The American Gaming Association is calling on Congress to pass legislation to fight the Zika virus that threatens economic activity and jobs tied to the gaming and broader travel industries.
In a letter to every member of Congress, the AGA and more than 100 organisations implored legislators to provide necessary funding to address the Zika virus in parts of the country that depend on a tourism economy.
“A failure by Congress to act quickly jeopardises not only health but the US economy,” wrote Whit Askew, vice president of government affairs. “The number of individuals with the Zika virus has grown and there have been multiple instances of local transmission.”
Casino gaming is a $240bn industry in the US that supports 1.7 million jobs and generates $38bn in tax revenue across 40 states. More broadly, the nation’s travel industry generates $2.1tn in economic output, is an economic engine driving job creation across the US and is a top 10 employer in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
