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.

Spread across 43 states, commercial and tribal casino operators and gaming suppliers provide diverse career opportunities, a diversified tax base and a broad set of entertainment options.

This research quantifies the economic impact of the casino gaming industry on a national level, as well as on each state with active commercial and/or tribal casino gaming: breaking down total economic impact, number of jobs supported, amount of taxes and tribal revenue share payments paid to states as well as the location of each casino.

At the close of 2018, there were 979 casino gaming locations in the United States. These are tribal gaming locations as defined by the National Indian Gaming Commission and commercial casino locations that are licensed, individual land-based casinos, riverboat casinos, racetrack casinos (racinos) and jai alai frontons.

Commercial casino locations do not include other forms of commercial gaming, such as bars, taverns or truck stops with video lottery terminals, video gaming terminals or electronic gaming devices, animal racetracks without gaming machines such as horse and dog tracks, slot-route operation locations, instant racing terminal locations or off-track betting operations, lottery/retail locations, card rooms, standalone sportsbooks, or other locations in which gaming is incidental to the location’s primary business.

American Gaming Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) Corporate Citizenship Center have produced 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 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 the technology industry; and
• One-hundred percent of AGA member companies surveyed have a responsible gaming policy.

The research shows that the industry and AGA member companies are committed to responsibility as 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 and is a leader in innovative sustainability solutions.

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is also a major industry focus and is essential for business success and employee satisfaction. As one industry participant noted, “Society is increasingly diverse. Businesses must be diverse to have harmony. Employees, customers, suppliers, and nonprofit partners are mutually dependent on each other, and all of them are diverse. If you don’t leverage that to create business value or you are going to become extinct.”

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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached $13.6 billion in Q2 2021, marking a new industry record, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. The total bested the previous record—$11.1 billion set in Q3 2019 and matched in Q1 2021—by more than 22 percent.

With nearly $24.8 billion generated to date, 2021 is close to surpassing 2020 full-year revenue ($30 billion) and on track to overtake 2019 ($43.6 billion) as the highest-grossing year ever for commercial gaming revenue.

“These first half results are truly remarkable. It is even more impressive when you consider commercial gaming revenue was at its lowest point ever just a year ago,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “This is a testament to our resilience and commitment to providing customers safe environments and world-class entertainment experiences.”

At the state level, 22 out of 25 commercial casino states saw quarterly gaming revenue increases in Q2 2021 compared to the second quarter of 2019. The majority (19 of 25) of commercial casino states outperformed their first half of 2019.

While growth in sports betting and iGaming buoyed the gaming industry over the last year, record brick-and-mortar casino revenue—up nearly 10 percent from its previous high in Q3 2019 to $11.8 billion—is strengthening the industry’s record-setting recovery. This is a result of easing capacity and amenity restrictions, coupled with continued consumer demand. While three-quarters of commercial casinos began Q2 capped at 50 percent capacity or less, nearly every commercial casino had returned to full capacity by the end of June.

Sports betting revenue declined 8 percent from the previous quarter to $889 million due to a quieter sports calendar. Despite this, the first half of 2021 has already generated more sports betting revenue ($1.8 billion) than all of 2020 ($1.5 billion).

iGaming revenue also had a strong second quarter, achieving a new quarterly revenue record of $901 million, up 15 percent from the first quarter of 2021.

“The past 18 months have proven that this industry can persevere through hard times while remaining dedicated to our customers and communities,” said Miller. “COVID-19 is not yet in the rearview mirror, but I’m confident the record first half of 2021 has laid a strong foundation for the industry’s full recovery.”

Background

• 30 states and the District of Columbia featured operational commercial gaming markets in Q2 2021, including casino gaming, sports betting, and iGaming.
• COVID-related restrictions on casino capacity and amenities vary on a state and local level. AGA’s COVID-19 casino tracker provides casino capacity restrictions on a state-by-state basis.
• 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 second quarter results, ending June 30, 2021.

LAS VEGAS – A record 49 percent of American adults have a favorable view of the casino gaming industry, up four percentage points from 2018, according to new research from the American Gaming Association (AGA). The research was unveiled today at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the premier gathering of the global gaming industry presented by the AGA and organized by Reed Exhibitions.

The increase in favorability coincides with a surge in casino visitation and a widespread perception that the industry provides innovative, high-quality entertainment while supporting economic growth. The share of American adults that visited a casino in the last year jumped to 44 percent in 2019, up nine percentage points from 2018. This trend looks to continue as almost half of all Americans (49%) say they will visit a casino to gamble over the next 12 months, up from 41 percent in 2018.

“The favorability of our industry has never been higher,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “As gaming expands across the U.S. and more Americans engage with our industry’s offerings, they see firsthand gaming’s positive impact on local economies and its value as a community partner. I’m committed to continuing the association’s work to translate gaming’s vast popularity into political capital, one of my top priorities for AGA.”

Additional highlights from the survey include:

• Nearly half of Americans (49%) say that casinos help the communities where they are located, while clear majorities say that casinos specifically help local economies (57%) and create jobs (71%).
• Two-in-three Americans (67%) think the gaming industry provides high-quality entertainment and 63 percent believe casino entertainment options are innovative.

These results come at a time of unprecedented growth for the gaming industry. With the spread of legal, regulated sports betting, 43 states plus the District of Columbia will soon have some form of casino gaming or sports betting. Gaming revenue for the U.S. casino industry reached an all-time high of $75.4 billion last year according to AGA’s annual State of the States report and National Indian Gaming Commission data. Today’s findings are consistent with previous AGA research showing nearly nine out of 10 Americans view gaming as a mainstream form of entertainment.

Methodology
The Mellman Group conducted this survey of Americans’ attitudes on behalf of the American Gaming Association between Sept. 13-19, 2019 among a national sample of 1,000 registered voters. The interviews were conducted both online and via phone. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

The AGA’s in-depth examination of diversity in the gaming workforce shows the industry is more diverse than national and hospitality industry benchmarks, while identifying opportunities representation.

As consumers, policymakers and investors are raising their expectations for all businesses on how they contribute to society beyond the bottom line, the study demonstrates tangible results of the industry’s broad reach and commitment to representing local communities:

• The gaming industry workforce is significantly more diverse than the larger hospitality sector and U.S. workforce as a whole.
  • 61% of gaming industry employees are minorities, compared to 52% of the broader hospitality industry and 42% of the total U.S. workforce.
  • 23% of gaming employees are Hispanic and 19% are Black—both higher than the national workforce and in line with the hospitality industry.
  • Asian employees are over-represented in gaming at 14%, about twice the national workforce.
• Among operators, there has been a 20% increase in workforce racial diversity over the last decade.
  • Today, 60% of operator employees are minorities, up nearly 20% from 2011, and higher than the hospitality sector and national workforces overall.
  • Operators have seen a significant increase in the share of workers who are Black: 19% today compared with 12% in 2011.
• Gaming manufacturers have a more diverse workforce than other electronic manufacturing employers.
  • 45% of gaming manufacturer employees are minorities, compared to 38% of the broader electronic manufacturing workforce.
  • Similarly, gaming manufacturers’ share of female employees is more than five points higher than other electronic manufacturers across a range of job classifications, including executive and mid-level officials and mangers.

Importantly, across job levels, gaming’s leadership pipeline is significantly more diverse than national averages at the first/mid-level manager and professional levels: 45 percent of first/mid-level managers are minorities while 43 percent of professionals are minorities, both 10 to 12 points above national and hospitality benchmarks.

Gender diversity presents an opportunity for the industry. The gaming’s workforce is 48 percent female, in line with the national workforce, but representation drops off at more senior level job classifications.

Today, as part of its first-ever Sports Betting Executive Summit, the American Gaming Association (AGA) unveiled new research on current and future sports betting behavior. The findings reveal a strong consumer movement toward legal sports betting, a need for more awareness of legal markets, and consumers’ desire for secure, convenient options for wagering.

Highlights from the new report, Consumer Movement Toward Sports Betting: Current and Future Sports Betting Behavior Post-PASPA, include:

• Nearly 8-in-10 Americans say they support legalizing sports betting in their state;
• Where casino sports betting is legal, only 56% are aware that it is;
• More than 7-in-10 say it’s important to place sports bets through legal, regulated providers and it is only acceptable to use those providers;
• Only 41% of Americans know that placing a bet with a bookie is illegal; and
• Security and ease of placing bets are the top two priorities for future sports betting participation.

“This is one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on the attitudes and behaviors of sports bettors in America,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “AGA’s research unveils new insights into this critical and growing segment of the gaming market, confirming what we’ve known for a long time: consumers want the ability to wager in safe, regulated markets. With two-thirds of states having taken steps to legalize sports betting, we’re clearly making progress to meet that demand.”

About the Research:

This survey was conducted on behalf of the American Gaming Association by Heart + Mind Strategies between November and December 2018 and comprised a total sample of 6,777 interviews among various subgroups.

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.

Today, as part of its first-ever Sports Betting Executive Summit, the American Gaming Association (AGA) unveiled new research on current and future sports betting behavior. The findings reveal a strong consumer movement toward legal sports betting, a need for more awareness of legal markets, and consumers’ desire for secure, convenient options for wagering.

Highlights from the new report, Consumer Movement Toward Sports Betting: Current and Future Sports Betting Behavior Post-PASPA, include:

• Nearly 8-in-10 Americans say they support legalizing sports betting in their state;
• Where casino sports betting is legal, only 56% are aware that it is;
• More than 7-in-10 say it’s important to place sports bets through legal, regulated providers and it is only acceptable to use those providers;
• Only 41% of Americans know that placing a bet with a bookie is illegal; and
• Security and ease of placing bets are the top two priorities for future sports betting participation.

“This is one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on the attitudes and behaviors of sports bettors in America,” said Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “AGA’s research unveils new insights into this critical and growing segment of the gaming market, confirming what we’ve known for a long time: consumers want the ability to wager in safe, regulated markets. With two-thirds of states having taken steps to legalize sports betting, we’re clearly making progress to meet that demand.”

About the Research:

This survey was conducted on behalf of the American Gaming Association by Heart + Mind Strategies between November and December 2018 and comprised a total sample of 6,777 interviews among various subgroups.

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.

Responsible Gaming: A Year-Round Commitment

The AGA-developed materials can assist with increasing education and awareness of the important issue of responsible gaming. Materials are available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Spanish and are available for order online.

The Responsible Gaming Committee provides a forum for industry leaders to discuss and develop industry practices and strategies around responsible gaming, corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and related topics. The group elevates these issues 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.

The Responsible Gaming Committee provides a forum for industry leaders to discuss and develop industry practices and strategies around responsible gaming, corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and related topics. The group elevates these issues 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.