Six Months in, the AGA Exodus Has Reshaped US Gambling's Lobbying Landscape

"81% of respondents identified prediction markets offering sports event contracts as a very significant risk to the regulated gaming industry. AGA president and CEO Bill Miller framed prediction markets in his statement as an encroachment on legal, state-regulated, and tribal-regulated operators, characterizing sports event contracts as a form of illegal sports betting that the industry intends to keep contesting."

"The association's Gaming Conditions Index a composite of revenue, employment, wages, executive sentiment, and casino hotel event activity is up 1.5% year-over-year, and more than 60% of the executives surveyed said they expect higher revenues, stronger balance sheets, and increased capital investment over the next 6-12-month period. The AGA survey states that executive sentiment hit its highest level since the third quarter of 2022, with a 21.4% net positive outlook across key business indicators."

"The exits began on November 18, 2025, when Draftkings and Fanduel confirmed in separate statements that they had relinquished their AGA memberships over misalignment with the trade group's stance on prediction markets. Both operators had announced prediction-market plans during their Q3 2025 earnings calls Draftkings through its Railbird acquisition and Fanduel via a Commodity Futures Trading Commissionregulated partnership with CME Group. Both products are now live: Draftkings Predictions launched December 19, 202"

Gaming executives report improved business sentiment and conditions for 2026, with executive sentiment at its highest level since Q3 2022 and a 21.4% net positive outlook across key indicators. The Gaming Conditions Index rises 1.5% year over year, incorporating revenue, employment, wages, executive sentiment, and casino hotel event activity. More than 60% of executives expect higher revenues, stronger balance sheets, and increased capital investment over the next 6–12 months. Despite this optimism, 81% identify prediction markets offering sports event contracts as a very significant risk to the regulated gaming industry. The AGA frames sports event contracts as illegal sports betting and notes membership influence has declined after major operators exited the association.

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