AMERICAN GAMING ASSOCIATION
Gaming ’ s Impact Grows
From jobs to taxes , gaming is supporting communities and Americans are taking note
BY ANTON SEVERIN
The American gaming industry has always taken pride in supporting our communities . Now , as we ’ re well on our way to a third consecutive year of recordbreaking revenue , our impact is more significant than ever . The American Gaming Association ’ s ( AGA ) new economic impact report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the profound contributions made by the gaming industry to communities nationwide .
Conducted by Oxford Economics , findings show the U . S . commercial and tribal gaming industry :
• Contributes $ 328.6 billion to the U . S . economy annually .
• Supports 1.8 million jobs and $ 104 billion of wages and salaries across the country .
• Generates $ 52.7 billion in tax revenue to federal , state and local governments .
These numbers have a tangible impact on American communities . The nearly $ 53 billion in taxes generated by the gaming industry provides critical funding for local public programs and services , including education , infrastructure and economic development , as well as supplemental revenue for state general funds .
Moreover , America ’ s gaming industry directly employs more than 700,000 people in the U . S ., accounting for more than one in 33 leisure and hospitality jobs . That ’ s also more jobs than the air transportation , postal service or motion picture and video sectors .
What ’ s driving gaming ’ s record impact ? At least part of this growth stems from the widespread acceptance and enthusiastic embrace of gaming by Americans . These trends are convincingly corroborated by the recent American Attitudes survey conducted by AGA .
More Americans than ever engaged with the gaming industry over the past 12 months , including :
• Nearly half of all American adults ( 49 percent ) participating in some form of gambling in
the past year , either in-person or online .
• 102 million American adults ( 41 percent ) visiting a casino for gambling or other entertainment purposes in the past year .
Importantly for sustained industry growth , survey results show the increase in casino visitation is being driven by an influx of younger adults , with the average age of casino-goers falling for four consecutive years — from nearly 50 years old in 2019 to 42 years old in 2023 .
Bringing it all together , Americans are taking note of gaming ’ s contributions . Nearly three-quarters ( 71 percent ) of American adults say that the industry has a positive impact on the overall U . S . economy .
Furthermore , gaming ’ s economic impact is recognized across various dimensions , whether it be through boosting tourism and diversifying entertainment and dining options ( 83 percent ) or creating jobs and investments that are firmly rooted in the U . S . and cannot be outsourced ( 79 percent ). Overall , Americans identify job creation as the most significant benefit that the casino gaming industry brings , with 73 percent ranking it among the top benefits , followed by tourism attraction ( 61 percent )
and casino taxes ( 57 percent ).
From the world-class entertainment our industry is providing to gaming ’ s record popularity , none of this was more evident than at Global Gaming Expo 2023 this October . Gaming suppliers and operators are continuing to invest in innovation , and our industry has never been more committed to responsible leadership .
Guided by these core principles , gaming ’ s positive impact on our communities is poised for further expansion — a testament to the strength of our industry and something we can all continue to be proud of .
Anton Severin is director of research for the American Gaming Association .
10 Global Gaming Business NOVEMBER 2023