance on sports betting within their borders. A number of federal lawmakers are not happy with the situation, though, and have been looking for ways to either ban or regulate sports betting at a federal level in the country.

This week, Online Poker Report subsequently reported that the Justice Department is preparing to reverse its 2011 opinion regarding the Wire Act once again, and state that the piece of legislation should apply to all types of online gambling, and not only sports betting. Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson has long lobbied to have online gambling banned across the United States, and the issuing of such an opinion would naturally be viewed as an appeasement to the online gambling crusader.

Moreover, it would have the potential to disrupt online sports operations across the various states which have already legalized the industry following this summer’s landmark ruling. The same applies to the numerous states that have since taken their lottery ticket sales online. Obviously, it would also not be good news for those states which currently offer online poker and casino games, such as Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, and soon Pennsylvania.