Making history

Commercial gaming revenue in the United States was $13.64bn in the second quarter of 2021, a new record. The American Gaming Association (AGA) released the latest figures via Twitter on Tuesday:

The number surpasses the previous all-time high of $11.1bn, set in both Q3 2019 and Q1 2021, by 22%. So far in 2021, commercial gaming revenue is almost $24.8bn, which is nearly greater than the total for all of 2020. This year is now on track to exceed the country’s highest grossing year of 2019, when total commercial gaming revenue reached $43.6bn.

Numbers breakdown

Twenty-two of the 25 states that have commercial casinos generated increases in revenue during Q2 compared with the same period in 2019. Most of these states had a better first half of 2021 than in the first six months of 2019.

land-based casino revenue reached $11.8bn, up almost 10% from its previous record quarter

It wasn’t just growth in the iGaming and sports betting segments that led to this record quarter. Land-based casino revenue reached $11.8bn, up almost 10% from its previous record quarter in Q3 2019. Reasons for this success include the easing of pandemic-related restrictions and high consumer demand. By the close of June, nearly all of the country’s commercial casinos were back operating at full capacity. While table game revenue was only slightly up from Q2 2019 figures, gaming revenue from slots rose 16.7% to $8.7bn.

Sports betting revenue was $889m for Q2, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 8%, primarily because of a quieter sports calendar. For the first half of 2021, sports betting revenue was more than the entirety of 2020. iGaming revenue hit a new quarterly record, with revenue increasing 15% from Q1 2021, up to $901m.

A remarkable quarter

Speaking about the record results was AGA CEO and president Bill Miller. He said: “These first-half results are truly remarkable. It is even more impressive when you consider commercial gaming revenue was at its lowest point ever just a year ago.”

Miller noted the ability of operators to provide a safe environment for customers, as well as create “world-class entertainment experiences.”

During the second quarter of 2021, a total of 30 states, as well as the District of Columbia, were engaged in commercial gaming in some shape or form, including casino gaming, iGaming, and sports betting. The AGA tracks the revenue performances of these operations across every state, with the latest figures ending June 30, 2021.