AGA research reveals that more Americans than ever are engaging with gaming , with more than half of all American adults ( 55 percent ) reporting they participated in some form of gambling in the past year . And a record 122 million American adults ( 49 percent ) report visiting a casino in the past 12 months for gambling or other entertainment purposes .
AMERICAN GAMING ASSOCIATION
How Americans Really Feel about Gaming
Insights from AGA ’ s latest consumer survey data
BY DAVE FORMAN
With expansion of brick-andmortar casinos , online sports betting and iGaming in recent years , some form of casino gaming is now legal in 46 states and Washington , D . C . That ’ s more jurisdictions than ever in our nation ’ s history , which raises the question : How have American perceptions of gaming changed as the industry has grown ?
Annual consumer survey data from the American Gaming Association ( AGA ) gives us a clear answer : as more consumers get to experience our industry ’ s products firsthand , they increasingly see the benefits of a legal , regulated gaming marketplace that contributes to communities , prioritizes responsibility , and provides unmatched entertainment .
Let ’ s dig into the numbers to see where we stand with the public .
AN ACCEPTED FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT AGA research reveals that more Americans than ever are engaging with gaming , with more than half of all American adults ( 55 percent ) reporting they participated in some form of gambling in the past year . And a record 122 million American adults ( 49 percent ) report visiting a casino in the past 12 months for gambling or other entertainment purposes .
This engagement is driven by an all-time high 59 percent of Americans that find gambling to be acceptable for them personally . Meanwhile , nearly nine in 10 Americans find casino gambling to be acceptable for themselves or others , a number that has remained consistent for over a decade .
85 %
of Americans say that casinos bring entertainment and dining options to areas or regions that might not otherwise be able to attract them .
OPERATING RESPONSIBLY Crucially , as gaming grows , 65 percent of Americans recognize that the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling — an encouraging jump from 37 percent in 2018 . This confidence is even stronger among those who engage with the industry directly : 81 percent of physical casino players , 86 percent of iGamers , and 88 percent of sports bettors agree that the industry is committed to the issue .
Moreover , 66 percent of all Americans have encountered responsible gaming messaging in the past year alone . As we continue to invest in responsible gaming , it is encouraging that American adults are not only seeing responsible gaming messaging but finding industry efforts impactful , with 66 percent of Americans believing the industry ’ s responsible gaming programs are effective , up from 59 percent last year .
POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT In August , the U . S . commercial gaming industry reported its 42nd consecutive month of annual growth . Alongside the sustained growth of U . S . commercial gaming revenue , local communities are benefiting , and our neighbors have noticed : 76 percent of Americans say the industry positively contributes to the overall U . S . economy . Beyond the general economic support gaming brings to local communities , the jobs and entertainment the industry brings are also widely recognized .
According to our recent survey , 85 percent of Americans say that casinos bring entertainment and dining options to areas or regions that might not otherwise be able to attract them , while 83 percent say the industry produces jobs and invest-
AGA research reveals that more Americans than ever are engaging with gaming , with more than half of all American adults ( 55 percent ) reporting they participated in some form of gambling in the past year . And a record 122 million American adults ( 49 percent ) report visiting a casino in the past 12 months for gambling or other entertainment purposes .
ments in the U . S . that cannot be outsourced to other countries .
Finally , and perhaps most importantly , from supporting local business to promoting responsible gaming , three-quarters of Americans say the gaming industry behaves responsibly in the communities where we operate .
As our industry looks toward our future growth , contributing to communities and operating responsibly — while providing new and innovative entertainment experiences — will continue to be the keys to our success . AGA research shows that we ’ re on the right path and should encourage us to continue to double down on our commitment to sustainable , world-class entertainment .
Dave Forman is vice president of research for the American Gaming Association .
10 Global Gaming Business NOVEMBER 2024