Building on the letter sent to President Trump last week, American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Bill Miller has now released a statement regarding the Paycheck Protection Program’s (PPP) revised interim regulatory guidelines.
Issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the revised regulatory guidelines are set to allow additional small businesses that derive revenue from legal gaming to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
With this being said, and despite Miller acknowledging that the changes represent a level of progress, the AGA President and CEO has the amendments as falling ‘woefully short’
He stated: “While these changes represent some progress, they fall woefully short of fully addressing antiquated, discriminatory policies that have, to date, restricted small gaming companies from accessing critical loan support made available through the CARES Act.
“As a result of this half-measure, small gaming businesses that have closed to comply with government orders will continue to be denied access to this critical lifeline to support their employees.
“The American Gaming Association (AGA) is grateful for the leadership of a significant group of bipartisan, bicameral members of Congress who have advocated tirelessly for equal treatment of small commercial and tribal gaming operations in their communities.
“As Congress seeks to put additional resources behind the PPP, we look forward to working with them to make it clear that ‘we are all in this together’ by rejecting the SBA’s dangerous view that gaming employees don’t deserve assistance during this unprecedented crisis.
“The AGA will continue to strongly advocate for relief that supports the displaced gaming workforce and gaming companies of all sizes through this crisis.”
The latest statement released by the AGA leader builds on his recent address to President Trump in which he requested immediate intervention from the White House regarding the SBA’s PPP.
Moreover, the recent statement also builds on Miller’s initial criticism of the PPP in which he warned of irreparable harm set to be caused to the ‘U.S. casino industry and the hundreds of thousands of Americans that rely on gaming businesses for their livelihood’ as a result of the guidelines.
