1. Introduction to Online Gambling

The medium of the internet in the United States has transformed more than simple communication and is reflected in gathering organized interest groups to advocate and distribute information. This overview highlights where this significant new medium, the internet, is involved in the policy aspects of gambling. The presentation focuses on associations, which are chiefly involved in representing a business community whose economic interests would be directly impacted by the legalization of gambling in the United States. These pressure group organizations or associations, for the most part, see gambling on the internet not in moral terms, but rather see it as a significant future source of revenue.

These internet gambling-interested associations were formed as a response to necessary national standards for the regulation and distribution of gambling products or alternatively to outlaw internet gambling in the United States. Also, these same gambling associations are looking to international boundaries to capitalize on the global revenue potential. The focus is to provide more transparent information on which of the gambling business associations are involved. The paper is not advocating the activity at all, but rather that the information presented aids in making more informed decisions, based on substantial relevant evidence, regarding the policy and legislative structure of regulating gambling or not, for the issues regarding gambling, as they arise within the United States.

2. History of Online Gambling in the USA

According to some sources, casino gambling was an occupation more prevalent in the early years of the nation than farming, citing that town officials licensed over 40% of the adult male population to operate or work in a casino or other gaming occupation; however, less is known about these numbers. Legal gambling has waxed and waned in the U.S. for more than 200 years, commencing with New Hampshire’s endorsement of the first lottery to alleviate the financial strain of King William’s War. In the 1800s, numerous anti-gambling committees were organized. Appreciation of gambling’s potential to add to the public coffers followed over the next 40 years. After the economic depression that followed the Civil War, the federal and state governments depended on lotteries, horse racing, and the widespread acceptance of gambling to raise needed revenue. This changed during the temperance movement, which brought better communication and more legal oversight.

By 1890, at least 45 states upheld state constitutions or laws that either banned outright or heavily condemned the lottery, gambling, or both. The scope of impending federal legislation was also indicated by concerns about interstate business, which had led Congress to pass legislation addressing similar concerns. The Kansas City Police Gazette directly solicited customers for its hotel as more than just safe and profitable. Ads mentioned openly that betting on horse racing was legal in Kansas and could be accomplished by telegraph or postal card. While in 5-day jail sentences for selling a system for winning at roulette, subsequent fines over a 2-month period compiled by the same United States District Court in Missouri demonstrated that paying fines was the accepted cost of conducting betting operations in Kansas.

3. Legal Framework Governing Online Gambling

Together with illegal gambling, anti-gambling statutes no longer play a role in internet gambling. Instead, the Wire Act embodies most of the legislation concerning gambling over the internet. The Act provides that whoever is engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting regarding bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placement of bets or wagers shall not be fined or imprisoned. The Justice Department believes that the Wire Act applies only to online sports betting, and not to other forms of internet gambling. Another Act supposedly affecting internet gambling is the Illegal Gambling Business Act. It is important to state that neither the Wire Act nor IGBA has regulated gambling or made gambling any more or less legal.

The primary rationale for gambling laws is that gambling is seen as sinful and immoral conduct. Moreover, moralistic reasoning has failed to enforce prohibitions on sinful activities. Varieties of gambling exempt from prohibition are numerous. Some commercial, real-money online gambling is already charged against substantial penalties. Some other types, such as fantasy sports and poker leagues, are constructing large player networks and revenues because, unlike their opponents, these exceptions do not charge taxes on or regulate their activities. Due to the increasing popularity of these types, they provoked the broader issue of whether the most powerful and potentially costly type of gambling—a regulatory structure that promotes public confidence, participation, and competition—is the one that is untaxed and unregulated, despite the strong moral opposition to online gambling.

3.1. Federal Laws

The federal government has imposed restrictions against gaming within the United States. Consumers may not operate real money online gaming enterprises within the United States, and financial institutions may not process transactions for these businesses. To understand the federal laws that have an impact on doing business with online gaming organizations, the following law acronym descriptions and details outline the importance of online gaming restrictions within the United States.

The Federal Wire Act prohibits the transmission of wagers, information assisting with placing bets, and bets or wagers which the subject of the wager involves sporting events. The Federal Wire Act prevents U.S. citizens from placing bets with gambling businesses. Initially, the U.S. Attorney’s Office had applied the Federal Wire Act to prosecute online gaming companies under the guise that wire communications that transact bets or wagers are illegal. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that statutory language is not unlimited and distinguishes between disallowing the transmission of betting information and disallowing the transmission of bets and wagers. The Federal Wire Act does not apply to other forms of online gaming.

3.2. State Regulations

Each state within the US has its own legal framework that applies to iGaming activity. That is why it is important for stakeholders to know and adhere to the particular rules, regulations, and standards of local legislation. Whether they apply as operators, software or service suppliers, or relevant institutions accountable for transparency and control, all involved agents in the US have to strictly obey the standards.

A state legal framework for the gaming industry exists in each of the 50 states and depends on the type of operator regulation, the organization or institution that controls the gambling activity, and the association of interests ruling the market activity.

Within each state, the state’s online gambling association exercises its activity according to its internal goals and interests and in adherence to the state’s legislation and market-specific conditions. In general, a state gaming association is a professionally staffed trade association for specific gaming interests and activities, with the objective to address local interests, monitor and address issues that have an impact locally, and provide support in the promotion and economic advantage of a well-regulated gaming industry in the state.

4. Major Online Gambling Associations

The American Gaming Association is a federation that comprises commercial casino industry members, companies that offer different products and services to the casino business, and people interested in building new casinos across the country. The purposes of the AGA are varied: promoting public policies that help with the development of the casino industry, encouraging suitable regulations and laws, and organizing gambling business in some selected states. AGA also has a policy of public education. This is done by undertaking research, popularizing the results of that work, and informing the public on the latest casino news. Finally, raising the casino industry’s business operating standards can also be included in the AGA’s purposes.

The Interactive Gaming Council is a trade association that provides a challenging voice for the companies that either immediately or indirectly own rings possessed by the gaming division on the Internet. With its legalized approach to international and contagious Internet betting issues, the IGC offers a plan to management, the media, and lifestyle and technology firms in the development of an environment that is good for Internet betting in terms of authorized user confidence as well. The national world heads up to the Internal Gaming Council, which emerges in Canada, whose main offices are in Vancouver. There will be a couple of additional points concerning the formal status of the electronic gaming association. After all, the board of directors is divided into various classes; most members of the party must belong to different divisions of the iGaming league, which is able to select the director tours for the time being with an element of action.

4.1. American Gaming Association (AGA)

4.1. American Gaming Association (AGA)

The AGA was created after a merger between the American Gaming Association Inc. and the National Association of Casino Owners in July 1999. The AGA seeks to address federal legislative and regulatory needs of the laws governing the U.S. gaming industry through the work of their lobbyist and membership base. Interested stakeholders can find recent press releases, topics of interest to the gambling industry, research papers, and announcements. They also include the Commercial Gaming Fact Sheet that gives a comprehensive overview of commercial gaming in the U.S. AGA membership includes every segment of the U.S. gambling industry: commercial and tribal casino operators, manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment, businesses providing Internet gambling and off-track betting, and other specialized enterprises. In 2006, the AGA announced a partnership with the National Center for Responsible Gaming to research and promote responsible gaming.

The association acknowledged the important role of financial institutions in helping to prevent the patronage of illegal Internet gambling sites. In an attempt to challenge restrictions placed on the advertising of gaming activities, the AGA filed a legal challenge to the United States Justice Department’s regulations regarding the interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act. The former government administration prior to 2009 had ruled that advertisements for non-sports wagering activities on online gambling sites were considered criminal. Present AGA data shows that 13 states in the U.S. currently license and regulate legal sports betting. However, international gambling sites still do not have access to these markets.

4.2. Interactive Gaming Council (IGC)

The Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) is a not-for-profit organization known as a global voice for the interactive gambling industry. As such, it provides reputable websites with the necessary information to ensure secure and ethical business practices. In addition, the IGC is dedicated to providing top reputable informative homes for consumers and players. The IGC is a United States trade association for the interactive gaming industry. The mission is to address the challenges and opportunities regarding electronic commerce, both in established and new markets, particularly in providing global support and access. The association represents the most respected internet gambling businesses in the world. The IGC supports effective regulation to ensure that payoffs are guaranteed and that events are always honest and fair. The IGC also provides assistance for legal and governmental relations. The IGC is especially well known for being involved with the examination of interactive gambling-related suicides and providing other supportive measures.

The IGC forum for members brings together important elements of the international interactive gambling industry, including regulatory agencies, operators, diploma-issuing nursing permits, reproductive health services, and others, as well as supportive members of companies providing supplies and services to the industry. The IGC provides a forum for effects only on public policy issues and offers targeted networking and community support for members. The IGC seeks to be an input shortener for the proliferation of sensible legislation. The IGC regulates a code of conduct for its members, provides tools for members to maintain and monitor good performance, and displays information for players to trust regarding the security of member sites. In addition, the IGC provides several resources on responsible gambling. The IGC is involved with political lobbying and regulations, educational and investigative aspects, and discount advertising. The IGC includes participation from sites shown to be third-party approved and safe. At the time of this report, the IGC has over fifty members with about fifty other companies seeking membership. The IGC code of conduct was updated in 2008 when a square manual was established.

4.3. National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)

NCPG has long and supportive relationships with all sectors of the gambling industry. For nearly a decade, three NCPG Board positions have been reserved for industry representatives. These Board members have also been members of the interdisciplinary Research Committee, which helps NCPG fulfill its mission. Each summer, NCPG holds a joint conference with the industry that is similar to other conferences. One day of the two-day conference, the industry trains their special interest training session, with the next day being the plenary NCPG conference. Consequently, experience has shown that all types of professionals, who represent all types of special interests, can come together in a consensus process facilitated by an organization like NCPG that is national in scope and multidisciplinary in membership. As with the other trade associations, NCPG makes sure that any industry intragroup issues are worked out in a professional context away from public scrutiny that might disadvantage the industry.

One reason that NCPG has broad support among many diverse sectors of the industry is that NCPG’s mission is not focused on external control of gambling. Over the years, NCPG and its Research Committee have collected and published data that reports on the incidence of gambling, and therefore, gambling problems among active gamblers. NCPG reports on these levels of gambling and percentages of gambling problems, regardless of whether the setting is regulated, unregulated, or illegal. NCPG does not matter how many people who are gambling-related bankrupts have an address in one of the United States that do not allow their members to engage in regulated gambling. NCPG does not require it to collect and publish incidence and prevalence data about gambling and gambling problems. The legal gambling industry does. Any entity with a fact-based management culture that supports fact-based public policy will embrace national organizations like NCPG. Only entities with secret policy and management agendas fear them.

4.4. Online Poker Alliance (OPA)

The Online Poker Alliance launched in June 2005 to preserve and protect Americans’ right to poker. The goal of the OPA is to build a broad-based coalition and establish a grassroots network to educate policymakers and support the residents of the states who choose to play online poker. In addition to serving as the collective voice for the millions of Americans who believe that they have the right to play poker online, the OPA is dedicated to providing related information, resources, and opportunities for OPA members and online poker enthusiasts. The members of the OPA are comprised mainly of online poker sites, but are not limited to those sites. They consist of players, site operators, ambassadors, and friends of the poker world. The OPA serves as the collective assembly of members who are devoted to their passion for playing poker online. The OPA will call on your help and their support during key times as we work together to protect the right to play poker against distortion and give OPA members access to a variety of exciting benefits that were created solely for them.

OPA members are entitled to receive the bimonthly e-news discussing updates on important poker issues, early access to advice from high-stakes poker professionals, and advanced notice of special poker offers and bonuses. The OPA is the only organization formed to educate policymakers and the media on the issue, protect the right to play poker, and create a body for member grassroots advocacy. With the millions of OPA members who play regularly, we can have a significant impact on proposed anti-poker laws. Let’s join together to preserve the ability of millions to play poker while we have the resources to take our case directly to Congress, and we are pursuing the attention of Congress. More importantly, we will serve as a resource to online poker players who lawfully play, and their rights require robust defense.

5. Impact of Online Gambling Associations

5.1 Online Gambling Associations Online gambling is conducted by individual gaming providers and businesses, as well as by online gambling associations and organizations. It includes internet gambling service companies such as operators, vendors, and providers; internet service providers; hardware and software providers; consultants; professional and technology trade organizations; providers of services to prevent electronic and internet gambling; domestic banking institutions or credit card companies; telecommunications providers; and foreign facilities and support services. One of the categories of individuals and companies that do not provide gambling services but support the industry is the online gambling trade organizations. One of the most popular trade organizations in the industry is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

The main functionality of the UIGEA is to set a clear legal base for the online gambling business. In particular, it considers members from financial institutions, credit card providers, payment processors, and industry groups to develop recommendations to improve the requirements of KYC. The act also provides a more efficient way to keep records for online gambling providers. There are also many other online gambling associations operating across the globe, including various trade associations and councils. Members also keep an eye on new and developing issues in the online gambling world, such as the possibility of regulating the industry to prevent the unauthorized transfer of funds to illegal gambling sites, instead of genuine deposit and withdrawal functionality for users.

5.1. Advocacy for Regulation

The issue of regulating online gambling, or banning it, is part of a wider discourse on this subject within the USA. Furthermore, this is an issue that is by no means resolved, and new developments occur continually. This makes the relationships and possible interactions with online gambling associations interesting and potentially significant. At present in the USA, there are a willing provider, a gambling operator, an alliance of casino-resort operators and owners, and an organization with a high degree of experience in lobbying for international and US gambling operators. The final association included in this overview is not in itself an association at all, but represents what is the largest gaming jurisdiction in the world. These organizations may be influential, both in the current public and political debate on regulating gambling, and in potential changes and evolutions in how this market segment is offered and supplied.

An organization was established to provide a strong and unified voice at the state and federal levels and to drive sound policy, regulatory, and legislative governance of online gaming in the United States. The founding members include various prominent companies. In their words, they advocate for reasonable regulation and taxation. This organization is open to any electronic entertainment or electronic payment company that works in the online gaming industry. Their membership includes mobile, fantasy, social, and interactive market segments, in addition to providing payment processing services to consumers in states where businesses can operate legally.

5.2. Promotion of Responsible Gambling

Lastly, all U.S. online gambling associations discussed herein subscribe to providing resources to online gambling consumers. This goal is accomplished by either providing self-help resources for consumers or funding independent organizations with deep experience in providing assistance to problem gambling consumers. The general aim of these resources is to support those individuals who have established negative gambling patterns. These tools are not limited to identifying problem gambling but further support treatment and/or a path to establishing safe gaming limits. These resources are either provided directly by the online gaming establishment, which provides consumers with a tracking tool to manage gambling expenditures, or a real-time pay card that provides players with instant access to winnings and efficient deposit methods, or through a responsible gambling tab available on participating online gaming entity websites.

U.S. online industry stakeholders also provide funding to third-party groups initiating and directing substantially more prominent resources. Companies pledged funding of $25 million over five years. Similarly, an event that spotlights the global gaming entertainment industry donated to assist in funding efforts to help individuals with gambling problems.

6. Membership and Benefits

Membership in the IGC carries a number of benefits, including a strong voice in policy decisions involving legislation affecting the online gambling industry. Members will be provided with updates and receive pertinent documents regarding issues. Membership entitles members to attend the annual membership meeting, and members have an opportunity to participate in board elections. Members are also listed on the IGC’s website. The IGC extends its reach far beyond the United States, as members belong to a truly international organization. To become a member, contact the IGC.

Members will benefit from a key role in the sector by being a member of the only globally recognized expert commissioning independent, third-party research to which governments refer questions of internet gaming issues. The industry better understands its relationships, where threats and opportunities may be revealed, and what parts of the industry can benefit from third-party research in its name. The association will continue to increase its support and expertise in EGM-related issues on some key trade fair measurements. The association can offer companies goodwill services on various issues of governmental regulation, legal matters, technical facets, development policy, and other issues that could be addressed at the member meetings. Members are represented on the association’s board of directors and are involved with the day-to-day work, which boosts other benefits. As a member, members will have the choice to use the association to set up advisory teams made up of other members or business specialists.

6.1. Membership Criteria

Membership in the USA OGA is made up exclusively of remote gambling providers established in accordance with rules and regulations laid out by local or federal authorities in their own country. Online gambling operators have to meet a number of requirements like fair gaming, money laundering protection, responsible marketing, and others on a to-be-discussed list applied depending on the operator’s life cycle. Requirements may differ for operators who have taken up remote gambling in the USA. In most states, online gambling is regulated by internal rules of the specific state. These rules might be general in nature, but in most cases are quite extensive, which is not surprising given the fact that we are talking about a two-digit number of pages worth of regulations. The requirements are high, as a variety of services and payment methods are being used in online gambling in the USA, but for many operators in the USA, and especially those who are facing the uses and to a lesser extent the users in other countries, compliance is allowing them to take up remote gambling in the USA.

6.2. Benefits of Joining

Online gambling association memberships are available to online gambling companies that are based or operate only in countries where such gaming is allowed by law. Another condition is regarding company reputation: it must have been operating for at least two years and its credibility has never been questioned. To some, these rules may seem somewhat strict, but joining a good association has its benefits. For example, an online gambling association knows how and what to do to protect and improve all aspects of operation related to the gaming industry; being a member also gives your business increased credit. Advanced services, such as special promotion, marketing assistance, and international representation play an important role and increase your company’s proficiency; it has been shown that reactive and efficient assistance is not enough, but proactive work is needed. This is the difference between covering the back, protecting the reputation, and improving presence and the supply of services effectively, to protect and improve the credit and the profits of your company. It is also a way to solve a number of daily small problems, making sure that the business is well exposed in the vast market without any problems to worry about, a guarantee that the results will be even more profitable than before.

7. Online Gambling Trends

The year 2020 was an interesting one due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A slowdown was experienced in the economy, but not in regulatory changes in the online gambling industry, which grew. With the increased growth, the most significant surge in card payment channels was observed. What this meant was that card payments were typically allowed by the licensed and regulated operators of sports betting. With sports being greatly affected during 2020, operators had to look for alternative means of keeping customers engaged with betting. When most sporting activities commence, it could raise the medium stakes event risk. The value of global sports betting was forecasted to decrease with the cancellation and postponement of sports events. Experts report that the betting volume experienced a decrease of 57%. But in 2021, the betting volume improved with the return of major football leagues. So, the USA and European markets have adapted positively to the upheaval. 36% of the bets that Europeans in 25 different nations placed during the lockdown were intentions for different leagues’ events. 35% of the bets were for football games and approximately 19% for table tennis matches.

7.1. Growth of Mobile Gambling

The other part of gambling that continues to evolve is the way in which the public actually gambles. The evolution of technology has dramatically changed the world of gambling. In the late 20th century, gambling was extensively transformed with online betting. Ten years later, social media and mobile technology changed the entire landscape of the gaming industry. Gambling began to shift from the traditional social settings of freedom of speech. The only real social interaction occurred in a few casinos located in horrific areas in most big cities. Now, internet and mobile technology are exploding. Several states passed laws that allow reservation casinos to offer online and mobile betting games. One state was the first to take advantage of the new law to permit casino-style gambling on the web. Within days, three large casinos announced plans to operate casino-style online games. There is a great deal of history behind this recent law allowing states to offer Internet gaming at their facilities. The majority of the cost has already been covered by generous supporters of the Interactive Digital Media Interactive Gambling Act.

Another state was next, followed by another and another. In the District of Columbia, the council approved legislation that allows the Lottery to offer online poker. The law is waiting for the venerable image problem remains. The advantage of having these states lead the way by legalizing online and mobile games has fostered some very informed regulations. Casinos will offer a variety of games and the rules of these games will need to be approved by the states and a federal private group. This disciplinary method will remove all doubt about the strict operating procedures. Furthermore, specific controls for fair, honest and secure gambling will be mandated, thus making it easy for the government to identify dishonest gambling practices. The lesson here is that gambling, over the past 40 years, has been transformed from slot machines into the regulations relating to all wagering to a weekly game show. Now, technology has made it legal for gambling of as many kinds as there are number of permutations of monetary betting. With all the regulations that this new gambling initiative requires, the strict operating procedures, the strict control of fair honest and secure gambling and, easy real-time verification of all money bets, the recent changes were a blessing. Now, the Interstate Treaty will sink farther into an image where certain cities are just a little too modern and sleek in their commercialism.

7.2. Emerging Technologies in Gambling

Emerging technologies have changed the gambling and gaming landscape in the past decade and will undoubtedly continue to do so. In this chapter, we have shown evidence of the shift from land-based to online gambling, the relaxation of gambling regulations in many countries around the world, and the emergence of new types of gambling and gaming products. Alongside this shift, we have seen the development and deployment of new technologies that have made online gambling available to an ever-expanding customer base. As with other online services, the gambling industry has recognized that mobile is the way forward, and significant resources have been targeted for the development of mobile-friendly services. In this age of immediate gratification, the industry has also worked to simplify the log-on process and identification requirements for gambling customers, further reducing what the industry considers to be unnecessary barriers to playing.

At the core of any gambling service is the game itself, and the development of proprietary games for all forms of gambling is an area of intense competition, often highly protected by patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Providing the ultimate protection for these game contents, for which millions of dollars are spent in developing, is steganographic technology. The main motive is to eliminate and reduce the piracy that occurred among some of the gaming customers when gambling for real money. Data mining the wealth of information available from customer gameplay is seen as a major asset in marketing to gambling companies to ensure that the cash spent on acquiring new customers is maximized in the long-term relationship of the customer to the proprietor. This, coupled with the intense competition in the sector, is driving the industry towards level playing fields to establish regulated economies and hence generate sustained profitability.

8. Challenges Facing Online Gambling Associations

What are the primary challenges facing online gambling associations in the United States of America? People have many prejudices against online gambling, such as the increased potential for addictive behavior, the so-called criminal networks that run some online casinos, and they have little faith in the online gambling system. The negative image of online gambling needs to be tackled, and many other issues add to the burden of online gambling associations. The suspicion that such businesses might be home to criminal activities adds to the need for a responsible approach to it. The necessity of adequate security in order to build a relationship of trust with online customers has been identified as one of the challenges of the online gambling industry. The necessity for adequate legislation with a secure framework for the conduct of online business and the need to establish and enforce equitable business practices is an additional challenge facing online gambling associations.

Regulatory authorities seem to accept the inevitability of increased online gambling and are already availing themselves of studies, forums, and conferences leading to responsible approaches. The compassion to provide sound legislation that can foster an open, accessible, honest, and secure online gambling environment is consistently a focused and increasing international concern. They know that this environment will consist of both active and passive gambling, that new technologies are providing citizens with alternative forms of interactive and convenient gambling, and that they have a responsibility to help shape an appropriate response to that global dimension. It is their intention to service and respond to the increased global demand for employment, revenue, and social contribution, and it is their role to ensure that high standards are met in the gambling industry. The appropriate protection of consumers who are willing participants in both interactive and offline gambling is basic to their responsibility to act in the public interest, as is the prevention of money laundering and an updated methodology to provide impervious security. The challenges go on.

8.1. Regulatory Challenges

While gambling is generally regulated on a state-by-state basis in the United States, states must collaborate to protect the public interest and comply with various international trade agreements. At least provisionally, they might mutually recognize gambling operators licensed by other member states or nations. However, within a single state, federal legal constraints hinder state regulatory autonomy. Signatories to the treaty and the agreement are generally understood to have committed themselves not to discriminate among foreign and domestic providers or between jurisdictions within the nation. Consequently, self-regulatory bodies and industry models argue that association should be voluntary rather than mandatory, and that gambling services should be licensable as long as they are supervised by the licensing authority in the nation where they are situated, rather than located.

8.2. Public Perception Issues

The public perception of online gambling contains several elements. The negative extremes are the press warnings of children gambling on the internet from school, university, libraries, and home. Jaded work colleagues discuss bets on numbers, which are drawn from the stock market in a game of bingo. It is understandable that the anti-gambling organizations view online gambling as an evil that will destroy society and turn children away from their traditional route of paying homage to materialism through the hard work of producing and consuming goods and services. More moderate thinkers fear fraud, hacking, money laundering, and life savings evaporating due to people leaving their gambling “winnings” in the hands of untrustworthy offshore sites where the legal jurisdiction may not be able to provide adequate redress. Positive aspects include the ability for people to be away and still able to participate, allowing for sometimes infrequent cash payments to be made, which is necessary for some gambling communities, and an increased share in risk for traditional forms of gambling. The revenue from a legalized industry would contribute to society in terms of tax, investment, jobs, and entertainment. The opportunity to deal with gambling addiction and provide a basic modicum of social responsibility overwhelms the challenge of organizing such a diverse worldwide industry. The USA has four major organizations that have chosen various means to express the varied opinions across this spectrum of perception. These are organizations of providers who admit their moral responsibility to deal with the problems of addiction.

9. Case Studies of Successful Associations

A booster organization to provide these services and create a higher level of organization to handle increased power and responsibilities is now being created and is proving successful. The following section was written before the association was formed to provide a view of the preassociation scene. The decision to form it was not inevitable as shown by the previous evolution of the earlier associations through which the vitality of the industry was reflected. The concerns of the industry both at that time and currently, and the obstacles requiring an association’s involvement to achieve success were parallel. In the history of the development of these associations will be found many examples of generous sharing of technology. The industry’s task was indeed difficult, and its many triumphs are a credit, not just to the most successful entrepreneurs of the states, but to gaming organizations all across the nation that were willing to work together.

The depth of cooperation at that earlier time is clearly demonstrated by a history of industry studies, provided by spokesmen at a number of trade association meetings. Panels on varied gaming topics were also held at the many industry-sponsored entertainment meetings. The Gaming Association and Nevada Association-sponsored conferences in Reno and Las Vegas were enriched by presentations of various associations and by frequent high-powered participant discussions led by major gaming writers, including frequent outside participation by regulators. As the gaming press conference season began, the three major electronic, print, and wire distribution services broke ranked for their casinoographical titles with the all-inclusive titles. As the casual industry view of gaming expanded, it included a panel discussion with a brief but pivotal new department, and preliminary work on both an early-advertising rate agreement and a fall date for the association, showing another formal interest in this new type of business as it prepared a joint-venture association with a number of new sponsors. Their board members included media moguls, network news staff offering dramatic speculation about the increasing role of networks on gambling issues. After weeks of cautious flirtation and confusion—confused anti-gambling no longer subsided! The story of the year was the bolstered No Casino Block, spun like a weary top its major site, its hundreds of believers still sharing its belief in the sacredness of the word and the power of Iowa’s food. Its people are the only ones who can make it happen.

9.1. Case Study: AGA Initiatives

We describe how the association uses detailed social accounting data to better understand the triple bottom line consequences of legalizing online gambling within the USA. The association is a champion for gambling and travel industry companies and a leader on issues that address the community, the environment, and the economy. It acts as a clearinghouse for education, research, and information and is administratively efficient. It is active in setting social, financial, environmental, and service goals for the gambling industry. Business goals include promoting a sustainable gambling infrastructure, responsible gambling, proactive partnerships, diversification, and targeting gambling barriers.

Tactics include coalition-building, partnering with for-profit and not-for-profit entities, proactive response to temporary community needs, use of the internet for customer relationship management, sports activities that help build relationships and brand equity, strategic philanthropy, and special contributions to promote goodwill and discourage regulation. The association’s own success is measured in part by its financial performance, diversification, call center performance, charitable donations, and community investment. We draw upon the case study to discuss the association’s key accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, ongoing challenges, and future opportunities. We consider the potential of gambling associations as role models for sustainable businesses in the next era of corporate citizenship.

9.2. Case Study: NCPG Programs

The international stream of this study is presented here. The study is driven by the influence of international gambling associations. Countries use deposits from gambling associations for social programs and wide public goods. This is one of their main appeals. Joining international associations could increase their appeal and effect deposit-switching. The movement is currently in its developing stage with no one international association in action. The analysis result could be an example of a study of new movements of international associations in their developing stages.

The association movement in the gambling industry is studied here. The audience is the followers of this movement as well as policy makers. Policy makers are of importance as gambling has many social implications. One of the main appeals of gambling is that countries use the deposit for social programs and public goods. If gambling associations join international associations, their governance could improve, and they could donate a higher proportion of the deposit. The country’s citizens could benefit from improved governance of in-country organizations and services of international associations. Joining international associations could increase their appeal and effect deposit-switching.

10. Future of Online Gambling Associations

In order to effectively and efficiently provide services and disseminate information useful to its members, the industry, and the public, one might ask, why are associations for the online gaming industry unnecessary? The answer is simple. As long as there are government, industry, and public issues and policy decisions to be made affecting the activities of online gaming businesses, people representing online gaming, both alone and in conjunction with other businesses and organizations with similar interests, through voluntary arrangements, will come together in a cooperative, formal, or informal agreement or association to deal with these matters and work together on matters of mutual concern. Members have become members of associations to obtain the benefit of the information and services available only through the association and its members.

The existence of numerous, though ever-changing associations’ memberships representing the various interests in online gaming in the USA bears out this conclusion. Although this paper has attempted to address the existence of major online gaming areas of common concern and some associations representing online gaming activities, the growth of interest and the extent of participation by members of gaming organizations is in itself an indication of the necessity and the continued desire for the existence of these associations. As long as the common needs of business members overlap with the needs of individuals, companies, and organizations to assure the continued vitality and the highest levels of professional behavior and conduct in online gaming today and tomorrow, associations representing their common interests will continue to exist.

10.1. Predicted Trends

The online gambling sector is still in its infancy. Overall, it provides a popular service, which in less than a decade has not only captured a vast market but has emerged as a politically recognized entity worldwide. Online gambling is viewed positively in several countries where it pays a handsome processing fee and duty on winnings, particularly in Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia. In these countries, modest advertising and promotion of the national sites lead to further legitimacy and public acceptance. Onward, 5G technology will bring improved graphics, live streaming opportunities, and a faster game response, all improving the ease and attractiveness of online gaming to the consumer. Publicity for the various international and U.S. licensed casino operations is likely to increase, especially if removal from the U.S. blacklist and possible reform are gradually recognized. Tools to aid and offer advice and self-control of gambling and/or spending/gaming time, including gaming time limits, will increasingly be available and incorporated on all sites. Manufacturers and operators of live play and real-time video online operations should also keep abreast and be able to demonstrate their compliance with guidelines or company policy or offers of tools and limits to encourage responsible gaming.

10.2. Potential Regulatory Changes

Changes in the law that affect the regulation and legality of online gambling across the USA are continually being met. During recent years, there has been an increasing shift of power from states to the federal government. Legislators propelling these modifications have done so in the name of modernization, commerce, or revenue. Proponents of these bills have cited a variety of reasons for their introduction that have included improved public safety and increased choices for consumers, personal freedom, and expanded commerce.

Two proposals have been put forward to make changes to the current federal law regarding online gambling: H.R. 2046 and H.R. 2140. Similarly, attempts have been made to affect the law of individual states regarding this issue, as 16 states in addition to Washington D.C., New York City, and the Virgin Islands have considered legislation to legalize and regulate some forms of online gambling.

11. Conclusion

In conclusion, trade associations fill important needs in both the online gambling industry and for policymakers. Las Vegas-based casino companies, major corporations listed on the major stock exchanges, and other unlisted companies are members of the American Gaming Association. The emergence of new successful trade associations indicates the increasing diversity of United States online gaming suppliers and service providers. The International Interactive Communications Society is a forum for interactive business professionals who are trying to stimulate the growth of new interactive media applications and industries. The United States Sportsbook Association performs an advocacy, education, and business networking role for the sports betting industry. The Data and Marketing Association is the largest trade association for global data-driven, digital, and direct marketing industries.

In conclusion, trade associations have long represented the economic interests of their members and attempt to shape broader public policies that affect their members. Player-centric trade associations that represent a more diverse group of online gambling industry commercial suppliers and service providers in their policy dialogue may not have differing core goals from more traditional industry-centric trade associations, but they bring new members who have a minority or other group interest to the conversation on various important commercial, public policy, and ethical issues. The successful emergence of the iDEA as a parallel affiliate with the American Gaming Association is an important communication, management strategy, and political dynamic that is driving the expansion of trade association behavior in the United States online gambling industry.

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