Donald Trump’s rise from real estate mogul to President of the United States set off debates in every which way as to how his policy would affect the economy.
One industry that keenly watched those first days in 2017 was the gambling industry. After all, Trump was famously associated with casinos in Atlantic City, and people in the industry wondered whether his administration would introduce favorable reforms, slacken regulations, or open up new doors to online gambling.
Before getting into the possible outcomes, it is important to note the vastness of the industry as a whole-from brick-and-mortar casinos lining the Las Vegas Strip and tribal lands to online gaming, which has grown at an exponential rate over the last several years.
For those interested in the virtual aspect of gambling, having a look at a detailed guide for the best online slots, for instance, will show just how fast web-based sites have grown.
Given these figures, it was no surprise that market analysts speculated Trump’s presidency could prove a watershed, especially if he adopted business-friendly policies.
Trump’s Casino Background and Industry Hopes
The high-profile run Trump had in Atlantic City casinos will forever be part of his business résumé.
With the coming years of ups and downs, one did wonder if Trump’s familiarity with gaming would shape his view on federal oversight. At the outset, some in the industry had hoped Trump would roll back or soften the federal restrictions on gambling, allowing states and private companies more latitude to innovate.
But even with that optimism, there wasn’t a broad pronouncement from the Oval Office indicating this would be a sea change. With Trump often talking about cutting government regulations, gambling laws are a notoriously complex mix of state legislation and federal statutes.
A question quickly became whether his administration would actively advance a new wave of gaming legalization or simply step aside and let states call the shots.
Early Signs and State Autonomy
Throughout his first year in office, it appeared Trump would be predisposed to let states regulate their respective gaming frameworks.
In theory, the proposition seemed agreeable with governors, who wanted the power to dictate what type of gaming should take place within their state, along with being able to claim additional tax revenue for local coffers.
States like New Jersey and Pennsylvania capitalized on that autonomy, moving forward with the expansion of online gambling.
There was, however, a subtle countercurrent.
The Trump Department of Justice has revisited the interpretation of the Wire Act, a federal law reaching certain forms of interstate gambling transmissions. This led to a more restrictive stance that broadly enforced could impede cross-state online poker or shared player pools.
While enforcement details were murky, it served as a reminder that sometimes federal policy shifts can run counter to the states’ momentum toward gaming expansion.
The Game-Changing Sports Betting Ruling
Although no sweeping federal gambling overhaul came directly from Trump, his presidency coincided with a transformative legal milestone: the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which allowed states to legalize sports betting-a huge win for the gaming industry.
Trump himself didn’t champion or oppose the ruling in any major way, but the impact of this decision nevertheless recast the business landscape on his watch.
Suddenly, sports wagering became a red-hot topic in state legislatures around the country as many localities saw a potential salve for budget shortfalls, community development programs, and even tourism attractions.
The resulting market has quickly grown and shows no signs of slowing down, especially because technology is continuing to make it easier and more common to place online sports wagers.
Economic and Tourism Factors
Beyond the legal issues, a president’s policies can impact gambling through broader economic channels. Trump’s promises to bolster American businesses, reduce taxes, and renegotiate trade deals had various implications. To the degree that corporate taxes are lowered, casino operators may be in a better position to invest in new properties or upgrades.
On the other hand, increased trade tensions or increased restrictions on immigration could dampen international tourism, upon which many of the most iconic casino destinations rely for revenue.
For example, Las Vegas relies deeply on convention-goers, vacationers, and high-rollers from other parts of the world. If Trump’s foreign policy made some of those visitors leery, local casinos may see a difference in how much visitors spend.
Even so, many operators seemed most enthusiastic about any tax or regulatory relief that could better enable them to reinvest in their properties to keep them competitive.
Online Gambling: Growth and Uncertainty
Online gambling has been growing steadily over the past decade, with many observers presuming that a pro-business president might lower barriers in the digital gaming arena.
While there was no clear Trump-led initiative to expand online gambling, the administration’s emphasis on letting states make their calls opened the door for more local experimentation.
But the forever-changing stance on the Wire Act remained a concern: the more future federal governments that double down on strict interpretations, the more cumbersome and slow it could become to operate online platforms-especially shared liquidity efforts between states, such as poker networks.
In any case, public sentiment continued to trend upward as the grassroots movement to keep expanding online wagering sparked heavy investments by casinos in friendly apps and online gaming suites.
Lobbying, Taxes, and Community Impact
One thing the gaming industry learned during Trump’s presidency is that lobbying never stops, no matter who sits in the White House. Casino operators, sports leagues, tribal gaming coalitions, and tech platforms invest in policy influence at both the federal and state levels.
But for local communities, the broader question has lingered: Would new gambling bring enough revenue and jobs to outweigh concerns about problem gambling and other social ills?
Trump’s pro-business posture buoyed expectations for economic growth with a new facility or through online gaming. Critics caution about growing addictive habits and say the industry should be tightly controlled.
The Takeaway
Ultimately, the Trump administration didn’t herald a radical overhaul of gambling laws. Instead, the biggest industry shift came from the Supreme Court’s sports betting decision, which unleashed a wave of state-by-state legalization.
Trump’s background in casinos may have spurred early optimism, but federal policy changes were less dramatic than some anticipated.
Yet, his presidency underlined the basic reality that gambling throughout the United States has been, to a degree, determined more by judicial rulings, state legislation, and federal interpretations than by any one president’s personal biases.
The lessons learned from the Trump presidency, as the industry expands most of all online, indicate that vigilance will be required going forward.
Operators, regulators, and consumers alike have to pay attention to how each new administration may push policy this way or that.
The bottom line? Leadership may change, but the core challenge facing the gambling industry remains how to balance growth opportunities with responsible regulation.
To entrepreneurs and investors, the Trump years demonstrated that actual progress often depends more on court decisions and local will than bold action by the White House.
Even so, a friendly business climate can help spur expansion so long as the legal framework, consumer demand, and technology all come together in a winning hand.
