31.4 million American adults plan to bet a combined $7.61 billion on the Super Bowl LVI matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, according to American Gaming Association research. This includes 18 percent of Super Bowl viewers.

The number of Americans who plan to bet is an increase of 35 percent from 2021 and traditional sports betting will nearly surpass casual betting activity this year:

• 18.2 million American adults will place traditional sports wagers online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie, up 78 percent from 2021.
• 18.5 million plan to bet casually with friends or as part of a pool or squares contest, up 23 percent from 2021.

The expansion of legal and online sports betting is expected to lead to significant growth in participation across traditional wagering methods compared to 2021:

• 12.9 million people plan to place a bet online this year, up 70 percent from 2021.
• 4.7 million people plan to place a bet in person at a sportsbook, up 231 percent from 2021.

Bettors slightly favor the Rams, with 55 percent saying they expect to bet on them to win, compared to 45 percent on the Bengals. Few people saw this matchup coming: according to AGA research on betting plans going into the season, just one percent of expected bettors said they would wager on the Bengals to win the Super Bowl and just two percent would have picked the Rams five months ago.

The Northeast has the highest expected betting participation (16%), followed by the West (15%), the Midwest (10%) and the South (10%). While legal sports betting is not available in either California or Ohio, more Rams fans (26%) than Bengals fans (22%) plan to bet on the game.

Most bettors (76%) say it is important to bet through a legal operator, up 11 points from 2021 and reflecting the importance of meeting consumers where they are and providing legal alternatives to offshore books.

Importantly, 106 million (41%) recall seeing or hearing advertising related to responsible gaming in the past year—an increase of 32 million people (12%) from 2020. This reflects the sports betting industry’s continued and deepened investment in responsible gaming resources, including through the recently relaunched HaveAGamePlan.org.

Background

• 30 states and Washington, D.C currently feature live, legal sports betting markets, with three additional legal markets awaiting launch.
• 45 million more Americans can legally wager on this year’s game in their home state compared to 2021, with Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming going live in the past year.
• 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 Feb. 1-2, 2022, among a national sample of 2,212 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.

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.

AGA President and CEO Bill Miller sent the following industry update on May 15, 2020.

Dear Gaming Colleague:

As the country begins to open-up, the American Gaming Association (AGA) continues to advocate for gaming in Washington while focusing on providing research and resources to guide the path forward.

Below are some helpful updates on the state of the industry, what’s happening in Washington, and a few reflections on sports betting two years post-PASPA.

Stay healthy and be safe.

All the best,

Bill Miller
President & CEO

AGA Casino Tracker: 52 Casinos Now Open

To date, 52 casinos have reopened in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. Louisiana is the first major commercial casino market expected to reopen when its restrictions lift on Monday. Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oregon will likely also see some reopenings in the coming week while Nevada’s gaming market is expected to reopen in a phased approach in late May or early June.

The COVID-19 casino tracker is updated daily as casinos reopen. Let us know if we’re missing an update.

Industry Reopening Focused on Health & Safety

Reopening our industry requires reimagining every part of our business so that gaming employees and customers are confident their health and safety will be protected as they return. We know that every casino will have a tailored approach that aligns with CDC guidance, state and local directives, and the latest public health advice. Watch yesterday’s interview with Cheddar on reopening the industry.

We are focused on providing research and resources to inform the industry as it develops reopening plans to share with regulators and the public. Visit AmericanGaming.org for the latest.

ICYMI: The AGA collaborated with the U.S. Travel Association and dozens of other travel groups on the development of health and safety guidance to help the hospitality industry navigate this new normal. The guidance, reviewed by public health experts, focuses on six main areas for travel businesses.

AGA’s Next Priorities on The Hill

This week, House Democrats unveiled the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, a $3 trillion proposal that provides nearly $1 trillion to state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to pay workers such as first responders, health workers, and teachers. Once this legislation clears the House, it is not expected to be considered by the Senate. It does, however, demonstrate the Democrats’ priorities as negotiations with Senate Republicans and the White House occur in the coming weeks.

Our efforts are focused on advocating for the following provisions in the next legislative package:

• Ensuring government loan programs are accessible to all segments of the gaming industry.
• Advancing measures that protect AGA members from additional economic harm and enhance financial solvency.
• Policies to aid the industry’s recovery over both the short and long-term.

Currently, there’s a wide gap between Democrats and Republicans on the big issues––and negotiations have yet to begin. It could be well into June before the parties come to an agreement and pass a new relief package.

Looking at Sports Betting Two Years Post-PASPA

Yesterday marked two years since the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Despite any temporary setbacks from COVID-19, the growth of the U.S. legal market over these last two years is truly remarkable:

• 21 states plus the District of Columbia have joined Nevada in legalizing and regulating sports betting.
• Americans have legally wagered nearly $22 billion on sporting events, generating upwards of $190 million in tax revenue.
• An estimated 100 million American adults will be able to place a legal sports bet in their home state by the end of 2020.

With sports betting still on the docket in 16 states, the AGA expects policymakers to take a serious look at expanding sports betting to fill budget gaps caused by COVID-19.

This weekend marks the official return of U.S. live sports with NASCAR resuming races on Sunday. Yesterday, the AGA held a webinar with Scott Warfield, NASCAR’s Managing Director, Gaming, to discuss iRacing and the future of sports betting.

The AGA continues to prioritize our efforts to stamp out the illegal market. But everyone in the sports betting ecosystem has a role to play––including the media. Read more on LinkedIn.

Washington, D.C. – A record 67.8 million American adults (26%) are expected to bet on Super Bowl LVIII, a 35 percent increase from 2023, according to a new American Gaming Association (AGA) survey. Bettors plan to wager an estimated $23.1 billion on this year’s Big Game, up from $16 billion last year.

With the expansion of legal sports betting, traditional Super Bowl wagers are expected to pass casual wagers for a second consecutive year:

• 42.7 million American adults plan to place a traditional sports wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie, up 41 percent from 2023.
• 36.5 million plan to bet casually with friends or as part of a pool or squares contest, up 32 percent from 2023.

Importantly, Americans continue to migrate to the legal market: 28.7 million adults, or 11 percent, intend to place online wagers using a legal U.S. sportsbook.

“As the Super Bowl comes to Las Vegas for the first time, this year’s record interest in wagering marks a full circle moment for the U.S. gaming industry,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Our priority remains getting this opportunity right by providing the consumer protections only a regulated market can guarantee and investing in responsible gambling tools, safeguards and education.”

Industry investments in responsible gambling continue to resonate. The majority of traditional Super Bowl bettors (75%) report seeing a responsible gambling message in the last year, up from 71 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, 47 percent of all American adults recall hearing or seeing a responsible gambling message in the past year, up from 40 percent last year.

During Super Bowl week, Miller will be joined on radio row in Las Vegas by Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL running back, and current Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff host Mark Ingram II to speak with media about the expansion of legal sports betting and the importance of responsible play.

“The thrill of the game and the passion of the fans are what make sports so rewarding and fun. Legalized sports betting builds on this excitement. That’s why I’m thrilled to partner with the American Gaming Association to encourage fans, whether it’s during the Big Game or throughout the year, to keep it social and wager responsibly,” said Ingram.

Bettors are nearly split on the outcome of the game with 47 percent planning to bet on the Kansas City Chiefs and 44 percent planning to bet on the San Francisco 49ers.

Background

• 38 states and Washington, D.C currently feature live, legal sports betting markets.
• More than two-thirds of American adults (67%, 164M) 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 January 30 – February 1, among a national sample of 2,204 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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Washington, DC – According to an estimate released today by the American Gaming Association (AGA), Americans will bet $4.2 billion on Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, up eight percent over last year. Nearly 97 percent of those bets — $4.1 billion worth — will be wagered illegally, standing in stark contrast to the approximately $115 million bet legally on the New England Patriots-Seattle Seahawks game last year. In fact, the illegal market is 35 times greater than the legal marketplace.

INFOGRAPHIC: Americans to Bet $4.2B on Super Bowl 50

“As Americans celebrate a milestone Super Bowl, they’ll also bet a record amount on the Big Game,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “Just like football, sports betting has never been more popular than it is today. The casino gaming industry is leading the conversation around a new approach to sports betting that enhances consumer protections, strengthens the integrity of games and recognizes fans’ desire for greater engagement with sports.”

Overall, AGA’s estimate found that Americans wagered $149 billion on sports in 2015, up from nearly $145 billion in 2014.

Before last January’s Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl, AGA released its first-ever estimate predicting fans would wager $3.8 billion worth of illegal bets on the title game.

Late last year, following months of study and deliberation, AGA’s Board of Directors issued a set of recommendations that marked a major shift in the industry’s approach to sports betting. AGA is building a broad coalition that will determine whether a rational alternative to current sports betting law in the United States exists. Such an alternative could include strict regulation, rigorous consumer protections and robust tools for law enforcement to eliminate illegal sports betting and strengthen the integrity of games. For more information on how the gaming industry is approaching sports betting, please visit SportsBettingInAmerica.com.

Methodology
In coming up with its illegal gambling estimates on the Super Bowl, the AGA took the most conservative estimate of illegal sports betting activity ($80 billion per year) from the 1999 National Gambling Impact Study Commission’s Final Report. It applied GDP growth as reported by the Census Bureau to make this current to today. Finally, the AGA assumed that the proportion of legal gambling activity on the Super Bowl at Nevada sports books is the best available indicator of what proportion it might make up in the illegal market, and applied this ratio to the larger illegal gambling figure.

About AGA: The American Gaming Association (@AmerGamingAssn) is the premier national trade group representing the $240 billion U.S casino industry, which supports 1.7 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 be the single most effective champion of the industry, relentlessly protecting against harmful and often misinformed public policies, and paving a path for growth, innovation and reinvestment.

To commemorate the beginning of Responsible Gaming Education Week (RGEW), the American Gaming Association (AGA) today activated the enforcement process associated with its Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering. The self-regulated, industry-wide program will be overseen by a Code Compliance Review Board, consisting of two independent co-chairs and five AGA member representatives:

• Joe Bertolone, Executive Director, UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation (co-chair)
• Becky Harris, Distinguished Fellow in Gaming, UNLV International Gaming Institute (co-chair)
• Laura McAllister Cox, Vice President of Regulatory Compliance & Legal Counsel, Rush Street Gaming
• Stephen Martino, Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International
• Sharon Otterman, Chief Marketing Officer, William Hill
• Paul Pellizzari, Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock
• Chris Soriano, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, Penn National Gaming

The Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering includes self-imposed restrictions on target audiences, outlets, and materials branding, while mandating responsible gaming inclusion. The tenets of the code apply to traditional and digital media marketing activity for AGA members and non-members. Through the process launched today, industry stakeholders and consumers can flag perceived non-compliance with the code via AmericanGaming.org.

“Responsible Gaming Education Week provides a perfect opportunity to launch this important initiative, holding everyone accountable to a standard set by responsible operators,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “By adhering to this code, U.S. sports betting operators are putting consumers first, and I’m thankful to the distinguished industry representatives on the compliance review board who will help raise the bar for the marketing of sports betting activity in the United States.”

AGA’s Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering supplements individual companies’ existing responsible marketing activities and those adhered to by all AGA members through the Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct, which includes limitations on frequency of advertisements.

Held annually, RGEW (Sept. 13-19, 2020) provides an opportunity to showcase the industry’s year-round commitment to responsible gaming by refreshing employee training, promoting gaming literacy to customers, and working with community partners on advancing RG initiatives. This year, the AGA is highlighting Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly., its public service campaign to educate new and seasoned sports bettors on responsible sports betting amidst the rapid expansion of legal sports betting.

The American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker features state-by-state and nationwide financial performance data with breakdowns for individual gaming verticals.

Total commercial gaming industry revenue expanded by 4.2 percent in February compared to the previous year, with combined revenue from traditional casino games, sports betting and iGaming reaching $5.86 billion. Despite having one fewer day than last year, this February set a new revenue record for the month.

Sports betting and iGaming continued their strong growth in January, while brick-and-mortar gaming softened.

In total, 24 of 36 commercial gaming jurisdictions that were operational a year ago and had published complete February data at the time of writing posted overall gaming revenue growth.

Land-based gaming revenue contracted in February, driven by contracting slot and table gaming performance but tempered somewhat by strong year-over-year retail sports betting performance. Combined revenue from casino slots, table games and retail sports betting reached $3.99 billion, a 4.1 percent decrease from the previous year.

Growth in online gaming —encompassing online sports betting and iGaming—accelerated in February, increasing 26.0 percent over the prior year.

In February, traditional table games and slots generated $3.89 billion in total revenue, a year-over-year decrease of 5.8 percent. Slot machines produced $2.79 billion in revenue, while table game revenue contributed another $796.5 million, each down 4.3 and 13 percent, respectively, from the same time last year.

Note that the individual slot and table game figures do not include data from Louisiana and Michigan due to state reporting that does not separately break out those verticals, but their combined figures are included in the nationwide total.

At the state level, traditional gaming revenue softness was widespread, with just five out of the 27 states offering traditional casino slot machines and/or table games posted gains compared to February 2024.

Through February, year-to-date revenue from casino slot machines and table games grew over the same period in 2024 by 1.1 percent to $7.96 billion.

In February, commercial sports books generated $1.18 billion in revenue, up 39.8 percent across the 32 jurisdictions that had released revenue data. Arizona sports betting data was unavailable at publishing.

For the month, Americans wagered $11.83 billion on sports, up 10.6 percent year-over-year.

Year-to-date commercial sports betting revenue was $2.83 billion, 23.2 percent higher than the same period last year. The national hold rate was 10.0 percent, over two points higher than February 2024.

iGaming revenue reached a new high in February as combined operations in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia generated $788.5 million in revenue, up 21.5 percent year-over-year. All six existing iGaming markets saw gains compared to the previous year, with Rhode Island hitting a monthly revenue record for the state as it continues its first full year in the iGaming marketplace.

Year-to-date iGaming revenue stands at $1.62 billion, 27.9 percent higher than the same period in 2024.

About the Report
AGA’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker provides state-by-state and nationwide insights into the U.S. commercial gaming industry’s financial performance. Monthly updates on AmericanGaming.org feature topline figures based on state revenue reports, while quarterly reports provide a more detailed analysis covering the three previous months.

Washington, D.C. – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and American Gaming Association (AGA) are teaming up to promote responsible sports betting through AGA’s Have A Game Plan.^® Bet Responsibly.™ public service campaign.

The WNBA joins the National Basketball Association (NBA) as Have A Game Plan partners. The league will educate its fans on responsible sports wagering by providing turnkey resources for use by the league’s 12 teams. Campaign content will include in-venue, broadcast, digital and social media activations, as well as in-app and website integration into the league’s WNBABet tab and content.

“WNBA fans are always looking for new and exciting ways to immerse themselves in our game, and legal sports betting has opened the door for deeper engagement with our league,” says WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. “As we explore this new avenue, the WNBA is committed to ensuring those who choose to wager on our league have the knowledge and tools to do so responsibly.”

Campaign activations by the WNBA and its teams will begin with the start of the 2023 WNBA season on Friday, May 19, and continue throughout the league’s regular season and playoffs.

“The WNBA’s commitment to Have A Game Plan will expand the campaign’s reach to new and existing basketball audiences,” said AGA Senior Vice President Casey Clark. “As legal sports betting matures across America, reaching the market’s broad group of diverse participants will require exactly the kind of leadership the WNBA, NBA and all of our Have A Game Plan partners have shown.”

Launched in 2019, AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign brings the broader sports betting ecosystem together 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.

Additional campaign partners include 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, U.S. Integrity, Vegas Golden Knights, VSiN and Washington Commanders.

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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.

About the WNBA
The WNBA, which will tip off its 27^th season on May 19, is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and NIKE, Inc, and subsequent additions Google and U.S. Bank. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.