USA Gambling Facts and Revenues Exclusive Review

Written by: Sadonna Price, OUSC Expert in Online Casinos and Poker
4 minute read

USA gambling facts and revenue reviewIn the United States, the gambling industry is worth around $261 billion, as reported by the American Gaming Association. The industry helps to support 1.8 million jobs in states across the nation, with the industry having a difficult and interesting past.

Over the past few years, gambling has been able to grow considerably with online gambling in the mix. Learning more about this history and the current state of affairs allows players to have a better understanding of just how gambling came about and what is offered today.

Today, the industry is facing rapid growth and Online United States Casinos stays on top of the industry. With the Ultimate List of USA Gambling Facts,  players can better understand the legal aspects as well as the types of gaming offered across the nation. It is now easier than ever for players to access gaming in the U.S., be it land-based or online.

Overall Gambling Revenues in the USA

Every year, gambling revenues in the U.S. reach more than $150 billion. It has been estimated that as much as $200 billion will be earned each year with the addition of this new gambling option. Americans love to gamble and options on offer in the states include:

Top Online Casino Games

Top Land Based Casinos

  • Table Games
  • Sports Betting
  • Lottery
  • Bingo
The two most successful industries in the United States regarding gambling is the lottery and commercial casinos. In 2017, the lottery was able to see over $80 billion in revenues while commercial casinos in the state earned just over $41 billion

Online Gambling in the USA

When it comes to online gambling, several states have passed legislation to allow for online casino and/or poker gaming. In 2013, New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada passed legislation. It was not until late 2017 when Pennsylvania decided to allow online poker and casino gaming as well, though this industry has yet to launch.

New Jersey Revenues

Each month, New Jersey earns over $20 million from online casino and poker games. It’s currently the most successful state that offers legalized online casino and poker gaming. In 2017, the industry earned $245 million. The state continues to see an increase in revenues each year and 2018 should end with record-breaking earnings.

As the year comes to an end, we hope to see even more states get in on the online casino and poker action by passing legislation in 2019.

Sports Betting in the USA

Sports betting in the USAOne area in which gambling has grown in 2018 is with sports betting. In the past, sports betting was limited to only four states in the US based on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal law put in place back in 1992. In May of this year, the US Supreme Court decided to strike down this ban, opening up sports betting to states that legalize the option.

As of right now, Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, and West Virginia are among the states to offer full fledge sports betting. Other states are getting started as well or are in the process of crafting legislation and expect to offer the activity beginning in 2019.

Types of Gambling Offered in the USA

If you are new to the gambling world, you may be unaware of the types of gambling options found in the US. The following table highlights five types of gambling you can find and a short description for each. For the complete list check out our USA Gambling Facts.

Commercial Casinos

Operated by private companies and publicly-traded companies alike. Commercial casinos can be land-based casinos, riverboat casinos, airport casinos, racetrack-casinos (racinos), or casino cruises.

Tribal Casinos

Operated by Native American tribal gaming authorities and based on Indian reservation lands. A 1986 US Supreme Court case (Cabazon v. California) stated Native American reservations were able to house casinos.

Card Rooms

A term used to describe a poker room that is located inside a casino or as a standalone operation. Card rooms are prevalent in the state of California, offering players a wide variety of poker games to choose from.

Charitable Games

Offered in the states as an option where players can take part in casino-style gaming via a non-profit organization. Bingo and lottery gaming are also prevalent in the states.

Learn More About USA Gambling Facts

Don’t forget to read our USA Gambling Guide for an in-depth look at the gambling industry in the United States, as well as the OUSC states page for more information about your local community gaming laws. Learning more about these gambling options can help you to find the best options for gambling in your area.


Sadonna Price

Sadonna Price OUSC Expert in Online Casinos and Poker

Sadonna is a former professional poker player. Passionate about writing and loves using her creativity to provide insight into the interesting gambling world.

Learn More About Sadonna