Online gambling companies join the American Gaming Association

There’s a certain irony in the latest appointments to the American Gaming Association board – three of them are online gambling companies, a sector of the gambling industry where he AGA has in the past been ambivalent, with postures ranging from rejection to qualified acceptance.

Indeed, Our readers may recall that at one point in 2012 the AGA actively litigated against the Stars Group (then Rational Group) attempts to buy the Atlantic Cluib Casino Hotel in Atlantic City in order to obtain a licence for its PokerStars brand to operate.

The action successfully derailed the sale, claiming that PokerStars operated as a criminal enterprise, and that must have pleased influential Las Vegas Sands AGA member Sheldon Adelson, who remains vehemently opposed to online gambling to this day.

How things have changed since then: a highly successful regulated and licensed online market developed in New Jersey in which PokerStars, GVC’s Party brand and Paddy Power’s Betfair have all flourished in partnership with local land operators.

What Adelson makes of the latest announcement is not clear, but this week the AGA issued a press statement revealing that the trade association has added six new companies as Board-level members:

BMM Testlabs
Choctaw Casinos and Resorts
Golden Entertainment
GVC Holdings PLC
Paddy Power Betfair
The Stars Group

“More than ever before, AGA’s diverse membership reflects the broad interests of the casino gaming industry,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of AGA. “Adding these six industry leaders will help our ability to serve as an effective advocate for the industry as a whole, and we’re excited to add their expertise to our Board.”

Freeman went on to describe the three online firms:

“GVC Holdings PLC: GVC Holdings PLC (LSE: GVC) is a multinational sports betting and gaming group. GVC is a constituent member of the FTSE 250 with its shares traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. GVC is licensed to operate in New Jersey through bwin.party.

“Paddy Power Betfair: Paddy Power Betfair is one of the world’s leading sports betting and gambling operators, formed from the 2016 merger of Paddy Power and Betfair Group PLC

“The Stars Group: The Stars Group is a leading provider of technology-based products and services in the global gaming and interactive entertainment industries. Through its Stars Interactive Group gaming division, The Stars Group ultimately owns gaming and related consumer businesses and brands, including PokerStars, PokerStars Casino, BetStars and Full Tilt.”

Read the full AGA statement here