TLDR The American Gaming Association (AGA) called prediction markets a direct threat to the regulated U.S. gaming industry in its latest report. AGA CEO Bill Miller said the industry will “fight back” against illegal sports betting through sports event contracts. The Gaming Industry Outlook showed a 1.5% rise in real activity across casinos and betting operations. Executive confidence improved to a net positive of 21.4%, up from negative sentiment in early 2025. Nearly two-thirds of gaming executives plan to increase spending on projects in the next year, with half expecting AI to help cut costs.
The American Gaming Association has taken aim at prediction markets, calling them a growing challenge to the legal U.S. gaming industry. The trade group laid out its position in a new report produced with Oxford Economics.
The report, titled the Gaming Industry Outlook, uses industry data and economic analysis to track how commercial gaming is performing. It also highlights the pressure points facing the sector as it continues to expand.
AGA President and CEO Bill Miller did not hold back in his criticism of prediction markets. He said illegal sports betting through sports event contracts is “increasingly encroaching” on legal, state and tribal-regulated operators.
Miller added that the regulated industry views this as a threat and will continue to fight back. He said the goal is to protect the integrity of the industry.
The AGA has long pushed for tighter oversight of prediction markets, which allow users to bet on the outcome of real-world events. The trade group argues these platforms operate outside the rules that govern traditional sports betting.
Gaming Activity Shows Steady Growth
Despite these concerns, the report painted a largely positive picture of the U.S. gaming industry. The Gaming Conditions Index recorded a 1.5% rise in real activity across