Commercial gaming revenue across the US finished up at $9.04bn during 2020’s third quarter, a figure which represents 81 per cent of the industry’s pre-COVID levels recorded in the same period a year earlier, according to the American Gaming Association’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker.
Despite Q3 revenue being up 294 per cent from the second quarter lows, driven by pandemic-driven, mandatory closures, health and safety measures currently in place, including social distancing and capacity restrictions, have contributed to the recovery lagging behind the country’s broader economic recovery.
Gaming revenue is down 36.5 per cent year-over-year during the first nine months of 2020, compared to the US GDP’s three per cent decline across the same period.
“Our industry continues to prioritise the health and safety of our employees, customers, and communities above all else,” explained Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO.
“While these quarterly results are promising, the reality is a full recovery is dependent on continued public health measures to control prevalence rates.
“As state and local officials respond to current COVID-19 outbreaks with additional restrictions, urgent Congressional action to provide COVID-19 relief is even more crucial. Gaming employees and communities depend on it.”
During the July – September reporting period more than 100 casinos reopened, with 902 (90.8 per cent of the total) commercial and tribal venues operational by the end of the period, compared to 800 (80.8 per cent) at the start of July.
Furthermore, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota outperformed their Q3 2019 revenue figures, as Maryland and New Jersey returned yoy gaming revenue growth.
Nationwide slot and table games revenue remained down compared to 2019, however, boosted by an unexpectedly busy roster of events, sports betting revenue bounced back during Q3.
Americans legally wagered a record $5.95bn during the period which generated $352.3m in gaming revenue, the second highest ever quarterly total. Online casino continued to grow due, in part, to West Virginia launching in July, with igaming generating $435m, up eight per cent from Q2 and 232 per cent from Q3 2019.
