News and Analysis
AGA: The State of the US Gambling Industry
A new report from the American Gaming Association and Oxford Economics has detailed the economic contributions of the US gambling industry using year-long data from 2022. The report is well worth diving into, as it describes the industry figures, analyzing the stats per sector.
If you’ve not got time for that, here are the most interesting findings:
- “The U.S. gaming industry supported $329 billion of total economic output, with 1.8 million jobs, $104 billion of wages and salaries, and $53 billion of tax revenue in 2022.”
- The taxes generated are “critical funding” for local projects and services, including health, education, infrastructure, and economic development, as well as supplementing state budgets.
- The industry supports more direct jobs than other sectors, such as air transportation and the postal service (1 in every 33 hospitality jobs in the USA).
- This economic activity was generated by gaming industry business sales of $150.3 billion, with $125.9 billion spent on land-based and online casinos and sportsbooks.
- Casino revenue totaled $122.0 billion, including $75.9 billion at commercial casinos (62.3%) and $46.0 billion at Native American casinos (37.7%). 83.1% was from gaming and 16.9% from non-gaming activities/hospitality.
The analysis holds with public perception of gambling in the USA, in that 71% of American adults believe the casino industry positively affects the economy.
GGA: Las Vegas Results Revealed
This year was the 10th annual Global Gaming Awards in Las Vegas. The event sees the best of the international and US gambling industry hit the awards stage, receiving recognition for their contribution to the industry over the last twelve months.
Here’s the winners list:
- Slot of the year - Jackpot Carnival by Aristocrat
- Customer loyalty club of the year - MGM Rewards
- Land-based operator of the year - Wynn Resorts
- Digital operator of the year - BetMGM
- Sportsbook supplier of the year - Kambi
- Digital product of the year - Live Craps by Evolution Gaming
Kentucky Takes $68m in Wagering in Week One
We’ve been waiting for this figure to roll in since mobile betting went live on September 28th, and it’s now official: Kentucky players registered a massive $68m in wagering in the first week of legal sports betting in the Bluegrass State.
Governor Beshear said the results surpassed expectations, with $68m wagered from Thursday to Sunday across retail and mobile sportsbooks. Of this, $66.5m came from 300,000+ mobile accounts, with $1.7m at retail locations. Retail sportsbooks launched on September 7th have taken almost $10m in bets for the month.
Michigan Licenses Third Live Dealer Studio
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has issued Authentic Gaming with a supplier license, mixing up the market and potentially changing the game for live dealers. Evolution Gaming is the most widely available live dealer casino software at legal US online casinos. While Playtech is licensed in several states, including Michigan, their live games feature at only a handful of casinos, with Evolution the clear market leader.
Authentic Gaming is a subsidiary of Light & Wonder. It is said to be ready to offer a complete collection of live titles in Michigan players, including live blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. The games will go live at BetRivers Casino first, then further expansion.
NCAA Calls for New Laws to Protect College Athletes
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has put out a national call to update current laws to offer more protection for college and student-athletes, following a recent NCAA report that showed a substantial increase in issues at schools, including harassment of student-athletes.
38 states have legalized some form of sports betting since the 2018 repeal of PASPA, but according to the NCAA, many do not include rules that protect college sports and athletes. To rectify this, the NCAA has developed a new model of provisions it asks states to pass. The organization is also offering to work with states considering legalizing sports betting for early implementation of further protections.
Among the proposals are a harassment reporting hotline, increased penalties for those who harass student-athletes, mandatory education for operators, and a levy on sportsbooks to fund gambling harm education.
Morgyn Wynne, Vice Chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, said, “We are in a time where student-athlete health and well-being is the main priority. With the legalization of sports betting, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach to protecting student-athletes from the potential of negative engagement with bettors.
“Some 38 states have clearly passed 38 different laws. But one thing that needs to be consistent across all is prioritizing the student-athlete experience and preventing harmful activity that jeopardizes the integrity of sports.”
In Other News:
- MGM Resorts has announced that it expects losses of $100m from last month’s cyber attack.
- The Culinary and Bartenders Union members will hit the picket line this week in Las Vegas over contract and pay disputes with MGM and Caesars.
Game of the Week
Live Craps by Evolution Gaming, RTP:88.18 - 99.17%
We’re not talking slots this week. Instead, we’re celebrating the official GGA digital product of the year, 2023, Live Craps! Craps is a classic casino dice game over 250 years old, but Evolution Gaming has masterfully brought it into the 21st century for online players.
The basic rules of craps are that play starts with a pass-line bet. Pass line bets win if the come-out roll (the first dice roll) lands on 7 or 11. If it is 2,3, or 12, players who bet on don’t pass bets win. If neither outcome happens, bets remain in play for the next roll, and the outcome (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the point. The gameplay continues until the point is rolled again or a 7 (you can place additional bets throughout).
There are a couple of differences with Evolution’s version. Firstly, it’s the first live craps game available in the USA. Secondly, instead of a human shooter, a robotic arm is used. Lastly, the game’s design is as user-friendly as possible with a welcome vibe and features that include my numbers (used to track number combinations and payouts), tutorials, dealer assist (setting that makes the next round bet automatic), and game stats.
Aside from the bespoke features this game offers, it can deliver sky-high returns on your bets of up to 99.17% if you employ strategic betting strategies. How much does it cost to play? The good news is that bets start from $0.50 at most casinos and range to $5,000.
Ready to play? Then check it out at any of our top-rated Evolution Gaming Casinos!