AGA hails end to US Covid-19 testing regime for international travelers
Trade body suggests relaxation of measure could boost land-based casino and sportsbook revenue as pre-flight testing requirements removed
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has voiced its support for US government-introduced measures ending pre-flight Covid-19 testing for individuals traveling to the US from international destinations.
The Biden Administration confirmed the relaxation of the requirements following a January US Supreme Court ruling that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had exceeded its constitutional mandate in imposing Covid-19 testing on US citizens in the workplace.
The relaxation took effect yesterday, June 12.
Crucially , the OSHA made it a requirement for all international visitors to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test result before they could enter the US, a measure which has discouraged international travel due to the high cost of testing.
The effect on US tourism, in particular on the land-based casino sector, has been stark, with the industry gradually recovering from the pandemic following the readmittance of US players.
Speaking about the impact of this change on the sector, AGA CEO Bill Miller suggested this would accelerate the overall recovery of land-based casinos, something it has long campaigned for.
“By welcoming back international business and leisure travelers, the American gaming industry and our nation’s hospitality sector can fully recover,” Miller said in a statement.
“This move puts the United States on equal footing with other countries and will provide a major boost to our nation’s travel and hospitality industries.”
Highlighting industry events like the G2E exhibition which takes place in September, Miller continued: “At the same time, we must not forget that more can still be done to return tourism to pre-pandemic levels.
We ask the State Department to continue their work to speed up international visa processing time by investing in additional staff and allowing virtual interviews.
“Eliminating the testing requirement will undoubtedly open our doors to more international visitors and we should make the process for entry as efficient and accessible as possible,” he added.