Bill Miller, CEO American Gaming Association – From a household of attorneys comes a political optimist — CDC Gaming

Bill Miller, CEO of the American Gaming Association, got here from a household of attorneys. But as a substitute of following the “family business,” he at all times had a dream to chase the political world.

“I grew up in the legal world. My father was a Maryland trial court judge for 27 years. I had an uncle who was a judge. My father and his two brothers were lawyers. My grandfather was a lawyer. He came to D.C. from Indiana, where he went to law school. His whole family was from Nebraska, and they were all lawyers. But I felt like I always had the political bug,” Miller mentioned.

Although he did earn his regulation diploma, that political bug led Miller via a collection of positions that required an outlined intuition for politics. That finally led to utilizing what he realized to steer gaming organizations via the political world to higher serve the business as CEO of the American Gaming Association.

Today his political aspirations are rewarded by main the more-than-20-person AGA to advocate to coverage makers, Congress, the Senate, the brand new president and governors in regards to the gaming business’s wants. The results of his advocacy typically determines authorities coverage for an estimated 1,000 casinos within the United States.

Unprecedented
The American Gaming Association (AGA) represents the $329 billion U.S. on line casino business. Since becoming a member of AGA in 2019, Miller has elevated the affiliation’s affect in Washington, superior key business priorities, and deepened member engagement.

Most notably, beneath Miller’s management, AGA navigated the gaming business via the COVID-19 pandemic. He led the advocacy effort that united AGA members and the broader gaming business, secured unprecedented federal reduction, and created a good coverage panorama for gaming’s exceptional restoration.

Miller has greater than three a long time of expertise on Capitol Hill and has represented enterprise pursuits in Washington, D.C. Early in his profession, Miller served as chief of employees and marketing campaign supervisor for Representative Constance A. Morella (MD-8), overseeing the congresswoman’s legislative and political agenda.

At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Miller served as Senior Vice President and National Political Director. He drove the Chamber’s political affairs and federal lobbying efforts for greater than a decade, the place he created a good coverage setting for the U.S. enterprise neighborhood to thrive.

Miller additionally frolicked as a companion at worldwide company communications agency Brunswick, offering strategic counsel to a number of U.S. and worldwide firms.

Prior to becoming a member of AGA, Miller served as the highest lobbyist on the Business Roundtable, the affiliation of chief govt officers of America’s main corporations. During his tenure, he led consequential lobbying efforts to move the landmark 2017 tax reform laws and usher within the USMCA settlement.

Miller is acknowledged as an influential chief in Washington, together with being named to Washingtonian journal’s Most Influential People List and The Hill’s Top Lobbyists for a number of years.

In the trenches
Bill Miller started his profession within the trenches of American politics—serving as chief of employees and marketing campaign supervisor for Representative Constance A. Morella of Maryland (MD-8). In this pivotal function, he managed each legislative technique and political operations from 1991 to 1999, laying the groundwork for his deep understanding of how policymaking and advocacy intersect in Washington, D.C

“I always loved politics and government and elections, and so I gravitated to that,” Miller mentioned.

“I used to be chief of employees to Connie Morella from Maryland, and he or she was a Republican, however she represented a district that was probably the most Democrat district in America. So, it was at all times very tough. Today she’s 93 years outdated and I’ve bought two youngsters, my oldest son turned 12, and my baby is 10, they usually consider Connie as their grandmother.

“It was a very difficult job as a result of I used to be her marketing campaign supervisor, and I used to be her chief of employees, after which I went to regulation college at evening.

“We had three totally different places of work, one on Capitol Hill, after which two out in Montgomery County in Maryland. She was an area member. Most of the time, when members of Congress go residence to their districts the employees in Washington will get a reprieve and a break.

“My boss lived in Bethesda, so our constituents could take the metro down to come and visit us unannounced, and they did all the time on all sorts of issues,” Miller recalled.

Every facet of each challenge
Working for Congresswoman Morella taught Miller classes in politics that he carries with him right now,

“I’ll say that the educational that came about working for the Congresswoman  taught me that you simply had to take a look at each facet of each challenge. The constituents had been closely Democrat, and we additionally had to consider our Republican colleagues who had been in our conferences.

“I’ve at all times felt that it’s been a terrific profit to me to work for a member who was a centrist, as a result of it gave me the credibility to grasp what the Democrat place is and what’s the Republican place, after which it interprets into a greater thought course of round making choices.

“My job is to influence legislative bodies, governors, cabinet members, Senate, and House members. You always have to understand who they are, where they come from, and what their makeup is in terms of why they would care about an issue that you’re going to bring them. Working for Connie Morella forced you to really think through all of the different stakeholders, all of the different pieces,” Miller declared.

Counterweight
“By then Tom Donohue, CEO of the US Chamber, who was a titan on this city, got here to the Chamber in 1997 and he mentioned,’ Look, I actually need to create a counterweight to the trial attorneys, to the labor unions. We want the enterprise neighborhood to have that counterweight, largely by way of advocacy and lobbying, but additionally by way of political clout.’

“I had the great privilege of being the political director at the US Chamber for 11 years, I ran all their grassroots. I ran all the advocacy. We had five regional offices around the country where we interfaced with all the state and local chambers, and then all the association CEOs and I was the principal interface,” Miller mentioned.

Brunswick Group
“I spent about a year as a partner at the Brunswick Group. Brunswick is a London-founded crisis communications and financial communications firm. When I was there, we helped Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook prepare for their IPO, which was a fascinating process. I was put on the team for the BP oil spill, and the Deepwater Horizon spill. I was part of that crisis comms team. I was really excited to go there, learn something different and utilize my political, congressional, and communication skills in that realm,” Miller mentioned.

The Board of Directors of America
“I used to be employed by John Engler who was the previous three-term governor of Michigan, and the CEO of the Business Roundtable. He wished a chief lobbyist. He wished any individual who individuals knew up on the Hill, who had bipartisan credibility and will advocate on behalf of the CEOs.

“The Business Roundtable is made up of solely chief govt officers. When I used to be there, it was in all probability 205 Fortune 500 CEOs that made up the group. You couldn’t deliver your lobbyist; you couldn’t deliver your staffers. It was simply the CEOs that got here to our places of work 4 occasions a 12 months.

“So, it might be the governor, me, and no matter coverage those who had been on the employees of the BRT interfacing straight with absolutely the titans of business reminiscent of Jamie Dimon and Rex Tillerson.

“I worked there for five years during the Obama administration and for the first term of Trump. I would say that I thought of Business Roundtable as kind of the board of directors of America because these are literally the biggest employers in the country. We could get a meeting with anybody, pretty much anytime, and I could bring in three or four Fortune 500 CEOs into a meeting with a member of Congress,” Miller associated.

Working on the BRT through the Obama administration Miller was capable of develop necessary free commerce agreements, together with the USMCA settlement. During the primary 12 months of the primary Trump administration, the Business Roundtable was capable of coordinate with Fortune 500 CEOs to develop company tax price reductions.

“It was the primary time in 25 years that we had been capable of decrease the company tax price from 35% to 21% and in order that was an enormous endeavor. And my principal job was to seek out the choke level for each a kind of CEOs by way of, what do you care about. When you discuss to Walmart, these guys would say, ‘Look, I care in regards to the tax price as a result of after we are within the gross sales and retail enterprise, the company tax charges are a very powerful factor.

“But then I’d have John Chambers, who was the then CEO of Cisco, the  software company, and he would say, ‘Bill, I don’t care about the tax rate. What I really care about is repatriation,’ because at the time, the U.S. was the only territory in the world that had double taxation. So, you’d make your money in the Netherlands, you’d pay Netherlands tax, but if you wanted to bring your money back to the U.S., you got taxed again. What ended up happening was literally trillions of dollars in corporate earnings were overseas because these guys didn’t want to bring it back,” Miller recalled.

Future connections
Working at his earlier political jobs, Miller would meet and get to know leaders within the gaming business such because the late Sheldon Adelson of Sands and Gary Lovemen of Caesars, who had been instrumental when it got here time to think about transferring to the American Gaming Association.

I requested Miller how a non-gaming govt was chosen as CEO of the AGA.

“I understood the casino business and the interests because of Sands, principally. When I went to BRT, I got to know Gary Loveman at Caesars and MGM. I knew some of the IGT guys from D.C. I think they said that this is a guy who has shown that he can work in challenging environments and build consensus. And this is an industry that sometimes has been defined by more division than collaboration and agreement,” Miller mentioned.

Into the fireplace
Miller started his function of CEO of the American Gaming Association the identical day in 2019 that “The interim Attorney General issued a reinterpretation of the Wire Act that certainly made the first day, not the day that you’re filling out paperwork and finding out where the bathroom is. It was actually a live exercise on day one. And, you know, fortunately, we were able to get through it at that time,” Miller mentioned.

Tipping level
After a bit multiple 12 months on the job as CEO of the AGA, Miller confronted down the most important disruptive occasion within the historical past of the trendy gaming business, COVID.

“I had a gathering with Rush Street, and I flew out within the morning. I used to be planning to have lunch with their CEO Greg Carlin and Neil Bluhm.

“And so, we go in, now we have lunch, and an individual on Greg and Neil’s crew comes up and says,’ Hey, they simply canceled the Big Ten Tournament, Major League Baseball and the NBA.’ That was the tipping level. I bear in mind going to O’Hare Airport, flying again to D.C. that afternoon, and it was like a ghost city.

“I got here again residence and someday after that, two days after that, three days after that, states had been closing every part, together with casinos. There had been a few days in March that had been massively consequential for each American and for each enterprise right here and globally not like something we’ve ever seen in our lifetime.

“I remember having a conversation with Bill Hornbuckle of MGM, and he said ‘We had to close, we had to lock all these doors. We don’t have any keys to any of these doors because our casinos are never closed.’ And so, there were these kinds of incredible moments,” Miller mentioned.

Pivot
“We pivoted pretty quickly to working with the White House at the time and what was the best CDC guidance. I remember being on calls with the White House Office of Public Liaison. They were talking about routing  international visitors through five different cities. And so, if you came into an airport, no matter where it was, they were going to create five different entry points for foreign visitors that they’d get cleared through,” Miller said.

Double down on advocacy
Miller and his crew needed to finally resolve to close down G2E in Las Vegas and Macau. They participated in choices on shutting down slot manufacturing factories and what to do with price chopping measures for his personal group, the American Gaming Association.

“How we dealt with the commerce present was tremendous necessary. And then clearly for us financially as a company we mainly needed to say we have to lower each non-essential service, however we have to double down on advocacy, as a result of on the finish of the day, the federal authorities goes to present out lots of reduction and stimulus to restart the economic system every time it’s the suitable time.

“And we did not want to be left out. Because this is an industry that in the past when there’s been recovery bills and stimulus bills, we’ve been carved out for whatever reasons because people didn’t like our industry. So really since 9/11, the Great Recession, and bailouts that happened after Super Storm Sandy and Katrina, the casino industry and the gaming industry were not given financial aid. This time we were treated like every other American business. And I am very grateful for that. I think it spoke to us being prepared to meet that moment on behalf of our members, because it was really, really important,” Miller declared.

“During the reopening after COVID, the on line casino business was one of many earliest discretionary revenue, journey, and leisure dynamics to open, largely as a result of we’re so necessary from a tax-based perspective.

“For the states, we’re not the lowest taxpayer in our states. We’re almost always the highest taxpayer in our states. State governments recognized getting casinos open, but opened safely, was incredibly important from a financial perspective and to begin the process of literally reopening up the American economy,” Miller mentioned.

Optimistic
I requested Miller what he considered the standing of the gaming business 5 years after the pandemic. Miller highlighted the business’s development, with 18 consecutive quarters of income development, and the shift in demographics to a youthful viewers.

“I am optimistic. I think that there are two reasons for optimism. Number one, I think that the industry has really evolved from its early days and the stigma that was associated with the industry from Bugsy Siegel and the mob and the movie “Casino.”

“Number two, I’m a numbers guy. We have over 1,000 casinos in America. Are we doing better? Are we doing worse? I think the industry is still strong. One of the reasons is favorability. Almost nine in 10 Americans believe casino gaming is acceptable for them, friends, and family. For the last 10 years, public sentiment has remained the highest it’s ever been,” Miller mentioned.

Preconceived notion
“That’s as a result of, as casinos grew from not simply Nevada, not simply Atlantic City, not simply the place river boats are, however they really got here into different states and different communities – individuals may need had a preconceived notion about what a on line casino in your city means, and usually it was impartial to unfavourable. But when the casinos got here, they now had new eating places, new accommodations, new retail operations. And then the fireplace division bought two new hearth vans as a result of there’s elevated tax income for the neighborhood.

“When we actually open, people say, ‘Wow, this is great. Nothing has happened in this town for 25 years, and now we’re seeing economic activity and economic growth, and it’s creating jobs and an economic opportunity for a town that was left behind by textiles or steel or auto.’ Having that story is very politically powerful and also incredibly powerful from a narrative perspective,” Miller declared.

More transformative
“And, you know, that’s just the commercial side. On the tribal side it’s even more transformative. I mean, these are a people that have been treated worse by the American government than anybody. The tribes have been treated horrendously by the federal government for many, many years, and the gaming industry has allowed them to not only sustain, but to thrive. And  that is an incredibly powerful narrative. So, what has happened continues to create that sustained optimism,” Miller said.

What retains you up at evening?
When you think about all of the attainable threats to the gaming business, I requested Miller what retains him up at evening.

“The factor that retains me up at evening might be the unlawful market greater than something. Whether we prefer it or not, most people will not be refined sufficient to grasp the distinction between unlawful playing and authorized playing.

“We’re creating lots of jobs and lots of tax income; the unlawful market will not be doing any of these issues. But reputationally, if somebody has an issue, or they’ve a monetary wreck or some severe unfavourable penalties due to playing, more often than not that comes from the unlawful playing market. Because our curiosity is long-term sustainability as an business and long-term sustainability doesn’t come from profiting from your clients.

“Then you get into the questions of some of these others, sweepstakes and DFS (daily fantasy sports) 2.0 and most recently, which probably causes me the most unrest, is the prediction markets, which in essence are creating the potential of a national sports betting network under the auspices of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. I believe that’s an affront to the 8,000 regulators that work at the state and tribal levels that have built an industry,” mentioned Miller.

The grey market
“I feel that the CFTC is exceeding their statutory mandate. These are what I might name extra of the grey market, as a result of they’ve some model of legality after which talent video games.

“Whether it’s Virginia, or Pennsylvania, or these other places where folks have just said, ‘Well, this is not a game of chance. It’s not a slot machine. It’s a game of skill,’ and they found some crafty lawyers to find the loophole in whatever state statute. Then they put 70,000 machines in the state of Pennsylvania and if you’re Penn National, and you paid $50 million for a gaming license, and then you’re paying a 52% or 54% tax rate, and you have to compete with the local convenience store, local tavern, or Legion hall that has three skill game machines that does not pay taxes but allows the individual to play without any age verification or any suitability verification. This is really problematic. When I talk about the things that keep me up at night; how can we get law enforcement, everything from the FBI to the attorneys general in states to the regulators in different states, to prioritize this? And we’re having some success,” Miller declared.

Remarkable development
I requested Miller to touch upon the unbelievable development of authorized sports activities betting within the United States since he has been CEO of the AGA.

“It’s fairly a exceptional story. I’ve typically mentioned this, ‘I’ve been both in authorities, advising authorities, lobbying authorities, and it’s laborious for me to discover a parallel on the state degree for something to maneuver as shortly as sports activities betting.’

”Because simply take into consideration how the political make-up of America right now will not be one the place you see bipartisan, widely-held agreements transfer ahead. And now, virtually 40 states plus D.C. have authorized sports activities betting from May of 2018 after we had one state in America the place you would legally wager on sports activities. Pretty exceptional. And, from that perspective, it’s actually fascinating to get to the place the place we are actually,” Miller mentioned.

Play Smart from the Start and Have a Game Plan
Miller has been progressively creating accountable gaming applications for the AGA. I requested him to elucidate Play Smart from the Start and Have a Game Plan for sports activities betting.

Play Smart from the Start teaches gamers constructive gaming habits, learn how to perceive video games, gaming vocabulary, and different sources.

Have a Game Plan was created to assist operators and companions stay inside sports activities betting parameters.

“Have a Game Plan has been something that our team developed as states were legalizing because we wanted to make sure that we were not worried about our operators, because they’re all licensed, and the government holds those licenses, and the government has the power to fine us. It has power to take away our license if we don’t act in accordance with statute and regulation. And so, our industry understands that,” Miller mentioned.

New enterprise companions
“We have a complete bunch of latest enterprise companions: the NFL, sports activities groups, leagues, arenas, broadcasters, which might be all now beneficiaries of the legalization of sports activities betting in these states. But they could not have any appreciation of the accountability to make it possible for that is enjoyable and that there’s draw back threat right here, and we have to.

“We wanted to create a PSA marketing campaign that is ready to be reproduced, repackaged, reformulated for no matter enterprise, no matter companion. We’ve bought thirty some business companions which have endorsed and embraced Have a Game Plan. And it’s sort of fairly easy.

“Number one. This will not be a second job. Sports betting is meant to be enjoyable. It is for leisure functions. It’s a part of sports activities fandom; nevertheless it’s not going to be your second job. It’s not going to be a approach to complement your revenue.

“Number two is, like every discretionary expenditure that you’ve in your private world, ensure you have a funds. Make certain you persist with the funds. Don’t chase your losses. Know that it’s a social exercise, that you simply’re doing it with buddies, and also you’re doing it with household, and know that you simply’re retaining it mild.

“Finally, know the percentages, know the sport, know the principles, as a result of particularly with sports activities betting we’re seeing extra first-time sports activities betters, or informal sports activities betters and typically they simply don’t know the principles. Particularly, as you get into extra unique parlays and people kinds of issues. We need to make it possible for individuals perceive what it’s they’re betting on.

“Then, most just lately, we added a element to Have a Game Plan, and that’s, maintain your cool. Because what we had been beginning to see was components of athlete harassment when participant proposition bets didn’t pay, and these had been occurring within the on-line world, largely.

“We wished to make it possible for we had been articulating that there’s by no means a purpose to harass an athlete or a coach, or different followers in a dynamic the place simply because you could have a wager on a selected final result of the sport or explicit participant’s efficiency. There’s by no means a purpose to behave out in an unsportsmanlike method.

“Because at the start of the NFL season we estimate that $30 billion is  going to be bet on the NFL season. That’s a lot of money, and we want to make sure that responsible betting is being embraced by the public, and being accepted by the public,” Miller said.

Success secret
I requested Miller what he thought contributed to his success. His reply was easy and succinct.

“The secret of my success has been go to work early, stay late and never stop learning,” Miller mused.

Bill Miller’s management on the AGA has been marked by sturdy advocacy, strategic course, and navigating crises with a gradual hand. Since 2019, he’s overseen exponential development within the gaming business, pushed vital coverage advances, promoted accountable gaming practices, and elevated the affiliation’s affect.

Through his years main the AGA, Miller has met vital challenges utilizing political expertise honed through the years and his personal self-described political optimism.

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Entries within the Faces of Gaming collection:

• Bill Miller, CEO American Gaming Association – From a household of attorneys comes a political optimist (now studying)
• Steve Neely – Casino profession classes constructed on a body of life
• Circa proprietor Derek Stevens – A sports-specific model with a downtown Vegas vibe
• Phil Satre – Chairman of the Boards
• Michael Kaplan – Writing the ebook on benefit gamers, for playing and for all times
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• Dr. Katherine Spilde – There’s no place like residence
• Mattress Mack – Furniture mogul, advertising and marketing genius, sports activities betting champ
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• Alan Feldman – From Mirage and MGM to accountable gaming skilled
• John Acres – the Thomas Edison of gaming
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• Lauren Bates — A profitable VP at Konami and Chair of Global Gaming Women, all earlier than her fortieth birthday
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Tom Osiecki is a on line casino guide who writes an occasional column for CDC Gaming referred to as Faces of Gaming, about fascinating and interesting individuals within the gaming business.

Tom Osiecki is a advertising and marketing and administration guide for Raving Consulting and may be reached for consulting engagements at 775-329-7864.

If you already know of an enchanting character within the gaming business you wish to see profiled, please ship Tom Osiecki an e-mail at tosiecki@cdcgaming.com