13 October 2026
When it comes to gaming expansion, 2024 was a year of growth for the industry. Coupled with rising consumer spending, the American Gaming Association's 2024 Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker showed a 10.3% increase in U.S. commercial casino gaming revenue to $66.5 billion. Much of that growth was driven by markets with recent expansion, like Illinois (+12.7%), Virginia (+25.1%), and Nebraska (+89.8%).
Industry analysts report that regional markets are a growing opportunity for operators to capitalize on the trend of casino expansions. But what about the upside of gambling towns that serve less dense areas? Recent economic reports from the Richmond Fed highlight this, showing the economic impact of new casinos remains strong in less dense areas without current gambling infrastructure.
Doug Batcheldor, Senior Director of the Cambridge Commercial group in Eastern Massachusetts, drew a clear link in comments last year on a growth inflection point in the local casino market: "We're seeing real-time integration of digital and face-to-face experiences as a regular part of operations rather than seeing it as digital-only or offering limited customer service options."
Regulators face growing challenges, as this means monitoring both the market as a whole and many diverse products and platforms. Areas that have complemented their physical casinos with successful mobile and restricted app options won't thrive if they don't meet regulatory obligations. Combined with complaints about online gambling, regulators are noticing that state casinos could face competition from neighboring states that expand faster.
The economic opportunity continues to evolve as states approve new casinos and related offerings. While revenue figures show fiscal benefits, the impact diminishes as markets become saturated. The Richmond Fed economic brief noted, "the economic-development impact of casinos is more limited where gambling options are widespread, and that job gains are more likely in less dense areas without nearby casinos." It added, "despite tax revenues being a major motivation for legalization, there is little evidence casinos substantially boost state tax collections."
More on this is available via beginner's guide to online casino gambling.
Ten years ago, the DCMS in the U.K. estimated that the gambling sector contributed £6.2 billion in Gross Value Added. By 2022, the East Midlands produced the largest regional contribution from the sector at 15.5%, with London and the South East following at 12.2% and 12% respectively. In 2023, DCMS figures showed London growing by 2.5% year-over-year while Northern Ireland grew by 1.6%. Across the UK, gambling GVA declined in most regions between 2019 and 2023, dropping 10.8% nationwide.
As New Jersey approved new casino development, planners of the American Gaming Casino Resort emphasized the importance of the project. The state granted special approval for construction plans, demonstrating confidence in the future of gaming.
With these developments underway, industry experts are discussing new monetization strategies for lower-stakes betting. Established operators continue serving premium clients through online platforms while maintaining traditional casinos in major markets.