WASHINGTON – The American Gaming Association (AGA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) Corporate Citizenship Center today announced the release of first-of-its-kind research analyzing the scope of the U.S. casino gaming industry’s community impact and commitment to communities, employees and customers.

Key findings from the report include:

• Gaming industry respondents reported $367 million in charitable giving last year;
• Ninety-three percent have comprehensive recycling and energy efficiency programs, 50% higher than the overall private sector;
• Sixty-nine percent have an institutionalized diversity and inclusion hiring effort;
• Gaming industry employees contribute more than 422,000 volunteer hours per year, nearly five-times more hours per employee than technology industry employees; and
• One-hundred percent of AGA member companies surveyed have a responsible gaming policy.

The research revealed that a majority of companies are committed to responsibility as an integral part of their strategic goals and that the overall success of the gaming industry depends on how well companies can support the communities they serve. The gaming industry outpaces most private sector industries in its commitment to diverting waste from landfill and instituting green building and water conservation programs. The full research is available here.

“Above all else, the gaming industry’s highest priority is to promote responsibility in all that we do, from being constructive partners in the communities where we operate, providing exceptional career opportunities to industry employees and ensuring all patrons have the tools they need to engage in our offerings in a responsible manner,” said Bill Miller, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association. “Today’s report shows that the gaming industry is making good on our promise to be responsible community partners, contributing economically and socially to communities across the country.”

“While corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports continue to become standard practice among American businesses, it is rare to see the collective impact of an entire sector,” said Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber Foundation. “We’re proud to work with AGA to release this groundbreaking research that illustrates the gaming industry’s positive efforts in the communities they serve.”

Methodology: The Chamber Foundation analyzed the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of AGA members, including a variety of company types and sizes, through quantitative and qualitative research. In the third quarter of 2018, USCCF and AGA surveyed and interviewed 15 AGA member respondents on the scale and scope of their corporate social responsibilities. Those companies represent 168 casino properties, 235,000 U.S. employees and $33 billion in total revenue.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs nationwide. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, gaming suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

###

IP Casino Resort Spa and the American Gaming Association (AGA) hosted state legislators, local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and gaming industry representatives in Biloxi, Mississippi to discuss the casino gaming’s deep roots in the Magnolia State’s economy and communities.

The event was held in conjunction with the release of AGA’s Casinos and Communities: Mississippi report, which pairs gaming’s economic impact data—more than 37,000 jobs supported and $1.6 billion in wages generated annually across Mississippi—with firsthand perspectives from Mississippians.

AGA president and CEO Bill Miller prefaced the panel discussion by noting that “There’s no such thing as the company town without the company… [Mississippi] is a great example of the casino industry creating economic hubs that allow for gateways to the middle class.”

Biloxi resident Mike Alise, owner of Gulf Coast Produce, whose company was nearly bankrupt when he moved to town 25 years ago, attributed the financial turnaround of his business to gaming, remarking, “The casino industry is unbelievably vital to what we do on a day-to-day basis. It is truly a partnership. We wouldn’t be what we are today without the continued support from the casinos.” Gulf Coast Produce is now a $40 million company, employs 70 workers, and serves every casino on the Gulf Coast.

Looking back on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Duncan McKenzie, GM of IP Casino Resort Spa, recollected that, “we got up fast and we were able to help our vendors get up faster because we required goods and services from them…we’re proud to be a part of the team of casinos throughout the state that help other industries and create tax bases.”

State Representative Richard Bennet expanded upon what the gaming industry meant to him as a state official, explaining, “you’re talking about people with retirements, you’re talking about good healthcare, you’re talking about a stable job… and the industry has been good to the state by reinvesting back.”

The panel covered a variety of additional industry topics, including regulation and charitable support for local communities.

Miller concluded the morning’s discussion by emphasizing the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming, focusing his remarks on the importance of responsible advertising in sports betting as legal sports wagering enters the mainstream in Mississippi and across the country.

The panel also featured Allen Godfrey, executive director, Mississippi Gaming Commission, and John McFarland, executive director, southeast Mississippi chapter of the American Red Cross. Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, moderated the panel.

Media Highlights

• Casino industry has $4 billion impact in Mississippi, The Sun Herald  
• AGA: Casino gaming industry key to Mississippi growth, Casino Beats 
• Mississippi gaming lauded by AGA as driver of growth in state economy, SBC Americas
• Mississippi Casino Gaming drives economic growth, supports local communities, new report finds, Casino International

New York, NY and Washington, D.C. – The National Basketball Association (NBA) is joining the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign.

Through the partnership, the NBA and AGA will educate basketball fans on the fundamentals of responsible sports wagering by providing turnkey resources for use by the league’s 30 teams. Campaign content will include in-venue, broadcast, digital and social media activations.

“Responsible gaming is an integral component of the NBA’s approach to legal sports betting,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Gaming & New Business Ventures. “Working with the AGA on this initiative is an important part of our multifaceted approach to this critical topic and will provide our teams with tools to make a true impact on responsible gaming education in NBA markets across the U.S. and Canada.”

Launched in 2019, AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign unites the sports betting ecosystem around a common consumer education platform, focusing on the four principles of responsible wagering for those who choose to bet:

• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Keep it social—sports betting is a form of entertainment for adults.
• Know the odds.
• Play with legal, regulated operators.

“As one of the world’s most popular leagues, the NBA will bring Have A Game Plan’s important message to a massive audience,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “It’s critical that the entire sports betting ecosystem is united in our commitment to responsible gaming, and we are grateful for the NBA’s leadership in these efforts.”

The NBA’s partnership with Have A Game Plan adds to its ongoing responsible gaming initiatives, which include public service announcements airing during games featuring Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen, restrictions on sports betting advertisements, a membership with the National Council on Problem Gambling, and an “opt-in”  focus that provides distinct, dedicated platforms for fans to engage with sports betting, such as NBABet and NBABet Stream, offering them the option to receive sports betting news and analysis across league platforms.

The NBA will join Have A Game Plan’s growing list of partners across the sports and gaming landscape, including Bally’s Corporation, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, betPARX, DraftKings, Delaware North, Entain, FanDuel, Gaming Society, Global Payments, Major League Baseball, MGM Resorts International, MSG Network, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, NESN, New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Rangers, NHL, Nuvei, Parx Casino, PENN Entertainment, PGA TOUR, Rush Street Interactive, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, USFL, Vegas Golden Knights, VSiN and Washington Commanders.

###

About the AGA
As the national trade group representing the U.S. casino industry, the American Gaming Association (AGA) fosters a policy and business environment where legal, regulated gaming thrives. The AGA’s diverse membership of commercial and tribal casino operators, sports betting and iGaming companies, gaming suppliers, and more lead the $261 billion industry and support 1.8 million jobs across the country.

Washington, D.C. – 2021 set a new record as the highest-grossing year ever for the U.S. commercial gaming industry, reaching $53 billion in revenue, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. The total breaks 2019’s previous industry record of $43.65 billion by more than 21 percent.

The industry closed the year on a high note, setting an all-time quarterly revenue record in Q4 2021 of $14.31 billion, surpassing the previous high-water mark of $13.93 billion set in Q3 2021.

“These results are nothing short of remarkable,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “The success of 2021 reflects our commitment to health and safety and how Americans have welcomed gaming’s expansion across the country. Today’s industry is effectively meeting customers how and where they want to engage—whether at a casino or through mobile gaming.”

Of the 34 operational commercial gaming jurisdictions in 2021—including four new markets—23 set individual records for full-year commercial gaming revenue. On a national level, every commercial gaming vertical set new annual revenue records.

Traditional brick-and-mortar gaming led the industry’s recovery, with 2021 combined slot and table gaming revenue totaling $44.94 billion, a 6.6 percent increase over 2019’s previous record.

Sports betting’s growth accelerated in 2021, generating $57.22 billion in handle and $4.29 billion in revenue—jumps of 165 percent and 177 percent over 2020 respectively. The sector’s all-time high was powered by strong demand in established markets like Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and further boosted by the launch of seven new commercial sports betting markets in Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming.

Two new iGaming markets, Connecticut and Michigan, also opened in 2021, helping the sector to a record $3.71 billion in revenue. Combined sports betting and iGaming revenue for the year totaled $8.00 billion, up 158.0 percent from 2020 and accounting for a record 15.1 percent of annual industry gaming revenue.

“Despite our record-setting year, gaming’s total recovery is still reliant on the full return of travel and large events, which requires a safe health environment and open economy,” Miller continued. “I’m optimistic that we will see continued growth throughout 2022.”

Miller will make additional remarks on full-year 2021 commercial gaming revenue figures, reflect on gaming’s recovery and look toward AGA’s 2022 priorities in AGA’s annual State of the Industry webinar on Feb. 15 at 11:30 AM ET/8:30 AM PT.

Background

• AGA’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker provides state-by-state and cumulative insight into the U.S. commercial gaming industry’s financial performance based on state revenue reports. This issue highlights full-year 2021 figures and Q4 2021 results.
• 33 states and the District of Columbia featured operational commercial gaming markets in 2021, including casino gaming, sports betting and iGaming.
• Four new commercial gaming markets opened in 2021: Arizona, Connecticut, Virginia and Wyoming.
• AGA’s State of Play Map—newly updated for 2022—charts gaming’s economic impact, industry regulations and casino locations on state-by-state basis for both the commercial and tribal gaming sectors.

The U.S. commercial gaming industry generated record-breaking revenue for a third consecutive year in 2023 amid strong growth in traditional casino games offered a land-based casino resorts as well as through iGaming and mobile sports betting platforms.

Annual U.S. Commercial Gaming Revenue

In 2023, 32 of the 36 jurisdictions with commercial casinos, iGaming or sports betting operations saw a rise in annual gaming revenue, with only the District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana and Mississippi contracting. Thirty of the 36 jurisdictions posted record levels of commercial gaming revenue. Notably, Kentucky joined the commercial casino marketplace in 2023 with the launch of sports betting in the Bluegrass State.

Commercial Casino Gaming Consumer Spend by State 2022 vs. 2023

The surge in gaming revenue resulted in a record $14.67 billion of direct gaming tax revenue paid to state and local governments by commercial gaming establishments, a 9.7 percent increase compared to 2022. This figure just includes specific state and local taxes directly linked to gaming activities and does not include the billions of dollars more paid by the industry in the form of income taxes, sales taxes or various corporate taxes, nor does it incorporate the payroll taxes paid by gaming operators and suppliers. Federal excise tax payments made by sports betting operators are also excluded from the total.

Commercial Casino Direct Gaming Tax Revenue by State 2022 vs 2023

The gaming industry defied broader macroeconomic concerns related to stubborn inflation and high interest rates in 2023 as consumers displayed strong demand for both traditional casino games offered at the 486 commercial casinos across the country, as well as newer iGaming and sports betting offerings. Across the 27 states with land-based commercial casinos, revenue from traditional casino games was a record $49.38 billion in 2023, up 3.3 percent versus the prior year.

The legal sports betting market launched in five new states in 2023: Ohio, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Kentucky and Maine. That expansion helped drive sports betting revenue up 46.0 percent year-over-year, from $7.56 billion in 2022 to $11.04 billion in 2022, as Americans bet a total of $121.06 billion on sports throughout the year. 

Despite no geographic expansion, the iGaming market also continued its explosive growth in 2023, with combined iGaming revenue from six active states (excluding Nevada’s online poker only market) reaching $6.17 billion, a 28.2 percent increase year-over-year.

Regulated Sports Betting Revenue – 2020 to 2023

United States: Regulated iGaming Revenue – 2014 to 2023

About State of the States
AGA’s annual State of the States report details the commercial gaming industry’s financial performance, including analyses of each of the 36 jurisdictions with commercial gaming operations in 2023. The report, developed with VIXIO Regulatory Intelligence, also provides a breakdown of the legality of types of gaming and number of casinos by state, summarizes major gaming policy discussions, and previews opportunities and challenges for the industry. The companion State of Play map provides the report findings, as well as key regulatory and statutory requirements for each state, in an easy-to-use, interactive tool.

Americans’ favorability toward gaming is growing as the industry expands to new geographies and verticals, according to AGA research.

On a community level, nearly 7 in 10 Americans believe the gaming industry behaves responsibly and a majority (57%) believe the industry gives back in the communities where it operates. And on an economic level, two-thirds of adults view the industry as a positive economic contributor that provides high-quality jobs.

Because of Americans’ positive perceptions of gaming, consumers are also in favor of gaming’s expansion, with 73 percent of adults supporting legalized sports betting in their state.

The gaming industry’s responsible gaming efforts are also continuing to resonate,  with the number of Americans who say the industry is committed to responsible gaming increasing by nearly 40 percent since 2018. Moreover, nearly 80 percent of past-year gamblers are aware of industry-provided responsible gaming resources, and of this group, three-quarters point to specific measures like deposit limits, casino employee training, and time limits as most effective.

Read the full American Attitudes 2021 factsheet.

The future of responsible gaming will be defined by collaboration across stakeholders and capitalizing on technology to guide responsible play. Hear from stakeholders across the gaming industry on where we are today and how we can leverage collaboration and technology to modernize responsible gaming as we know it.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nationwide commercial gaming revenue reached a new quarterly record of $13.89 billion in Q3 2021, according the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. The new high marks the second consecutive quarter of record U.S. commercial gaming performance.

With $38.67 billion in revenue through the first nine months of the year, the industry has already passed revenue generated for the full year 2020 and is on pace to smash its annual record of $43.65 billion, set in 2019.

“Two straight quarters of record gaming revenue is an incredible accomplishment in any context, let alone after the most challenging year in industry history,” stated AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Our recovery is not a flash in the pan, but rather a sustained result of our leadership in responsible reopening, world-class entertainment offerings and widespread favorability.

Traditional gaming continues to drive the industry’s performance, with combined slot and table game setting a new quarterly revenue record of $12.05 billion. After lagging in previous quarters, table game revenue beat its quarterly revenue record by more than 10 percent in Q3 2021.

Ten out of 25 states with commercial casinos saw quarterly revenue records, including the four highest-grossing commercial gaming states in 2019: Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

On the Las Vegas Strip, gaming revenue also hit an all-time high of $2.06 billion. The record was driven, in part, by the steady return of tourism. 9.2 million people visited Las Vegas in Q3 2021, a nearly 10 percent increase over Q2 2021 and the highest quarterly visitation level since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Q3 2021 commercial gaming revenue was bolstered by record iGaming revenue of $938.6 million. Meanwhile, sports betting revenue saw a quarterly low for 2021 of $886.5 million due to a limited end-of-summer sports calendar. Combined sports betting and iGaming revenue through the first nine months of the year sits at $5.36 billion, up more than 200 percent year-over-year.

“With brick-and-mortar gaming setting records, the expansion into new verticals, and domestic and international tourism recovering, the industry is in a strong position for a full recovery,” continued Miller. “I’m confident that the return of meetings, conventions and international travel will further accelerate gaming’s recovery in 2022.”

Background

• AGA’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker provides state-by-state and cumulative insight into the U.S. commercial gaming industry’s financial performance based on state revenue reports. This issue highlights third quarter results, covering July 1 through September 30, 2021 (Q3 2021).
• 32 states and the District of Columbia featured operational commercial gaming markets in Q3 2021, including casino gaming, sports betting and iGaming.
• AGA’s Gaming CEO Outlook, released in October 2021, shows that half of AGA member CEOs expect positive business conditions to continue to improve for gaming into 2021.

The U.S. casino gaming industry is a significant contributor to the national as well as state economies, driving an array of economic activity including spending, jobs, wages, taxes, other government revenue and capital investment. The tribal gaming sector, which generates 45 percent of all gaming revenue in the U.S., is a critical driver of that economic activity.

American Gaming Association (AGA) released a comprehensive study of the state-by-state economic impact of tribal casino gaming in the United States.

This is the second consecutive year that the American Gaming Association has conducted a comprehensive study of the economic impact of tribal gaming. This data, in conjunction in previously released commercial gaming data from Oxford Economics, allows for a detailed state-by-state breakdown of casino gaming’s economic impact.

About the research: On behalf of the American Gaming Association, Meister Economic Consulting measured the economic and fiscal impacts of Class II and Class III tribal gaming on the U.S. and state economies. The study relies on tribal gaming data that served as the basis for the 2018 Edition of the Indian Gaming Industry Report, including gaming revenue, non-gaming revenue (e.g., revenue from food and beverages, lodging, retail and entertainment) and gaming related revenue share payments by tribes to federal, state, and local governments (e.g., regulatory payments and local and state revenue sharing). Tribal gaming data used in this study are for calendar year 2016, the most current year for which they are available.

WASHINGTON – The Ohio gaming industry supports nearly 20,000 jobs statewide and has a total economic impact of $3.6 billion, according to new Casinos & Communities research the American Gaming Association (AGA) released today at Miami Valley Gaming (MVG) in Lebanon. AGA and MVG welcomed U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-01) and local business and non-profit leaders to participate in today’s event, highlighting the productive partnership between gaming and Southwestern Ohio.

Wednesday’s event is part of AGA’s Get to Know Gaming campaign, which aims to educate local leaders about gaming’s role as a community partner in 40 states across the country.

“Throughout the state, the gaming industry is an engine of innovation for communities and its partners. We are engaging and supporting area small businesses, creating new partnerships with local non-profit organizations and providing good jobs that pave a path to the middle class for workers of all backgrounds,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of AGA. “Today, gaming provides $804 million in supported wages and more than half a billion dollars in gaming tax revenues annually across the state. As the industry continues to grow, so, too, do the opportunities for our surrounding communities.”

“What we are seeing with the gaming industry in Ohio is a microcosm of how our economy looks when it is working as it’s designed to function,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot.  “Private investment creates employment opportunities for local workers, including those with disabilities, which leads to economic growth, and higher tax revenues.  Higher revenues, in turn, help to support more robust local services.  Simply put, everyone benefits.”

Wednesday’s roundtable at Miami Valley Gaming included Chris Kershner, executive vice president, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce; Domenic Mancini, general manager of Miami Valley Gaming; Jason Birney, general manager of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway; Bill Staler, CEO, LifeSpan; Lynne Hibbard, employment services coordinator, Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities; U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot; and Geoff Freeman, president and CEO, American Gaming Association.

AGA’s Casinos & Communities report provides an in-depth look at how the gaming industry supports local communities through non-profit partnerships and local workforce initiatives. The report – the first of its kind – spotlights several partnerships the gaming industry has forged with local elected officials and non-profit leaders in communities that host gaming locations across the Buckeye State. The full report can be viewed here.

###

About AGA: The American Gaming Association is the premier national trade group representing the $261 billion U.S. casino industry, which supports 1.8 million jobs in 40 states. AGA members include commercial and tribal casino operators, suppliers and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry. It is the mission of the AGA to achieve sound policies and regulations consistent with casino gaming’s modern appeal and vast economic contributions.