Long-standing tensions between land-based casinos and iGaming operators flared up at last week's National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) summer meeting.

Churchill Downs lobbyist Shannon McCracken ignited the debate, asserting that iGaming is "the most addictive form of gambling" and directly responsible for declining land-based casino revenues. She also highlighted over 20 failed state bills in 2024 and 2025 as evidence of waning legislative support for iGaming, specifically citing the risks it poses to younger users aged 17-23 with "a non-stop slot machine in your pocket."

Churchill Downs, along with Cordish and Monarch Casino, recently formed the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) to oppose the expansion of iGaming in the U.S., claiming that pari-mutuel wagering is fundamentally different due to its pacing and ties to live events. However, these arguments faced strong opposition. Andrew Winchell of Betr challenged McCracken's logic, likening it to banning mobile banking to protect bank tellers.

John Pappas of the iDevelopment and Economic Association further criticized NAAiG, particularly on LinkedIn, for its hypocrisy given that its members profit from the same digital gambling dynamics they oppose.

From Compliance and More:

Pappas shared the stage during the debate, but took to LinkedIn yesterday to issue a public rebuttal after NAAiG doubled down, noting its members profit from the same digital dynamics they claim to oppose.

He highlighted TwinSpires, Churchill Downs’ 24/7 online betting platform active in nearly 40 states, as a wildly successful example of iGaming.

“Their active participation in online gambling directly undermines their argument against the regulated online casino industry,” he said.

Protection racket: Pappas said NAAiG’s claims about player protection fell flat, as their own platforms use digital ID checks and RG tools they claim others can’t rely on.

“NAAiG’s selective argumentation, contradicting the reality of their own members' practices, reveals their true interest may be less about consumer protection and more about protecting their own market advantages,” he said.
Read the well done recap of the incident here: https://complianceandmore.substack.c...aig-ing-doubts