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In his annual State of the Industry address on February 19, American Gaming Association (AGA) CEO Bill Miller celebrated the gaming industry’s remarkable success in 2024, emphasizing strong public support for its continued growth.
The AGA announced that commercial gaming revenue in the U.S. reached a record-breaking $71.92 billion in 2024—marking the fourth consecutive year of record-setting growth. This figure represents a 7.5% increase from the previous high of $66.5 billion in 2023.
And the industry’s total earnings are expected to climb even higher. Once the National Indian Gaming Commission reports tribal gaming revenue later this year, total U.S. gaming revenue for 2024 is projected to approach $115 billion.
Positive public perception
Miller praised the industry’s efforts and success in becoming stronger than ever throughout his speech. He mentioned the industry’s innovation and “deep-rooted culture of compliance” as driving forces behind the recovery that US gaming has seen over the last few years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
He went on to point out that this success is largely due to the current public perception of gaming. Fifty percent of American adults now have a favorable impression of casinos, which is up five points in two years. Studies also show that almost 9 out of every 10 adults (89%) of view gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment
Miller stated, “We have built this support over many decades. As gaming has grown from two states in 1978 to 44 states today, more and more Americans have gotten to know us…They recognize the positive impact we deliver: the jobs we support, the small businesses we sustain, and the tax revenue we contribute…These are the reasons Americans have embraced gaming, and they will fuel gaming’s recovery.”
🎙️ During our State of the Industry webinar, AGA President and CEO @BillMillerAGA provided a high-level look at key trends that impacted the gaming industry in 2024.
— American Gaming Association (@AmericanGaming) February 19, 2025
Watch the full webinar that includes our priorities for 2025 ➡️https://t.co/dudcA8mn2j pic.twitter.com/rRxnsPpX3o
All-around success
While iGaming saw the biggest increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR), it was an all-around success, with almost all primary verticals within the industry seeing a record year. Here’s a breakdown of the three gaming sectors:
Casino iGaming
IGaming in the seven states saw a revenue of $8.41 billion, a 28.7% year-over-year (YOY) growth in the seven states (Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia) with full legal online casino gaming. This is over 6% higher than the YOY growth between 2023 and 2022.
Brick-and-Mortar Casinos
Traditional Brick-and-Mortar casinos continued to be the highest-grossing gaming sector, with a GGR of $49.78 billion. This is a 0.8% year-over-year growth compared to 2023. Slot machine revenue was up 1.6% year-over-year to $10.14 billion. However, table games contracted by 1.7% to $10.14 billion.
At the state level, revenue increased in 14 of the 27 states that offer traditional casino gaming. Nebraska saw the biggest increase, 60.1%. Virginia and Illinois also performed well, increasing revenue by 32% and 11%, respectively.
Sports Betting
Sports Betting revenue also saw a sizable increase from 2023. A total revenue of $13.71 billion was collected for sports betting (both online and in-person), a 25.4% increase from the $11.04 billion recorded in 2023. The growth in sports betting revenue is mainly down to online betting with more than 95% of all sports bets made online last year.
By the end of 2024, 38 states had legalized sports betting, up from 37 in 2023. New York remained the largest sports betting market, with over $2 billion in revenue. Illinois overtook New Jersey to be the second largest market; both of these saw revenue exceed $1 billion for the first time.
Positive for The Industry and Community
Miller emphasized the positive impact of gaming in the U.S. during his address, stating, “The sustained growth of legal gaming is a win for our industry and the consumers and communities we serve.” He underscored how every dollar of gaming revenue drives job creation, investment, and economic growth, reinforcing the significance of the industry’s legal expansion.
In 2024, gaming taxes contributed over $15.5 billion to state and local governments nationwide—an 8.5% increase from 2023. This figure excludes annual fees, federal excise taxes, and additional billions paid through income, sales, payroll, and corporate taxes.
Miller also highlighted the industry’s broader economic impact, noting that its growth and partnerships with small businesses now support over 1.8 million jobs across the country.
