Casino Revenue Up 73 Percent in Past Decade

Revenue for U.S. casinos has increased 73 percent over the past 10 years, according to a new report released by the American Gaming Association (AGA), a trade group representing the U.S. casino industry.

The AGA said gross gaming revenue reached $34.1 billion in 2007, up from $19.7 billion in 1998. During that time, gaming tax revenue contributed by commercial casinos to state and local governments has more than doubled, from $2.5 billion in 1998 to $5.79 billion in 2007.

According to the survey, the gaming industry’s $34.1 billion in gross gaming revenue was a 5.3 percent increase over 2006. Iowa and Mississippi saw the most significant increase in gross gaming revenue, with increases of 16.2 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively.

And it’s not all about the games of chance, said the AGA. Seventy-two percent of casino visitors reported eating at a fine-dining restaurant, 48 percent saw live entertainment, 42 percent visited retail stores and 42 percent visited a casino bar or nightclub.