There’s little question that the American gambling industry is going through an extremely rough as a result of the pandemic. Land-based casinos have been hobbled by closures and occupancy restrictions, though online sports betting is offering some badly needed revenue in states where casinos are operating at limited capacity. So what’s the good news?
According to a recent report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gambling industry executives are optimistic about the prospect that the newly installed Biden administration will bring some much needed order to a very chaotic marketplace. In the report, executives from the U.S. Travel Association, American Gaming Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association and Nevada Resort Association shared their thoughts on what the new President will do for their business.
American Gaming Association (AGAZ) President and CEO Bill Miller touted the importance of the gambling business as an economic engine saying, “Gaming — an economic engine in communities across 44 states — has been decimated by COVID-19, but our industry has always strongly responded to adversity. Together, with our new leaders in Washington, we can get millions of American hospitality employees back to work, reinvigorate our industry, support our small businesses, and bring desperately-needed revenue to our communities.”
Though hotel and gambling trade associations are ready to work with the new administration, it’s unclear what specific measures Biden will take to help these businesses get back up and running. No matter what he does, if it’s anything at all, it will be a major improvement over what the previous administration was able to accomplish.