2021 marked a record-setting recovery for the commercial gaming industry after COVID-19 drove industry revenue to all-time lows in 2020, according to the American Gaming Association’s State of the States 2022 report.
Key Findings
“Our industry’s success goes beyond the bottom line and into communities across the country. The record state and local tax contributions fund vital services from infrastructure and education to healthcare and emergency services" - AGA President And CEO Bill Miller
Following a COVID-driven reshuffling of the highest-grossing commercial gaming markets in 2020, top gaming markets largely returned to their pre-pandemic revenue rankings in 2021.
Meanwhile, the average visitor to a land-based commercial casino in 2021 remained notably younger than prior to the pandemic. In 2021, the mean age of a casino patron was 43.6 years old, versus 49.6 in 2019 and 48.6 in 2018, according to AGA survey data.
All-time high sports betting and iGaming revenue played a significant role in commercial gaming’s record year, with seven new sports betting markets launching in 2021 and two new iGaming markets launching. 2021 commercial sports betting revenue totaled $4.33 billion, a 179.7 percent year-over-year increase, while iGaming revenue for the year grew by 138.9 percent year-over-year to $3.71 billion.
2021 Commercial Sports Betting Revenue
2021 Commercial iGaming Revenue
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 34 jurisdictions with commercial gaming operations in 2021. The report, developed with VIXIO GamblingCompliance, 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’ views of the casino gaming industry improved in 2020 as voters increasingly recognize the industry’s economic benefits and commitment to local communities.
Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) Americans say that gaming provides a positive benefit to the U.S. economy and 63 percent agree that the industry provides high-quality jobs. At the local level, 69 percent say that the industry behaves responsibly in the communities where we operate. Overall, more than 50 percent of Americans now have a favorable view of the industry – a new record and a far cry from the early days of legalized gambling – according to a national survey of registered voters.
9 in 10 Americans
View gaming as a mainstream and acceptable form of entertainment
7 in 10 Americans
Say gaming behaves responsibly as an industry
6 in 10 Americans
Believe gaming provides high quality jobs
In 2020, nearly every facet of the global economy was impacted by COVID-19, and reopening businesses while protecting public health has been crucial to reviving local economies and communities. The gaming industry’s work to safely reopen its doors to employees and patrons hasn’t gone unnoticed by Americans, with 28 percent of voters reporting they have visited a casino in the last 12 months despite COVID-19 and 58 percent of Americans saying the gaming industry has responded well in regard to keeping customers and employees safe throughout the pandemic.
Voters are also aware of the importance that gaming tax money plays in funding vital public services, as 76 percent of voters believe that the industry’s tax payments to state and local governments will become even more important in the future due to COVID-related budget shortfalls.
With the gaming industry paying an already outsized tax rate, it is more important than ever that governments provide a competitive tax and regulatory environment so that gaming can continue to power local communities, economies, and public services.
Methodology
Kantar conducted this survey of Americans’ attitudes on behalf of the American Gaming Association between Sept. 25-30, 2020 among a national sample of 1,000 registered voters.
GeoComply
“As we strive for a safer, more equitable and sustainable world, ESG is at the core of who we are at GeoComply, We are dedicated to supporting historically disadvantaged groups, giving back to our local communities and strengthening diversity and inclusion, both inside and outside of our workplace.” – Anna Sainsbury, Co-Founder and CEO
Advancing Sustainability
Lowering Carbon Emissions
GeoComply is continuously developing its approach to advancing sustainability and lowering carbon footprint. The Company is assessing its carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices in its offices. GeoComply’s CSR Division – IMPACT – is focused on launching sustainability-focused philanthropic initiatives that enhance employee engagement and those supportive ecosystems within local communities.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Supporting an Inclusive Workplace
Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of GeoComply’s identity. GeoComply’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action) Council facilitates strategic discussion, planning and execution of its IDEA agenda. The IDEA Council has focused on the Company’s recruitment, development, promotion and compensation practices to ensure it promotes equal opportunity in the workplace.
Supporting Social Justice
GeoComply partners with several institutions to create educational opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups. This includes providing scholarships and working with nonprofits such as American Indian Science and Engineering Society and the YWCA. GeoComply also supports STEM education for underrepresented groups, to increase diversity in the technology industry.
GeoComply’s IMPACT Division focuses on advancing equality in its local communities by supporting single mothers, women’s shelters, children, refugees, local orphanages and food banks—helping communities overcome barriers to opportunity.
Code Like A Girl
In GeoComply’s Vietnam office, the Code Like A Girl initiative supports and empowers Vietnamese developers. The program is focused on career development of high-potential female talent in the IT industry through scholarships, job fairs, networking events and more.
Code Like A Girl Vietnam also hosts the Female Developer Innovation Tournament, which is open to female developers, programmers, engineers and women who are passionate about coding. Not only does it inspire women to participate in the technology field, but participants can network with GeoComply’s employees and other women in the industry, win monetary prizes and often receive full-time job offers at the event.
Investing in Communities
Addressing critical community needs
Supporting local communities is central to GeoComply’s CSR program with a special focus on supporting women, children and historically underrepresented groups. The Company also works with local orphanages and large global organizations such as Make-A-Wish and Horton’s Kids to support child welfare.
GeoComply also donates to and works with local food banks to alleviate food insecurity in its communities.
Moreover, GeoComply provide internships and job opportunities for various groups, including refugees and women. These individuals are then nurtured with care, attention and a growth mindset throughout their career journey, with extensive training and professional development opportunities along the way.
Delivering in times of crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GeoComply delivered food and medical supplies to vulnerable groups in its local communities.
Responsible Leadership
Protecting and Empowering Customers
GeoComply’s independent nonprofit arm, Conscious Gaming, leverages innovation, advanced technology and insights to enhance responsible gaming initiatives. By bringing together regulators, operators, suppliers, academics and advocates, Conscious Gaming sets out to modernize voluntary self-exclusion programs with a nationwide self-exclusion tool. The overarching goal is to empower players to learn about responsible gaming and assist them if they choose to self-exclude. Conscious Gaming’s vision for a nationwide self-exclusion tool transcends state boundaries and regulations. GeoComply supports Conscious Gaming through donations, fundraising, resources and technology.
Training Employees
GeoComply has partnered RG247 to deliver employee training on recognizing and countering human trafficking in the gaming industry. The Company is dedicated to harnessing its technology and resources to create safer online environments, both inside and outside of the gaming industry. In addition, GeoComply fights online child sexual exploitation and trafficking through partnerships with the Child Rescue Coalition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and international law enforcement agencies.
Technology For Good
GeoComply’s responsible thought-leadership is exemplified by its support from law enforcement, as they work together to combat child trafficking and exploitation. The Company also fights fraudulent activity in the gaming industry by leveraging its data intelligence and collaborating with law enforcement, operators and regulators.
International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is an annual celebration for GeoComply by giving back to women facing difficult circumstances. In 2022, GeoComply hosted an event at its Vancouver headquarters for local women seeking to re-enter the workforce. This event helped provide tools that women could use to secure employment, including resume building, interview coaching, a professional outfit and LinkedIn headshots. GeoComply provided a child development and a babysitting facility as well as covered transportation costs and food to ensure the attendees would have no costs to participate. Employee volunteers shared their own expertise, insights and best practices at the event, overall, increasing the connections and engagements they felt in support of the cause.
Washington, D.C. – A record 50.4 million American adults (20%) are expected to bet on Super Bowl LVII, a 61 percent increase from the record set in 2022, according to a new American Gaming Association (AGA) survey. Bettors plan to wager an estimated $16 billion on this year’s championship game, more than double last year’s estimates.
With the expansion of legal sports betting, traditional Super Bowl wagers are expected to pass casual wagers for the first time ever:
- 30 million American adults plan to place a traditional sports wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie, up 66 percent from 2022.
- 28 million plan to bet casually with friends or as part of a pool or squares contest, up 50 percent from 2022.
Sports betting legalization is also driving fan interest in the NFL, as more than a third (34%) of NFL fans say that the expansion of legal sports betting has made watching an NFL game more exciting.
“Every year, the Super Bowl serves to highlight the benefits of legal sports betting: bettors are transitioning to the protections of the regulated market, leagues and sports media are seeing increased engagement, and legal operators are driving needed tax revenue to states across the country,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.
Industry investments in responsible gaming continue to resonate. The majority of traditional Super Bowl bettors (71%) report seeing a responsible gaming message in the last year. Importantly, younger Americans (under 35 years old) are more likely to recall seeing a responsible gaming message and younger bettors are more likely to say it is important to only wager legally.
“As interest in legal sports betting continues to expand, the gaming industry remains committed to responsibly delivering world class entertainment, educating consumers about how to bet responsibly, and combating illegal gambling as we work to build a safe, competitive and sustainable legal market for all,” Miller continued.
Bettors are evenly split on the outcome of the game with 44 percent each planning to bet on the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Background
- 33 states and Washington, D.C currently feature live, legal sports betting markets, with three additional legal markets awaiting launch.
- More than half of American adults (57%, 146M) live in a live, legal sports betting market.
- AGA’s Have A Game Plan.®Bet Responsibly™ campaign is bringing sports betting stakeholders together to promote responsible gaming. NFL team partners include the Washington Commanders and New York Jets.
Methodology
Morning Consult conducted the online survey on behalf of the AGA between Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2023, among a national sample of 2,199 adults. The data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment and region. The margin of error is +/-2 percent and greater among subgroups. Bettors include those who expect to place a bet online, with a bookie, with a casino sportsbook, in a pool or squares contest, or casually with family or friends.
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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.
Set yourself up for success at Global Gaming Expo (G2E)—the largest gathering of global, commercial and tribal gaming professionals in North America. Take advantage of new educational content that is fast-paced and actionable and experience first-hand the new products and innovative technologies showcased on the expo floor. G2E has everything you need for your casino floor and across your entire operation—from traditional casino fare to sports betting, non-gaming amenities and digital products—G2E is where your business growth is accelerated.
Advancing Modern Payment Options
The gaming industry’s technology and world-class entertainment make it the embodiment of the 21st-century hospitality industry. Yet, casinos remain one of the most cash-intensive businesses in the world.
Modernizing Payments for a Better Gaming Experience
We are committed to working with regulators, policymakers and key stakeholders to advance payment modernization. Allowing customers to use digital payments in casinos provides the choice and convenience they have come to expect in their daily lives. It also bolsters regulatory efforts and provides innovative responsible gaming measures.
Payments RG Section
Introducing digital payments to the casino floor not only provides consumers with the choice they expect in their daily lives, but, importantly, bolsters responsible gaming efforts. See how responsible gaming measures are woven into the digital payments process––an important benefit of payments modernization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does payments modernization look like?
Why does payments modernization matter?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of Responsible Gaming Education Week 2021, the New York Jets have joined the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign. The Jets will encourage their fans to “Know When to Huddle Up” through in-stadium and digital content that promote responsible sports wagering.
“The fan experience is at the heart of everything we do, and as legal sports betting expands, we want to ensure Jets fans are empowered to wager responsibly,” said New York Jets Vice President, Business Development & Ventures Jeff Fernandez. “We are proud to partner with the AGA on this important initiative.”
Recent AGA research found that due to expanded sports betting legalization and high fan enthusiasm for the season, a record 45.2 million Americans (18%) will wager on this year’s NFL season, a 36% increase from the 2020 NFL season. Among NFL fans, 37 percent plan to wager on the 2021 NFL season, including 47 percent of self-described avid NFL fans.
“Leadership from professional sports teams like the Jets is critical to not only ensuring fans understand how to wager responsibly, but also getting sports betting right,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “We’re thrilled to welcome the team as a partner and value their commitment to prioritizing responsible sports betting education for their loyal fanbase.”
The AGA launched Have A Game Plan in late 2019 to educate sports fans on the principles of responsible sports betting. The Jets join campaign partners DraftKings, FanDuel, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NASCAR, NHL, PGA TOUR, SeventySix Capital, Sightline Payments, Sinclair Broadcast Group, UFC, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Washington Football Team.
The New York Jets were an early adopter of gaming partnerships after the State of New Jersey approved legalized sports betting in June 2018. The Jets have a long-standing relationship with BetMGM and have recently added new sports betting partnerships with Fubo Sportsbook and WynnBet.
AGA’s Responsible Gaming Education Week, from September 19-25, educates consumers on responsible game play and highlights responsible gaming’s central role in gaming and sports betting.
Sports betting is currently legal and operational in 26 states and the District of Columbia. During the NFL season, five additional states are expected to launch legal markets. The NFL has a long-standing partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling.
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Academics, gambling regulators, and the gambling industry increasingly espouse a shared responsibility view of preventing gambling harm. This view considers individual gamblers and external stakeholders, such as casino employees, to be jointly responsible for minimizing gambling harm. But do individual gamblers share this view?
This presentation will review three years of cross-sectional surveys with participants sampled from the (MGM) MLife customer loyalty program database. In the most recent survey, fielded in January 2020 with 4,336 MLife subscribers, we observed that most participants only held individual gamblers responsible for helping prevent gambling harm. Put another way, most participants held a purely internal responsibility viewpoint. However, those who screened positive on the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) were more likely than those who screened negative to hold a shared responsibility viewpoint and holding a diffuse sense of responsibility for minimizing gambling harm predicted BBGS status over and above traditional individual-level risk factors. These findings echo the previous two years of survey findings with largely non-overlapping samples. Additionally, for the first time, we observed that those who screened positive on the BBGS were more likely than their counterparts to deny personal responsibility for minimizing gambling harm to individual gamblers; that is, they were more likely to hold a purely external responsibility viewpoint.
This webinar will discuss the implications of these findings for health promotion and best practices for message design in responsible gambling programs.
Speaker
Last year during Responsible Gaming Education Week, the AGA introduced the enforcement process for the Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. Join us on Wednesday, September 22 at 2 pm ET for an overview on how to align your marketing, advertising, and communications with the code.
As an important focus of the AGA’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee, a subset of the AGA membership convenes as the Responsible Gaming Task Force. The Responsible Gaming Task Force focuses on elevating responsible gaming as a key priority for the industry; solidifying AGA and its members as the leading advocate; and shaping policies that are more favorable to innovation and consumer protection.