A lot of folks consider America to be the country with the most gamblers, but the truth is, it is not close to the top 3 on the list of countries that gamble the most. Yes, countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK are the ones holding the top 3 spots for the most gambling countries.That being said, there have been controversies lately among people about how regular Americans gamble, and to help clear the air about this, we’ve taken up the task to do our research and see the stats on how regular Americans gamble. So, in this post, we will discuss all you need to know about how many Americans gamble regularly, so stick with us.
Gambling Around The World: The Big Picture
Gambling is not just for making money anymore, it’s now a form of entertainment. Over the years, we’ve seen the gambling industry grow overwhelmingly high in both online and land-based casinos. And the interesting fact is there’s still a high chance that the coming years are going to be the same.
Gambling has also been a way for local and state governments globally to generate income for the country.
However, the sad aspect is the addiction rate has increased by far compared to recent years. Aside from that, the progress in the gambling world has been very impressive in the past few years.
Online Gambling
Since online gambling was introduced, we’ve seen a massive amount of people switch from gambling at brick casinos to gambling from the comfort of their homes at online casinos.
In 2018, the US online gambling industry generated total revenue of $306.5 billion, even though the numbers could have gone up now.
Also, Statistics show that just 3% of the US population gamble online while in the UK up to 17% of the population gamble online.
Gambling Overall
As of 2016, statistics show that up to 26% of the world population gamble. To break it down, it reveals that up to 1.6 billion people gamble globally, while 4.6 billion have gambled at least once a year.
An independent study based in the UK reveals (dated back to 2018) that 17% of the world population has participated in online gambling. And the global market cap of online casinos is about £5.3 billion (translates to US$ 6.1 billion).
Another study from the US (dated back to 2016) reveals that some 3% of the world population gambles online. Nevertheless, its research indicates that the revenue generated from online gambling in the US alone amounts to US$ 306.3 billion in 2018 alone — 50x more than the UK estimations.
Americans Gambling Statistics
Despite being the home of gambling, Gambling is a form of entertainment, but, sadly, many folks have abused it to the extent that over 10 million Americans are living with gambling addiction.
The gambling trend within America, from research, tends to increase every year. As of when this article was written, statistics show that 85% of Americans have gambled at least once. And with more and more people getting familiar with this form of entertainment, there’s a high chance that we continue to see the stats for the number of American gambling regularly continue to move in an upward trend in the coming years.
Read on to see how the gambling stats have been moving in America;
American Gambling in Numbers
- Annual gambling revenue has reached a new record high of US$ 53.03 billion, a 21 percentage point increase from the earlier US$ 43.04 billion in 2019.
- The tax collected from commercial gambling reached US$ 11 billion, a 75 percentage point increase compared to the previous year and a 15 percent increase from 2019.
- 23 of the 43 jurisdictions in the US reported record-high gambling revenues.
The American Gambling By Mean Age
The visit to land-based casinos post-pandemic in America has also shifted. For instance, the audience at the land-based casinos in the US is now younger compared to pre-pandemic.
This year, the mean age of the person visiting local casinos was 43.6 years. The mean age of a casino patron in 2019 was 49.6 and 48.6 in 2018.
Responsible Gaming for Americans
The American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Responsible Gaming Statutes and Regulations Guide is applicable in 34 states of the 48 US states where some form of gambling is legalized. The good thing is even the gambling industry is now striving to address the problems related to gambling. Today, responsible gambling promotion is more than ever across the US.
Some 21 States were asked to mandate responsible gambling plans; this includes awareness programs.
Some 34 jurisdictions in the United States have a self-exclusion program. This means the operators will not promote.
As many as 31 jurisdictions in the US have to inform the authorities about any type of gambling structure. By doing this, authorities can promote responsible gambling programs efficiently via the gambling facilities themselves, like a helpline number.
Almost all jurisdictions have a ban on any advertisement.
Alcoholic beverage restrictions on employee guidance and responsible gambling are one of the top concerns of the gambling industry and the authorities in the US.
Moreover, these efforts are not limited only to land-based casino establishments; there are even slot-based operations of online casinos based in the US.
Top Gambling Centres
Movies do not represent most things accurately. But one thing that they portray to the scale is the gambling venues. As portrayed in the movies, real casinos have a great atmosphere, thrilling games, glitz and glamour. That said, here are the top casino centers across the world where you can walk around and see that great things do exist.
1. Las Vegas, USA
Although Las Vegas is not recognized as the “Gambling Capital of the World,” its name is synonymous with gambling and casinos. In fact, Las Vegas’s best feature is the number of casinos the city has. If you see the US in the big picture, you will only find two states where casino-style gambling is legal, and one of them is Nevada.
Nevada’s other city, Reno, is also quite popular for casinos. But the aura of Las Vegas is different. The fancy casinos, the nightlife, the luxury hotels, and the world-renowned restaurants — make Las Vegas a suitable destination for bachelorette parties, business conferences, and whatnot. There are over 30 large casino establishments in Las Vegas, with countless small ones.
2. Macau, China
The official Gambling Captial of the World, Macau is another popular city for gambling. In fact, 50% of Macau’s revenues come from gambling tourism.
Hailed as the Monte Carlo of the East, Macau has long been the gambling region of ancient China. It is in the 20th century that western games came to Macau. Today, gambling in Macau can be divided into four categories: casino games, greyhound racing, sports betting, and lotteries. There are over 33 large casino establishments in Macau.
3. Monte Carlo, Monaco
A luxury vacation destination, Monte Carlo has long been known for its gambling establishments and glamorous nightlife across the world. The first casino establishment dates back to 1856. Needless to say, it is now known as one of the most famous gambling spots in the world.
There aren’t many casinos in Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo only has 5 big casino establishments. But its Casino de Monte-Carlo is world renowned for high-stakes games.
If you are looking for a gambling destination full of sophistication and fun, Monte Carlo is the place for you.
4. Marina Bay, Singapore
Marina Bay Sands Casino is the reason many people visit Singapore. A lavish 15,000-square-metre casino facility, Marina Bay Sands Casino is world-renowned for its popular casino games, private rooms, and numerous slot machines. The presence of high-end resorts and restaurants makes it one of the popular holiday destinations for anyone looking to participate in gambling.
5. London, United Kingdom
London is known for many things. But its casinos are considered the finest in the world. Luring the rich, London casinos display the best etiquette of the rich world. All the world’s casinos may have beautiful structures and modern-themed infrastructure, but there is something inherently both thrilling and glamorous about the casino establishments in London. Many casinos in the city date back to the 1860s; and when it comes to style and theme of the past, there is no beating London. So, if you want to enjoy the life of the old world, it is here where you will find it.
FAQs
What Percentage of the US Gambles?
Some 85% of US citizens have participated in some form of gambling in the last year. Back in 2015, some 25% of US residents (above 21) participated in some form of gambling.
How Much do Americans Gamble Each Year?
In 2019, gambling revenue hit a record of US$ 43.6 billion. This year, the forecast shows the gambling revenue to surpass a new high, i.e., US$ 44 billion.
How Much Does the Average American Gamble?
On average, the “gamblers” spend 4 hours daily gambling. Of the people who have gambled in American casinos, the average amount spent was US$ 500.