US Online Gaming Association formed
PKR and Sportingbet founding members of new trade body formed to advocate for US regulation, the second organisation of its type announced this week.
PKR and Sportingbet are among founding members of a new trade association for egaming companies “to advocate for the legalisation and regulation of online gaming in the States”, the second such body announced this week.
The US Online Gaming Association (USOGA) is headed by the former executive director of the Poker Voters of America intrastate lobby group, Melanie Brenner (pictured).
“With the failure of a federal solution to this issue, the opening of the lucrative US market will be through state capitols such as Tallahassee, Sacramento and Trenton. The work we have done through Poker Voters has uniquely positioned us to be the most effective voice in moving this issue,” Brenner said.
She confirmed that PKR, Sportingbet and Secured American Games were the first three companies to commit “financial and technical support” at its initial meeting yesterday, Brenner added.
Malcolm Graham, chief executive of PKR, said he believed that forming such an organisation had been necessary at a time when there was “great momentum” towards regulation at state level in the US.
“I think it is important the industry, which will be supporting local operators from this side of the pond, to have a collective voice and a consistent message. Bringing everyone under the umbrella of the US Online Gaming Association is a sensible way forward, in the way the Remote Gaming Association and European Gaming and Betting Association have been great models on the European front, presenting a common front to local legislators and local operators and helping make them more comfortable with managing the process. If the industry has an inconsistent message I think that will be so much harder.”
Representatives from approximately 20 of Europe’s leading operators and service providers were at the official launch meeting held yesterday at London’s ICE Exhibition.
Brenner told eGaming Review that she expected to announce “three to four major founder members in the next week” as having committed technical and financial support to USOGA. A deadline of 14 February has been set for companies to commit financial support and become members of the executive committee of the new trade association.
The lobbying forces behind the New Jersey egaming bill currently sitting on the desk of State Governor Chris Christie announced at ICE on Tuesday that they have also founded an industry trade association which will “educate and advocate for igaming in America”.
The executive director of the American Institute for iGaming (AIIG) will be Bill Pascrell III, the lead lobbyist for Senator Raymond Lesniak’s egaming bill which recently passed the state legislature.
Pascrell told eGaming Review: “We are getting a board together for the AIIG, consisting of gaming companies, payment processors and casino operators. The organisation will be open to the globe, but people on the board cannot have US legacy issues. It will have a robust board of governors who are clean, energetic, enthusiastic about the opportunities for American egaming.”
Pascrell added that it would also be pushing for federal legislation. “We are not just focusing on state level in the US, we are hoping to get federal legislation, but know there is a long way to go. We are focusing on the domino effect, New Jersey first, then other states.”