The American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Bill Miller has issued a statement following the announcement that US Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Kevin Cramer have introduced bipartisan legislation to provide comprehensive relief for the convention, travel, and hospitality industries and their workers.
Highlighting the damage inflicted on the US gaming sector by the ongoing health crisis and compromises to its ability to contribute to the nation’s economy, Miller said: “Mandatory closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the entire American gaming industry, significantly affecting our employees and communities across the country.
“While gaming’s responsible reopening is well underway, the sustained economic damage has jeopardized our ability to sustain jobs and drive much-needed tax revenue that will be essential to our nation’s economic recovery.”
He also acknowledged the senators’ efforts to aid the hospitality industry in general, saying: “The bipartisan Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act will enable the gaming industry to retain employees and jumpstart non gaming elements of our business, like meetings and conventions, which account for the majority of our revenue in markets like the Las Vegas strip.
“The American Gaming Association is grateful for the continued leadership of Senators Cortez Masto and Cramer, whose hard work will expedite the recovery of the entire hospitality industry and the communities we support.”