Gaming advocacy group, the American Gaming Association (AGA), has submitted a formal letter to the US Department of Justice asking that it crack down on illegal gambling machine manufacturers.
The letter reflects a desire to address the issue of unregulated gambling, a matter that is increasingly seen in sharp relief against this industry of legal gambling which has undergone such incendiary growth over the past few years.
AGA President Bill Miller, who penned the letter, implored action from federal authorities: “Support and resources from the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies are critical to eliminating illegal gambling devices from our communities.”
Further comments on the matter were provided by Jessica Feil, Vice President, Government Relations & Gaming Policy Counsel at the AGA: “The US casino industry takes its state, tribal and federal regulatory commitments seriously. That includes registering legal gambling devices with the Department of Justice to ensure lawful, regulated machine distribution.”
Feil then also challenged the federal government to take stronger action, citing the adverse conditions in which participants of illegal gaming often find themselves: “Unfortunately, illegal and unregulated machines continue to skirt the law and put consumers at risk. The AGA and its members are urging the Department to utilize the Johnson Act to investigate and prosecute illegal gaming machine manufacturers. This important step will protect players and, ultimately, root out these pervasive, bad actors.”
This comes at a time when instances of illegal gambling are on the rise. Just yesterday it was revealed that officials in the state of Virginia are stepping up their efforts to shut down unregulated, small-scale casinos.
