Internet casino gaming and sports wagering propelled the U.S. commercial gaming sector to a record peak in 2024. 

The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced on Wednesday that gamblers and bettors experienced greater losses in 2024 than in any previous year. Revenue from commercial gaming reached over $71.9 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 7.5%. 

2024 represented the fourth consecutive year of record revenue. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was initially regarded as the reason for the remarkable growth, fueled by pent-up demand and Americans witnessing their bank accounts swell due to government stimulus, iGaming and the ongoing growth of legal sports betting have sustained the upward trend in recent years. 

The AGA annual report indicates that although traditional gambling, or in-person casino gross gaming revenue (GGR), increased by under 1%, sports betting and iGaming revenue respectively soared 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 and lottery gaming was excluded. 

Casino Sector Reports ‘Unmatched Achievement’ 

Legal gambling is more common in the US than it has been at any time in the past. A total of 27 states host commercial casinos, 39 states along with Washington, DC permit legal sports betting, and seven states allow legal iGaming including online slots and interactive table games. 

The numerous gaming choices resulted in unprecedented income for the commercial gaming sector, which subsequently provided unprecedented tax revenue to both state and local authorities. The AGA estimates that commercial gaming companies contributed nearly $16 billion in taxes in 2024. 

“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 it is considerably behind in year-over-year growth compared to iGaming and sports betting, Miller stated that the condition 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 receiving “increasing public backing.” 

Unregulated Gaming Continues to Be Essential 

The AGA continues to prioritize unregulated and consequently illegal online gambling sites, urging both federal and state law enforcement to take action against these internet operations. 

An increasing danger to the regulated iGaming market comes from contentious “sweepstakes” platforms, which promote themselves as social gaming venues. Critics, on the other hand, argue that they represent unlawful wagering. The AGA contends that unregulated skill games pose a risk to physical casinos. Slot-like devices are common 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.