U.S. Commercial Casino Gaming Reaches Record $78.62 Billion in 2025

The American Gaming Association released its State of the States 2026 report in May 2026, and the numbers tell a clear story of expansion across commercial casino operations. Revenue climbed to $78.62 billion for the full year 2025, marking a 9.1 percent increase over 2024 figures and establishing a new industry benchmark. Thirty-four of the thirty-eight tracked jurisdictions posted all-time highs, which points to broad geographic momentum rather than isolated spikes in a handful of markets.

Breakdown of Commercial Casino Performance

Commercial casinos drove the bulk of the gains, with traditional gaming floors, table games, and slots contributing the majority share. Observers note that states with long-established markets such as Nevada and New Jersey continued to post strong results, yet newer entrants in the Midwest and Southeast also crossed previous ceilings. The report links this pattern to steady consumer demand combined with expanded facility offerings and marketing initiatives that operators rolled out during the year.

Sports Betting Shows Accelerated Growth

Commercial sports betting operations generated $16.89 billion in revenue during 2025, reflecting a 22.6 percent year-over-year rise when tribal operations are excluded. Multiple states that legalized retail and mobile betting in recent years saw their markets mature, producing larger handle volumes and more consistent tax collections. Data indicates that football season peaks and year-round events such as basketball and baseball kept betting windows open, which helped sustain the upward trajectory across both in-person and digital channels.

iGaming Continues Steady Expansion

Online casino gaming, often referred to as iGaming, reached $10.73 billion in revenue for 2025. Growth here occurred primarily in states that permit online slots, table games, and poker, with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan remaining the largest contributors. The report shows that mobile access and improved platform features supported higher session frequency, while regulatory frameworks in these jurisdictions provided the stability operators needed to invest in new titles and promotions.

State-Level Records and Geographic Spread

Thirty-four jurisdictions set new revenue records in 2025, leaving only four markets that fell short of prior peaks. The report attributes most shortfalls to temporary factors such as construction disruptions or localized economic shifts rather than any broad decline in player interest. States that opened additional properties or extended operating hours posted some of the largest percentage gains, illustrating how capacity and access directly influence totals.

Tax Revenue and Economic Contributions

State governments collected substantial tax revenue from these commercial activities, funding public programs ranging from education to infrastructure. The association's data shows that combined tax payments from casinos, sports betting, and iGaming exceeded previous years by wide margins in most reporting jurisdictions. Economists who reviewed the figures note that the sector's direct and indirect employment effects also widened, supporting hospitality, transportation, and technology jobs tied to gaming operations.

Looking Ahead from the 2026 Report

The State of the States 2026 document provides a baseline for tracking 2026 performance, and industry participants are already comparing early monthly numbers against the 2025 totals. Additional states continue to evaluate legalization measures, which could expand the number of reporting jurisdictions in future editions. The current results demonstrate that commercial gaming has maintained consistent growth even as markets mature and competition intensifies.

Conclusion

The American Gaming Association's latest release documents a year of record-setting performance across commercial casino gaming, sports betting, and iGaming. With revenue figures of $78.62 billion for casinos, $16.89 billion for commercial sports betting, and $10.73 billion for iGaming, the 2025 data establishes new benchmarks that 34 jurisdictions helped achieve. Those who track these markets will watch how 2026 unfolds against this elevated starting point. State of the States 2026 serves as the primary reference for these statistics.