The American Gaming Association (AGA) has been pushing for changes to federal laws in the United States that would lift the ban on sports betting. The group has long contended that such a ban pushes the hugely popular pastime into the illegal market, and has called for the government to bring about sweeping reforms. Now the AGA has pushed its foot on the pedal with the appointment of a veteran campaigner who could be the key to bringing about these changes.
Erik Balsbaugh has been hired to spearhead the AGA’s campaign and will serve as the group’s vice president of public affairs. He comes with an incredible amount of experience in public campaigning, including work in the gambling industry. Balsbaugh worked on both Hillary Clinton and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2008, and worked in the past five years at a Boston based lobbying business, managing clients from all industries, including gaming clients.
The new AGA executive’s biggest success, however, was clocked in Massachusetts where he led the campaign against the repeal of Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act in 2014.
The senior vice president of public affairs for the American Gaming Association, Sarah Rayne spoke about Balsbaugh’s new appointment, saying: “Erik brings sharp campaigns skills and unmatched experience, including working on gaming issues in Massachusetts, that will help AGA and the industry achieve its most important goals over the coming months and years.”
“Many in the industry already know what Erik is capable of, and we’re excited to welcome him to the AGA team,” she added.
Balsbaugh said that he was excited to join the AGA team and help shape the group’s image as a sound community partner in the industry.
He said that he had viewed the AGA transform into modern and very effective advocate for the US gaming industry, and he looked forward to contributing to the good work that the AGA was accomplishing for its diverse and ever-expanding membership.
The AGA will concentrate a lot of its efforts in the coming months in bid to bring about legalized and regulated sports betting, after estimating that around $90 billion will be wagered on the NFL and college football games this upcoming season. The AGA’s point is that around 98% of that amount will be wagered “illegally”.
The president and CEO of the AGA, Geoff Freeman said that a federal ban on sports betting “drives this national pastime into the illegal markets”, thereby threatening the integrity of sports.
