American Gaming Association report bleak

The state of the US gambling market following a year of disruption is assessed in a detailed report released by the American Gaming Association.

In its State of the States, the AGA paints a bleak picture of 2020, with commercial gaming revenue reduced by 31 per cent, compared with 2019, through the many closures and restrictions on capacity and amenities.

“In all, casinos nationwide lost 27 per cent of business days in 2020, leading to all 25 states with commercial casinos posting year-over-year revenue declines.”

However, the association remains upbeat for the prospects this year and thereafter. There are “silver linings,” it said. “Player demographics shifted and emerging verticals like sports betting and igaming reported soaring revenue in 2020 – up 69 and 199 per cent year-over-year – and promise to continue to generate vital revenues for our industry.”

The report continues: “While gaming revenue fell, it’s remarkable that it only dropped as much as it did. That is a testament to our ability to re-open quickly and safely, while still providing a first-class entertainment experience that customers were eager to return to.

“It is also a bi-product of Americans’ growing acceptance of gaming, as five new sports betting markets and one new igaming market opened in 2020.”