How every state’s casino gaming industry compares to the rest of the country

Wpadington // Shutterstock Casino gaming has been integral to America’s economy since 1931, following its commercialization in Nevada by state lawmakers. Over the next few decades, a bevy of jurisdictions across the United States authorized casino gaming creating a new opportunity to drive profits and bolster the economy. Casino gaming has allowed the market to thrive as technology and interests change. In the last few decades, online gambling has bridged the gap between casinos and consumers, allowing operators to generate additional revenue and expand their reach. It has also benefited consumers, who are offered upgraded visual and design experiences thanks to ever-evolving technology. The casino gaming industry has also seen gains from the emergence of sports betting. In 2018, the Supreme Court permitted states outside Nevada to offer sanctioned sports betting, opening a new way for sports fans across America to immerse themselves in gaming. Since then, sports betting has become a market projected to generate $182.12 billion in global revenue by 2030. Despite the evolution of online gambling and sports betting, casino gaming remains relevant. The industry provides states across America with jobs and support for their local governments and tribes. As more casinos operate in the state, employment and revenue increase. In 2022 alone, U.S. commercial gaming operations paid state and local governments a record $13.49 billion in direct gaming tax revenue–a 15% increase year over year. ATS.io compiled a list of every state’s casino gaming industry–including sports betting, traditional gaming, and iGaming–to see how it compares to the rest of the country, using American Gaming Association data. Economic impact tallies casino patrons’ revenue, jobs, taxes, and ancillary spending. States with no publicly available casino gaming information were excluded. State population from the American Community Survey and state gross domestic product from the Bureau of Economic Analysis were used to normalize data. Data is as of Dec. 31, 2022. See how each state’s casino industry compares. Nevada’s casino gaming industry laps the field in supported jobs