AGEM September 2026 Recap
• The European Casino Association (ECA) recently announced the winners of its Leadership Excellence Scholarship who were selected to attend the prestigious Executive Development Programme in Lake Tahoe, November 7-14. Sponsored by the ECA, AGEM, Clarion and the EDP, and now in its ninth year, this important scholarship continues to make a meaningful impact by supporting the development of future leaders across the European casino sector. The 2026 program attracted a strong field of applications from operators across nine European countries, with Peter Turpin of Grosvenor Casinos and Outi Tikkanen of Casino Helsinki selected as winners. AGEM wishes to extend congratulations to the winners on this well-deserved recognition.
• Recent developments in U.S.–Canada tariff and trade policy have created renewed uncertainty for AGEM member companies, particularly those with cross-border supply chains, Canadian-origin gaming machines, or long-term commercial commitments tied to North American sourcing. The current framework remains fluid, with continued escalation between the U.S. and Canada and no clear indication yet of when the dispute may be resolved. AGEM will continue to review the situation and update the membership when new information becomes available. KPMG continues to host webinars on this issue and members were encouraged to contact AGEM if they would like to receive a deck of the information from previous webinars.
• AGEM continues to work closely with the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s Technology Division on modernization efforts with new leadership under Jeremy Eberwein driving a more efficient, commercially minded approach. The division has also published updated technical standards, with a member workshop to follow in the coming months. Separately, Governor Lombardo has launched an initiative to identify up to 10 regulations for streamlining, with a workshop planned for late October. AGEM members are encouraged to submit recommendations to help shape both efforts toward more streamlined and commercially viable outcomes.
• Three months after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that unregulated skill machines are illegal, the 120-day stay on the decision is approaching its expiration in mid-October. The legislature has yet to introduce any proposals for a new regulated framework.
Forthcoming Events
• The AGEM team of Daron Dorsey, Connie Jones, Tracy Cohen and Allison McCoy will be at G2E at Booth 5242, and look forward to welcoming AGEM members, partners and friends throughout the show.
• The IAGR Annual Conference 2026 takes place October 19-22 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Lima, Peru. AGEM’s Daron Dorsey will be in attendance at this important event that brings together gaming regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, compliance professionals and regulatory experts from around the world for four days of substantive discussion, practical learning and cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
AGEM Index
The AGEM Index rose by 54.48 points to 1,929.25 in August 2026, a 2.9 percent increase from the prior month. Compared to one year ago, the index declined by 2.7 percent, or 54.48 points. During the latest month, four of the nine AGEM Index companies reported stock price increases, which resulted in four positive contributions and five negative contributions to the index. The largest positive contributor to the monthly index was Light & Wonder Inc. (ASX: LNW), whose 15.5 percent increase in stock price led to a 40.57-point gain to the index. Meanwhile, Konami Corp. (TYO: 9766) saw its stock price increase by 7.1 percent, leading to a 33.85-point increase for the index. The largest negative contributor to the index was Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL), whose 4.9 percent decrease in stock price resulted in a 24.61-point loss to the AGEM Index. In August, all three of the major U.S. stock indices increased from the prior month. The NASDAQ rose by 3.9 percent, while the S&P 500 experienced a 2.6 percent gain. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average improved by 1.3 percent.
