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New Study Reveals Economic and Social Risks of iGaming
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In response to the increasing concerns over the social and economic risks of iGaming, the gaming and entertainment business leaders have joined forces to launch the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG).
The organization is formed in opposition to the expansion of iGaming and its well-reported economic and social dangers and urges other local businesses, employee unions, and community groups to mobilize in their effort to protect local communities.
A new study for NAAiG by The Innovation Group, a research and advisory firm specializing in gaming, hospitality, and tourism that has previously conducted multiple studies of online gambling for state governments and industry stakeholders, debunks the myth that iGaming offers easy revenue for states. Instead, the study uncovers the damaging effects of iGaming expansion, exposing widespread job losses and significant declines in economic output across multiple states.
Main findings of the report:
Land-based casino revenue drops by 16% on average after iGaming is introduced, leading to substantial job losses, hundreds of millions of dollars in lost economic output and reduced tax contributions that fund public services.
States introducing iGaming face significant economic losses, with projected job cuts reaching 4921 in New York and 4733 in Illinois by 2029.
iGaming results in significant losses for states in economic output. All states analyzed would see massive GDP reductions, including Ohio ($602 million), Indiana ($428 million), Maryland ($372 million), and Colorado ($313 million).
States’ net tax gains from iGaming are limited, even before accounting for the increased social costs associated with its high rates of problem gambling and related social ills. For instance, Louisiana, Maryland, and Mississippi could all see negative net tax revenue due to displaced in-person gaming dollars and related impacts on state and local economies.
Brick-and-mortar casinos in every state would face significant revenue losses due to iGaming cannibalization. Projections reach up to $983.7 million in New York, $545.3 million in Illinois, $522.6 million in Ohio, and $342.6 million in Maryland by 2029.
The introduction of iGaming reduces in-person casino employment, with an estimated 2818 jobs lost in Ohio, 2642 in Louisiana and 1906 in Mississippi.
The job losses caused by iGaming will result in massive reductions each year in employee wages and related taxes for states. Annual labor income losses would reach nearly $110 million in Colorado and Maryland, $204 million in Ohio, nearly $300 million in Illinois, and nearly $450 million in New York.
States with iGaming experience an 8.3% decline in distributed gaming revenue, impacting taverns and small gaming establishments.
Projected U.S. gambling losses from iGaming are expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2028, straining local economies and public health resources.
“These statistics underscore the urgent need for action. iGaming’s unchecked access to gambling on cell phones is bad public policy that threatens local jobs and businesses and will cost states. When increased social costs caused by iGaming higher rates of underage and problem gambling are considered, the net tax revenue results are uniformly negative for every state,” said Mark Stewart, EVP & General Counsel of The Cordish Companies and NAAiG board member. “
“Beyond the lack of any real upside for states, iGaming puts vulnerable individuals at greater risk of problem gambling and financial instability. NAAiG is uniting stakeholders to push back and stop the spread of these harmful trends and advocate for responsible gaming policies,” said NAAiG board member Jason Gumer, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Monarch Casino & Resort Inc.
“iGaming is eroding our communities. This isn’t just about responsible gaming—it’s about protecting local family-sustaining jobs and preventing financial harm. In Maryland alone, iGaming could cost $372 million in economic output, $342.6 million in lost casino revenue and nearly $110 million in annual wages. We must act now to protect our state and local economies nationwide,” said Shannon McCracken, Senior Director of Government Relations at Churchill Downs Incorporated and NAAIG board member.
awards
Registration Open for BiS Awards 2025: Recognizing Excellence in the iGaming and Betting Industry
![Registration Open for BiS Awards 2025: Recognizing Excellence in the iGaming and Betting Industry](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BiS-Awards-2025-.png)
The most traditional and recognized awards in the Gaming and Betting sector in Brazil will have its 5th edition as an integral part of the official agenda of the BiS SiGMA Americas 2025 event.
The long-awaited BiS Awards 2025 is open for application submissions. Companies and professionals in the iGaming and betting sector can now register their success stories to compete for the most prestigious industry award in Latin America. The deadline for submission ends on March 7th, and public voting begins on March 10th. Registration can be made directly on the official BiS Awards website: brazilianigamingawards.com.
The BiS Awards 2025 will feature a total of 25 categories, rewarding professionals and companies that have stood out in the iGaming and betting sector over the last year. Among the awards for professionals in the sector, the Executive Woman of the Year category, which rewards the woman in an executive position who stood out most in the iGaming sector, and C-Level in Highlight, which recognizes the C-level executive who had the greatest impact on the industry. In addition to these, there are categories aimed at companies, such as Sponsor of the Year, which recognizes the sponsor that contributed most to the iGaming sector in the last year; Best Marketing Campaign, which highlights the most impactful and successful marketing campaign of the year; Best Platform, which rewards the most efficient and innovative technological platform for iGaming; and Best Game Producer, which recognizes the game developer who has released the most outstanding and successful titles.
New Categories Reflect the Regulated Scenario
The 2025 edition brings significant new features, including categories that follow the new regulations for the sector in Brazil. Among them, the following stand out:
- Better Customer Service – Recognizing companies that offer the best experience and support to their users.
- Best Responsible Gaming Initiative – Valuing practices that promote a safe and responsible gaming environment.
- Best Action to Combat Gambling Disorder – Rewarding programs and strategies aimed at preventing problem gambling.
Another new category, Best B2C Media, was created to recognize and value the press specializing in sports betting and sports, highlighting their essential role in disseminating information to consumers, bettors and sports enthusiasts. In addition to rewarding the quality of journalism in the sports sector, this initiative reinforces the partnership between the industry and communication vehicles aimed at the betting public, while the Best B2B Media in the Sector category remains, recognizing the B2B communication vehicle that best covered the market over the last year.
The Gala Night: April 8th at Tokio Marine Hall
The winners will be announced at a glamorous gala dinner on April 8th, at the Tokio Marine Hall, in São Paulo. The awards ceremony, which takes place during BiS SiGMA Americas 2025, will be a unique opportunity to celebrate the main names and initiatives that drive the iGaming and betting market.
“The BiS Awards has an essential role in recognizing and encouraging the best practices in the sector. With the new categories, we want to highlight market transformations and value the professionals and companies that are shaping the future of the industry in Brazil and Latin America”, says Alessandro Valente, co-founder of the event.
“For five years, the BiS Awards have celebrated the best in our field in Brazil, recognizing talents and initiatives that drive the evolution of the sector. With each edition, we reinforce our commitment to highlighting those who make a difference in the iGaming and betting industry”, adds Carlos Cardama, co-founder of BiS.
Anyone interested in competing for the industry’s greatest recognition must register through the official website. For more information and to submit applications, access the website brazilianigamingawards.com.
About BiS Awards
The BiS Awards is an annual award that recognizes and celebrates the highlights of the iGaming and betting industry in Latin America. Created to value professionals and companies that contribute to the growth and innovation of the sector, the event has established itself as one of the most prestigious in the segment, bringing together leaders, executives and experts in a ceremony that reflects the evolution of the market. The 2025 edition will take place on April 8th, at the Tokio Marine Hall, in São Paulo, being an exclusive event for the final nominees, guests and holders of the BiS SiGMA Americas Platinum badge.
Latest News
PlayStar introduces its newly formed Advisory Board
![](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PlayStar-introduces-its-newly-formed-Advisory-Board.png)
PlayStar, one of the top 10 online casinos in New Jersey, has announced the creation of a new Advisory Board. The board will support the company’s efforts to sustain its growth in The Garden State while exploring further expansion opportunities.
Comprised of John Finamore, Jai Maw, Carl Sottosanti, Alison Digges, Richard J. St. Jean and Terrence Gray – six luminaries from within the iGaming and investor communities– the Advisory Board will look to pool its wealth of combined knowledge to build on PlayStar’s success and take the brand to even greater heights.
John Finamore is a former Penn National Gaming and Station Casinos Executive with over 40 years of experience in hospitality and casino gaming. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for more than $3bn in annual revenues, 15 distinct properties and 8,000+ employees.
Jai Maw is the Co-founder and President of Betting Hero – one of the industry’s leading customer acquisition and retention companies. Since 2018, the business has attracted more than 600,000 new customers for leading operators across North America and is trusted as a voice-of-customer expert. Maw has been recognized by Global Gaming Business and Gaming Intelligence respectively as a 40 Under 40 and Hot 50 recipient.
Alison Digges has held significant roles in the online gaming industry at the C-suite level, most recently as the Managing Director of UK & Ireland at Entain PLC, where she was also a member of the Digital Board. Before that, she worked at IGT as Vice President of Europe, overseeing the P&L for their high-growth gaming and lottery business. Over the past four years, she has served as an advisory board member for several start-ups and also been a board member for The Restaurant Group during its time as a publicly listed company, up until its acquisition by Apollo Global.
Carl Sottosanti started his legal career at a large Philadelphia law firm. Following several corporate positions, he joined Penn National Gaming in 2003, where he specialized in M&A, corporate governance, commercial transactions, and compliance, last serving as EVP and General Counsel. He has been retired since 2021and has provided advisory services to various gaming and technology companies, as well as companies looking to enter the industry.
Richard J. St. Jean brings over 35 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry. Most recently serving as COO of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, he has held senior executive roles at prominent companies such as Caesars Palace, Station Casino, and Penn Gaming. Richard is also the founder of Coastal Gaming, LLC.
Terrence Gray is a global investment management executive with over 30 years of experience leading strategy and driving growth for premier financial institutions, including Lazard, Global Thematic Partners, Deutsche Asset Management, Southern Bridge Capital, and Scudder Investments. Throughout his career, he has successfully raised over $5 billion across private and public markets.
Peter Ekmark, Chief Executive Officer at PlayStar, said: “At PlayStar, we’re incredibly proud of the significant strides our brand has made in the New Jersey market. Breaking into the state’s top 10 in 2024 is a true testament to how far we’ve come.
“That said, we’re not content to rest on our success – our goal is to continue building on this momentum and become a leading force in the industry, not only in New Jersey but across North America. The creation of our Advisory Board will help us achieve this by leveraging the collective expertise of five highly talented individuals from the casino and hospitality sectors.”
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BETBY TO SHOWCASE ENHANCED BET BUILDER VERSION AT SBC SUMMIT RIO
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BETBY, a leading sportsbook provider, has announced that it will unveil an upgraded version of its Bet Builder at the upcoming SBC Summit Rio. The latest version of this feature delivers unparalleled flexibility, expanded market options, and cross-sport customization to elevate the sports betting experience.
BETBY’s Bet Builder now covers 100% of football matches, offering dozens—or even hundreds—of statistical markets beyond traditional outcomes. Bettors can seamlessly combine a vast array of unique selections, including corners, throw-ins, goal kicks, VAR decisions, and even advanced, innovative metrics such as expected goals (xG). Moreover, the new Bet Builder allows players to mix and match player-specific markets, such as striker goals and midfielder assists, to craft fully personalized bets tailored to their strategy.
A standout addition is the ability to combine Bet Builder wagers not only with single bets but also with combo bets from other matches or even different sports. This groundbreaking feature unlocks limitless customization possibilities, providing players with unmatched flexibility and deeper engagement.
BETBY’s state-of-the-art technology ensures real-time odds recalculations, delivering instant, accurate pricing even on complex bet combinations. The Bet Builder feature is available across 9 sports, including 4 esports disciplines.
Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, commented: “Our latest Bet Builder update redefines the way players engage with sports betting. The ability to combine advanced performance metrics and mix selections across different matches and sports provides an unprecedented level of entertainment, flexibility, and creativity. This enhancement not only strengthens the player experience but also opens new revenue opportunities for operators by attracting a wider, more engaged audience. It’s another step forward in our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sportsbook innovation.”
BETBY will showcase the capabilities of its enhanced Bet Builder at the upcoming SBC Summit Rio 2025. Attendees are invited to visit stand B730 to connect with the supplier’s team of sportsbook experts and explore its cutting-edge betting solutions.
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