• Commercial gaming revenue totaled $71.9 billion in 2024
• Online casinos and sports betting were most responsible for the 7.5% year-over-year growth
• Unregulated, illegal gambling remains a concern

Internet casino gaming and sports wagering contributed to the United States commercial gaming sector achieving a record high in 2024. 

The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced on Wednesday that gamblers and bettors experienced greater losses in 2024 than in any previous year. The total revenue from commercial gaming reached over $71.9 billion, representing a 7.5% increase compared to the previous year. 

2024 signified the fourth consecutive year of record revenue. Although the initial surge was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in pent-up demand coupled with government stimulus boosting Americans' bank accounts, iGaming and the ongoing growth of legal sports betting have sustained this trend in recent years. 

The AGA annual report indicates that although traditional gambling, or physical casino gross gaming revenue (GGR), grew by under 1%, sports betting and iGaming revenue respectively jumped by 25.4% and 28.7% in comparison to 2023.

"In 2024, Americans embraced the diverse legal gaming options available to them — whether in casinos, at sportsbooks, or online — leading to another record-setting year for our industry,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “As we build on this success, the AGA remains committed to fostering additional growth that benefits consumers, operators, and communities alike.”

The AGA report calculated total earnings from commercial casinos, retail and online sports wagering, and iGaming. Revenue from tribal gaming operations was excluded, as was lottery gaming. 

Casino Sector Discovers ‘Unmatched Prosperity’ 

Legal gambling has become more prevalent in the US than ever before. A total of 27 states feature commercial casinos, 39 states along with Washington, DC allow legal sports betting, and seven states permit legal iGaming that includes online slots and interactive table games. 

The numerous gaming alternatives resulted in unprecedented revenue for the commercial gaming sector, which consequently provided historic tax income to state and local governments. The AGA predicts that in 2024, commercial gaming operators will have paid nearly $16 billion in taxes. 

“Commercial gaming continues to demonstrate unprecedented success,” Miller added. “Much of this growth has been driven by the continued expansion in online gaming and sports betting.”

Although considerably trailing iGaming and sports betting in annual growth, Miller asserted that the status of legacy gaming continues to be robust.

"Traditional brick-and-mortar operations have shown their resilience against macroeconomic headwinds, particularly in Las Vegas, which has experienced months of softer revenue in late 2024 compared to the previous year’s highs,” Miller explained.

The leading gaming lobbyist in the country finished by stating that the 2024 figures indicate the industry is experiencing “increasing public backing.” 

Uncontrolled Gaming Remains Essential 

Illegal online gambling sites, which operate without regulation, remain a key concern for the AGA, prompting it to urge federal and state law enforcement to take action against these internet operations. 

A rising danger to the regulated iGaming sector is contentious "sweepstakes" platforms that promote themselves as social gaming venues. Critics argue that they amount to unlawful gambling. The AGA believes that unregulated skill games also pose a risk to physical casinos. The slot-like machines are prevalent in various states such as Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Wyoming. 

“[Unregulated gaming] builds nothing of lasting economic value and undermines both the industry’s integrity and the community’s well-being,” Miller declared.