Congressmen David Valadao of California and Troy Carter of Louisiana have received formal endorsement from the American Gaming Association (AGA) for the Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act of 2024.
The legislation, submitted last month by the two congressmen, will accredit employers who train their employees to identify and prevent human trafficking. The certification would be tied to the Blue Campaign, an anti-trafficking training program under the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking.
While the Blue Campaign already provides tools to help identify cases of human trafficking, the proposed bill acknowledges that no formal certification is attached. Valadao and Carter believe creating a certification program could incentivize companies to encourage employee participation.
Valadao asserts that casino employees, as well as those in hospitality, entertainment, and transportation, are the “first line of defense in detecting human trafficking,” reinforcing the need for them to receive adequate training.
While Louisiana doesn’t fall within the top 30 states for human trafficking, California —Valadao’s constituency — has the highest number of reported cases in the U.S., with over 12,600 since 2007.
“The legislation proposed today by Reps. Valadao and Carter validates and strengthens the role of employee training in combating human trafficking,” said AGA vice president of government relations Alex Costello. “The AGA encourages businesses across the gaming industry to take advantage of AGA’s free training as part of their dedication to responsibility and protecting their communities.”
In January, the AGA launched a free virtual training program to educate gaming industry employees on combating human trafficking. Under direction from the DHS, Treasury, and Justice, the guide lists ways in which AGA members and employees can identify, report, and prevent incidents of human trafficking.
The AGA reported a record $16.6 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2023, marking its eighth consecutive quarter of growth.
