Welcome to the latest episode of Fundamentals with Ian Thomas, a Front Office Sports interview show featuring leading operators and voices of the sports industry.
Today’s guest is Sara Slane, who has spent 12+ years as a leading spokesperson and strategist in the sports betting and casino industry and has been touted as “the face of legalized sports betting.”
Prior to launching Slane Advisory, she was SVP of Public Affairs at the American Gaming Association (AGA) throughout the campaign to overturn PAPSA.
More about Sara Slane…
(Extended bio courtesy Slane Advisory)
Sara Slane has over 12 years of experience working in the casino gaming industry. Most recently, she was the senior vice president of public affairs at the American Gaming Association (AGA). As a key industry strategist and spokesperson, Slane helped enhance the gaming industry’s reputation and built favorable perceptions among critical stakeholders, including regulators, legislators, the media, and the broader public. Her messages were delivered across multiple platforms, including testifying before Congress and state legislatures; conducting television and print interviews with major outlets such as CNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times; and delivering remarks at high-visibility forums around the country.
Most recently, Slane managed the most important advocacy victory in AGA history, a campaign to overturn the federal ban on sports betting known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). Slane was integral to planning the campaign’s strategy and leading key aspects, including building alliances with sports leagues and policymakers; handling the association’s day-to-day grassroots and communications efforts; and overseeing the development of original research that demonstrated the overwhelming support for legal, regulated sports betting among fans and quantified the economic opportunities for American businesses. Slane’s efforts culminated in the May 14, 2018 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to deem PASPA unconstitutional and clear the way for the gaming industry to offer sports betting under state regulation.
Because of her leadership role, Slane is touted as “the face of legalized sports betting” and deemed one of “the most important and influential voices in gaming”.
Prior to joining AGA, Slane served as vice president of regional government affairs with MGM Resorts International where she spearheaded the largest gaming ballot initiative in the country. Her efforts led to a victory at the polls, the successful awarding of licensure to MGM National Harbor, and the building of the $1.4 billion gaming resort on the Potomac River.
