“In a matter of days, the US casino industry went from a growing, thriving segment of the US economy to a near standstill. We are witnessing a rapidly increasing number of our nation’s commercial and tribal casinos that have been shuttered, impacting 60% of all casino employees. This will have a dire effect on the communities in which we operate across 43 states,” said American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller.
“As state governments close casinos as a part of the urgent public health response to COVID-19, elected leaders should move just as urgently to support the workers and businesses who will bear the brunt of those effects. Our immediate priorities are actions that provide liquidity to allow us to support employees,” Miller added.
“Gaming is a resilient industry. As leading hospitality companies, we’re employers, supporters of small businesses, and economic engines,” he added. “Once we’re through this crisis, we are committed to working with government leaders to play a critical role in reinvigorating communities across the country,” he concluded.
Millionaire consequences
Casey Clark, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications at the American Gaming Association (AGA), has issued a stark warning to policy makers on the potentially devastating impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the US casino industry.
His statement confirmed the news that as of Wednesday afternoon nearly all (94%) of the country’s commercial casinos have shuttered their doors in addition to 37% of tribal casinos.
Clark warned: “These mass closures have affected a staggering 96% of the casino workforce and will cost the US economy US$43.5bn in direct consumer spending if the casinos remain closed for the next eight weeks.”
According to Clark, employees from every sector of the casino gaming industry have felt the repercussions of government-mandated property closures across the United States.
He added: “The American Gaming Association, in partnership with our colleagues across the hospitality sector, is engaged with Congressional and administration leadership to shape stimulus and aid packages that will support employees, their families, and our communities through this unprecedented crisis.”
Source: GMB
