Gaming Engagement at Record Level

More Americans than ever participated in gaming-related entertainment over the past twelve months, according to new American Gaming Association research. That exposure and increasing familiarity with the gaming industry is driving widespread recognition of the positive economic and community impacts that gaming brings to the areas we operate.

AGA research shows that nearly half of all American adults (49%) participated in some form of gambling in the past year. More than a quarter of adults (26%) gambled at a physical casino in the past year, while 20% placed a sports bet.

The record level of engagement with the gaming industry comes as nearly 9-in-10 (88%) Americans find casino gambling to be acceptable for themselves or others – a level that has remained consistent for over a decade.

102 million adult Americans, or 41% of the population, visited a casino for gambling or other entertainment purposes in the past 12 months, up from 28% in 2021 and approaching pre-pandemic levels.

The resurgence in visitation has been driven by an influx of younger adults embracing legal, regulated gaming options. The average age of casino-goers has fallen for four consecutive years, from 49.6 in 2019 to 42 in 2023.

*Americans’ mean age reflects adults 21+

Compared to other entertainment options, consumers see casino gaming as innovative and value for entertainment spending. 87% of casino visitors consider the entertainment provided by casinos innovative, while 83% believe that casinos offer good value for money compared to other entertainment options.

Widespread Acknowledgement of Gaming’s Economic Benefits

Large majorities of Americans continue to recognize gaming as a growing and value-adding segment of the U.S. economy.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Americans say that the gaming industry has a positive impact on the overall U.S. economy.

Further, strong majorities of Americans also acknowledge gaming’s local impact; more than three-quarters of credit the industry’s contributions to local economies, job creation and tourism:

• 83% say casinos bring entertainment and dining options to areas or regions that might not otherwise be able to attract them;
• 83% agree casinos increase tourism and brings conventions and meetings to areas where they are located;
• 79% say the industry produces jobs and investments here in the U.S. that cannot be outsourced to other countries; and
• 77% agree that gaming creates good paying jobs.

Overall, Americans identify job creation as the most significant benefit that the casino gaming industry brings to local communities, with 73% ranking it among the top benefits, followed by tourism attraction (61%) and casino taxes (57%).

Methodology
Kantar, on behalf of the American Gaming Association, conducted an online survey August 11-18, 2023 among a nationally representative sample of 2,002 American voters aged 21 and over related to responsible gaming and industry perceptions. The margin of error is +/- 2 percent and greater among subgroups.