Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Casinos worldwide - statistics & facts
As an industry seemingly built on chance, the odds of the global casino sector growing in the coming years appear a safe bet. Thanks to the ongoing legalization of gambling-related activities in many parts of the world, licensed casinos have expanded to new markets and generated record-breaking revenue figures. While the market size of the casino and online gambling industry suffered heavily during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, falling by nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, the recovery has been steady. As of 2024, the industry’s market size totaled over billion U.S. dollars. At the center of this growth has been leading casino companies such as MGM Resorts, which alone generated 16.16 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in 2023. Online enterprises specializing in sports betting have also carved out significant chunks of the market share, with Fanduel and DraftKings both ranking as two of the most valuable gambling brands globally in 2024.
Casinos in the United States: Placing all bets on Las Vegas?
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 and tribal casinos in the U.S. have remained relatively consistent, with 486 commercial and 525 tribal casinos operating nationwide in 2023. Today, the U.S. is home to some of the most famous names in the gambling world, such as Caesar’s Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts, as well as perhaps the most widely known gambling destination in the world: Las Vegas, Nevada. Every year, the number of visitors to Las Vegas reaches into the tens of millions, with many wanting to try their luck at poker tables and slot machines, or enjoy the casinos' various hotel and restaurant services, live shows, and entertainment options. Thanks to this influx of American and international tourists, Nevada remains the U.S. state with the highest gross gaming casino revenue in the country.Is Macao the new Las Vegas?
While Las Vegas remains the gambling and entertainment capital of the U.S., Macao has been fighting for its place as the global casino capital since the early 2000s. 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 a leader in the global casino market with an annual gross gambling revenue of around 23 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, which was approximately eight billion U.S. dollars more than in Nevada during the same year. Having taken Vegas’ crown as the global focal point for gambling, Macao’s place at the top does look like coming to an end any time soon.
