American Gaming Association
MLB Joins AGA’s Responsible Gaming Initiative

Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced a new partnership with the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” public service campaign to educate fans and broaden the league’s responsible gaming efforts. In addition, MLB expanded its partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), with the league now serving as a Platinum Member and a part of the group’s Leadership Circle.
“As legalized wagering continues to grow across the country, MLB is committed to ensuring that fans who choose to wager also have the tools and resources necessary to bet responsibly. With the expertise and additional resources of the AGA and NCPG, we’ll be able to expand our responsible gaming efforts further, driving new education, awareness and support service initiatives that will help keep sports betting safe, fun and entertaining for all those who participate,” said Kenny Gersh, MLB Executive Vice President, Business Development.
As Have A Game Plan partners, MLB will run responsible sports betting public service announcements across select MLB broadcast and digital media channels starting with the 2022 Postseason; the league will also extend campaign partnership opportunities to all 30 MLB Clubs. The AGA will provide MLB with counsel and expertise to deepen league-wide responsible gaming knowledge through benchmarking and annual trainings on best practices.
“Welcoming Major League Baseball as a Have A Game Plan partner is a milestone for the campaign and responsible gaming efforts nationwide. MLB understands that as legal sports betting grows so does our collective commitment to responsibility. This partnership will have a meaningful impact, teaching fans across the country the fundamentals of responsible wagering,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark.
MLB was the first professional sports league to join as a member of NCPG in 2005. Now, as a Platinum Member and part of the organization’s Leadership Circle, MLB works closely with Executive Director Keith Whyte’s team on various initiatives related to problem gambling and promotes the NCPG’s National Problem Gambling Helpline across all of MLB’s media platforms.
“We applaud MLB’s ongoing commitment to addressing problem gambling and look forward to their expanded efforts to support responsible gambling education to fans and families across the country. If gambling becomes a problem, knowing the resources for help is crucial. MLB’s extensive reach will make a significant impact in raising awareness of the National Problem Gambling Helpline and the resources available for treatment,” said NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte.
The announcements were made during the inaugural Responsible Gaming Education Month, which is designed to promote gaming literacy and consumer education.
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American Gaming Association
AGA Research Reveals Consumers Know Sweepstakes Casinos are Gambling

As gaming regulators, state Attorneys General, and state legislatures continue to scrutinize the business practices of online “sweepstakes” casinos, new research shows that consumers overwhelmingly use these platforms to gamble – and that sweepstakes operators are heavily targeting players in key states. By exploiting loopholes in the law, these operations undermine the integrity of the legal, regulated gaming marketplace.
According to Sensor Tower data compiled by the American Gaming Association (AGA), half of all online, real-money casino advertisements seen by consumers in early 2025 promoted offshore “sweepstakes” casinos. The data shows these unregulated operators concentrate their advertising in populous states.
“These operators present themselves like legal, regulated platforms – but they operate outside the law and regulation. There are few if any responsible gaming tools, no regulatory oversight, and no consumer protections. It’s a dangerous subterfuge that puts players at real risk,” said AGA Vice President of Government Relations, Tres York.
Despite operating outside the regulated gaming market, “sweepstakes” casinos are widely perceived by players as gambling platforms, with 68% of users saying their primary reason for playing is to win real money. This confusion is no accident – many of these sites mimic the look, feel, and language of legal operators, blurring the line for consumers and reinforcing the need for clearer enforcement and public education.
Key findings include:
• 90% of sweepstakes casino users consider the activity to be gambling.
• 69% describe sweepstakes casinos as places to wager real money.
• 80% of sweepstakes players spend monthly, and nearly half spend weekly, without the safety nets offered by regulated operators.
The number of monthly sweepstakes casino players is twice as high in states lacking sweepstakes prohibitions.
“Sweepstakes” casinos aggressively market on popular digital platforms throughout the country. Legal, regulated gaming operators, by contrast, advertise responsibly in legal states where consumer protections and regulatory oversight are in place.
“The data is clear. Consumers see right through the ‘sweepstakes’ casino facade and they’re calling it what it is: gambling. We look forward to policymakers continuing to enforce their laws and create clarity through new policy measures to protect their residents,” added York.
The post AGA Research Reveals Consumers Know Sweepstakes Casinos are Gambling appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
American Gaming Association
AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the 2025 inductees into the Gaming Hall of Fame, recognizing three individuals whose careers have profoundly shaped the legal gaming industry:
• David Berman, Co-Head of Macquarie Capital, Americas and Global Head of Consumer, Gaming & Leisure
• Ann Simmons Nicholson, Founder and CEO, Simmons Group
• Charles Lombardo, Former Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations at Seminole Hard Rock Gaming, and former Senior Vice President of Slot Operations for Caesars Palace, Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas.
“The Gaming Hall of Fame honors the visionaries who’ve shaped today’s gaming industry. David, Ann, and Charlie have each made lasting contributions to the growth, integrity, and leadership of legal gaming, and we’re proud to recognize their impact,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.
“This year’s inductees reflect the strength, diversity, and expertise that define our industry. The Gaming Hall of Fame honors leaders whose careers exemplify excellence and enduring influence – and these three couldn’t be more deserving of this recognition,” said AGA Chairman Mike Rumbolz (Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2022).
Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has celebrated the achievements of industry legends who have driven the commercial and tribal gaming industry forward. The Class of 2025 will be formally inducted at an invitation-only ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this October.
This year’s selection committee members include:
• Mike Palm, VP, Operations, Circa Resorts
• Anika Howard, CEO, Wondr Nation
• Ryan Comstock, COO, Ainsworth and Chair, AGEM
• Debi Nutton, Industry Consultant and Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024
• Mark Lipparelli, Chairman Emeritus, International Center for Responsible Gaming
• Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, IAGA
• Lauren Bates, VP, Sales, Light & Wonder and Chair, Global Gaming Women
• Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute
• Mike Rumbolz, Chairman, AGA
About the 2025 Inductees
David Berman, Co-Head of Macquarie Capital, Americas and Global Head of Consumer, Gaming & Leisure
David Berman has more than three decades of experience in gaming mergers & acquisitions and capital markets, having led more than 100 mergers & acquisitions worth more than $125 billion and helped clients raise more than $215 billion in debt and equity. He founded REGAL Capital Advisors, a gaming-focused advisory firm acquired by Macquarie in 2011, and previously held senior roles at Credit Suisse, CIBC World Markets, and Oppenheimer & Co. Berman currently serves on the Board of Leaders at USC’s Marshall School of Business and is Treasurer of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.
Ann Simmons Nicholson, CEO and founder of Simmons Group
Ann Simmons Nicholson is an expert in strategic planning and organizational consulting. Over her 40-year career, she has worked with nearly every major gaming company, supporting more than 60 property openings, expansions, and acquisitions. Her expertise spans human capital strategy, leadership development, organizational culture, and executive coaching, and her firm has provided training to more than 27,000 gaming professionals globally. A dedicated community leader and advocate, she has served on board including United Way of Southern Nevada, Global Gaming Women, and Noah’s Animal House.
Charles Lombardo, Former Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations at Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, and former Senior Vice President of Slot Operations for Caesars Palace, Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas
With more than 50 years of experience in slot operations and game innovation, Charles Lombardo has helped define the modern casino experience. He has held senior leadership roles at Caesars Palace, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, and Seminole Gaming, where he led the development of Class II and III gaming standards, pioneered groundbreaking slot technologies, and helped shape state and tribal regulatory frameworks. Today, he continues to consult on game development and casino openings and serves as a special gaming advisor to Seminole Gaming. Lombardo was the first-ever inductee into the Eilers Hall of Fame for Slot Operations.
The post AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
American Gaming Association
AGA Launches “Play Smart from the Start” Consumer Hub to Help Players Game Responsibly

The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the launch of the Play Smart Consumer Hub, a new online resource designed to help consumers game responsibly. The hub builds on AGA’s Play Smart from the Start, a messaging platform that encourages players to make informed choices and develop habits that keep gaming fun.
“The AGA is committed to making responsible gaming a seamless part of the player experience. Part of the fun of gaming is that everyone plays differently, but no matter how or where you play, staying in control starts with habits that work for you. The Play Smart Consumer Hub provides players with straightforward, actionable tools to help them stay in control and keep gaming fun,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the AGA.
Grounded in player research, Play Smart from the Start centers around three key principles:
• Right State of Mind: Start every game with the right mindset—stay present, know your limits, and play on your terms.
• Know the Game: Understand the rules, odds, and bet with intention.
• Act Intentionally: Set a budget, take breaks, and stay aware, win or lose.
The Play Smart Consumer Hub offers practical tools, including:
• A Pre-Play Checklist to help players assess their mindset and set personal limits before betting.
• A Know the Game section that demystifies odds, house advantage, and common sports betting terms.
• A Responsible Gaming IQ Quiz that allows players to evaluate their gaming habits.
• Easy access to support resources like the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) and state self-exclusion options.
In addition to the consumer tools, the platform also features an Industry Toolkit, providing operators and other stakeholders with resources, including messaging guidance, creative assets, customer communications and activation ideas to support the integration of consistent, responsible gaming programs.
“Whether an operator or supplier is building a new responsible gaming program or looking to refresh existing efforts, this toolkit makes it easy to deliver consistent, player-first messaging across every customer touchpoint,” Miller said.
The Play Smart Consumer Hub is now live at playsmartfromthestart.org.
The post AGA Launches “Play Smart from the Start” Consumer Hub to Help Players Game Responsibly appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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