Last updated: February 17, 2025
The NAAiG has emerged as a unified opposition to online casino legalization in the U.S., arguing against its economic and social risks. The coalition, comprising businesses, unions, and advocacy groups, pushes for in-person gaming to safeguard jobs and local economies.
As different state legislatures consider legalizing online casino gambling in their states, those opposed to such legislation have organized to coordinate their opposition to the expansion of iGaming. The National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) formulates several arguments concerning the impact of the presence of online casinos on consumers.
The NAAiG website indicates that the association has retail casinos, advocacy groups, local businesses, and workers’ unions as its members. These groups have each—and often successfully—opposed attempts to legalize expansion of online gambling in many states; however, the association seeks to offer a united front against iGaming across the United States.
The NAAiG website declares that the association represents “a coalition of local businesses, industry veterans, community advocates and concerned citizens united to safeguard our communities from the harmful impacts of online gambling.” Additionally, it claims that the NAAiG was “founded to address the growing threats posed by iGaming” and is “dedicated to preserving local jobs, ensuring economic stability and promoting safe, responsible gaming practices.”
No details, however, are given on the website regarding the specific groups or individuals that constitute its membership. Instead of that, the website gives only a general description that the membership comprises “casinos, local businesses, employees, unions and advocacy groups.”
In the face of such claims of membership, the positions taken by the NAAiG are easily understandable. People represented by the NAAiG have already started advancing these positions.
Advocacy groups, gaming firms, and labor unions have all been actively involved in opposition to iGaming legislation across the United States. Such activity was recently witnessed in Maryland on February 10.
At an Annapolis hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to add online casino play to the state’s regulated system of online gaming, testimony against the measure was given by gambling, labor union, and business representatives. The testimony cited accusations that iGaming would result in a loss of revenue for Maryland’s land-based casinos, and the loss of employment for hospitality staff as a result of this lost revenue, and underscored that online casino play is a greater danger than games presented by land-based casinos.
The NAAiG website also claims that the organization is fighting economic damage and mental health threats. At the same time, the page reports that the NAAiG supports “in-person gaming for its economic and social benefits.”
The site promises “updates on advocacy efforts and upcoming initiatives.” To date, nothing is mentioned about what these initiatives are.
At least, the NAAiG is a possible convergence of issues faced by proponents of regulated iGaming in the United States. State legislatures can soon look forward to formal action by members of the organization.
