Casino Industry Facts

The commercial casino industry has seen significant growth over the last few decades. Thanks to
the ongoing legalization of gambling-related activities and the growth of the experience economy
in many parts of the world, licensed casinos have expanded to new markets and generated
record-breaking revenue figures. According to the latest estimates, in mid-2020, the market size
of the global casinos and online gambling industry reached a total of 227 billion U.S. dollars.
However, the brick-and-mortar casino industry still faces challenges with the rise of online
gambling sites and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which caused many casinos to close
their doors.

Whether land-based, on riverboats, or at racetracks, casinos are among the most popular
gambling establishments in the United States. Over the last few years, the number of commercial
casinos in the United States has remained relatively consistent, with 465 commercial and 524
tribal casinos operating nationwide in 2019. Today, the United States is home to more than half
of the world's leading casino companies and perhaps the most widely known gambling
destination in the world: Las Vegas, Nevada. Every year, the famous Las Vegas Strip attracts
millions of visitors who want to try their luck at poker tables and slot machines or who want to
enjoy the casinos' various hotel and restaurant services, live shows, and entertainment options.
Thanks to this influx of American and international tourists (before COVID-19), Nevada remains
the U.S. state with the highest gross gaming casino revenue in the country.

While Las Vegas remains the gambling and entertainment capital of the United States, the center
of the global casinos and online gambling industry has shifted towards Macao in 2006. As one of
the two Special Administrative Regions of China, Macao is the only part of China where
commercial gambling is legal, which makes it one of the country's most thriving tourism hubs
and an attractive playground for international investors. After a wave of casino openings, Macao
has become the largest casino market in the world with an annual gross gambling revenue of
over 36 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. Some of the region's most successful casino resorts are
operated by Las Vegas Sands, the world's leading casino company, based in the United States.
How these venues and Macao will fare in the future will largely depend on the implications of
COVID-19. As gambling makes up a large portion of Macao's economy and the city-wide casino
closures have impacted the region in 2020, a swift recovery may not be in the cards anytime
soon.

Reference: Casino industry - statistics & facts | Statista