Key among the findings from the report was that the commercial gaming industry brought in US$40.28bn in gaming revenue in 2017, a 3.4% increase over 2016. It is the first time that gaming revenue has gone beyond the US$40bn mark. Gaming was also a significant revenue generator for states – with the nation’s 460 casino locations contributing US$9.23bn in revenue from commercial gaming taxes alone.
Additionally, said the report, 20 commercial casino states experienced revenue increases in 2017, reflecting strong macroeconomic trends and sustained job growth in most parts of the country.
AGA’s annual State of the States report includes state-by-state analyses of revenue, tax data and wage and employment information from the previous year. For the first time, the 2018 edition combines two of AGA’s signature publications: States of the States and US Gaming Industry Review – into one comprehensive overview of the 24 US states with commercial casino gaming.
Stacy Papadopoulos, interim CEO of the American Gaming Association, heralded the publication of the document, saying: “Each year, AGA’s State of the States report provides the most detailed snapshot available of our complex industry, and the many benefits AGA members provide for their employees, partners and communities.”
“This year’s report demonstrates the commercial gaming industry’s role as a job creator and revenue generator in states across the country, and we’re proud of the industry’s steady growth over the past few years,” she added.
Focusing on the economic impact, the report confirmed that the US$9.23bn of tax revenue from gaming – an increase of 3.1 per cent over 2016 – does not include tax from income, sales or the payroll taxes paid by gaming operators. It also noted that the commercial casino industry directly employed more than 361,000 employees in 2017, and those employees earned more than US$17bn in wages, benefits and tips.
Souce: GMB / SBC Americas
