The US has a fragmented approach to gambling, with each state providing its laws and guidance. Therefore, many states have higher engagement levels with online casinos than others. In the article below, we pick out those most involved with gambling.
Gambling in the United States is big business. From the world-famous casinos of Las Vegas to modern sports betting applications on mobile devices, there is more choice for gamblers than ever. With each state taking a different approach, the subject has become a hot topic. In some states, it is raising millions in tax revenue, whereas casino gaming is almost unheard of in others. We dive into the facts and figures to find out which states in the USA have the highest casino engagement rates.
Nevada
With so much fragmentation, it helps to define what casino engagement is. Gambling is a catch-all term, that includes sports betting and games such as bingo. To make matters more confusing, some states have very unique laws. Kentucky has legalized sports betting, but no casinos. Even though many states do allow physical casinos, only seven allow them to operate online. All of this makes divesting the right figures and engagement tough.
For this text, casino engagement is defined as participating in activities generally found and played in a casino where cash prizes can be won. This includes table games, slots, and other casino-style activities like Keno. It is measured in revenue per state.
Unsurprisingly, Nevada comes out on top. With Las Vegas as its jewel, it has been and always will be the gambling mecca of the US and the world. People come here not just from the state itself to gamble, but from across the world. It is a tourist destination that has few rivals.
In the last survey, it was estimated that $15 billion is spent on gambling activities in total per annum, including sports betting. When it comes to casinos alone, a huge proportion of an estimated $14 billion is included. However, it is worth noting that Nevada may be reaching a peak. It had a 10.5% growth in 2022, with a 5% growth in 2023. Figures for 2024 have yet to be released.
The Rest of the Top Ten
While Nevada is way out in front, the spot for second and third is quite closely contested. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both come in shy of $6 billion for two years. Forthcoming publications may suggest they have finally outdone this due to repeated year-on-growth growth, which has equated to 10% in some instances.
New York draws into fourth, and after this, the margins get even tighter. Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, Illinois, and Maryland all rake in between $2.5 to $3.5 billion. This means that the top ten states equate to around 74% of the country’s total gambling spend.
States With Online Casino Engagement
Seven states currently allow online casino gambling. These are Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.
Delaware was the first state to legalize online casinos. Though it is small, it manages to generate an average of around $6 million per month in revenue. It has a liberal view on gambling, allowing sports betting and bingo as well as online casinos.
Michigan is a poster boy for how well gambling revenue can do and a perfect example of how to control it. Legalizing online gambling in 2021, it has since had a record month of $220.7 million. This has seen some of the best providers and most well-known names flock there. Michigan residents can also enjoy a wide variety of casino bonuses which are available on this page. With easy methods allowing you to scan their positive and negative aspects, it is a great way to find the right casino for your needs.
New Jersey is another heavy hitter. This state has long been a rival for Nevada and has had quite open laws on gambling providing many in the state and neighboring ones with a place to enjoy casinos. It was the second state to legalize online casinos, but most notably, it is one state where online casinos beat the revenue of physical ones. They have been known to generate $213.6 million in a single month.
The last of the states that allow online casinos is Rhode Island, which only legalized them in 2024. Building its market and reputation, it currently has eyes on it from lots of others who want to see how they manage the transition.
Sweepstakes and Other Forms of Casino Engagement
Due to the laws in online gambling and a legal loophole in many states, even places that do not allow cash prize casinos can have what is known as a ‘sweepstake’ casino. These platforms operate under a law governing sweepstakes and lotteries, as opposed to gambling. Doing so lets them provide casino games to people in states where they are technically banned.
Sweepstakes casinos do this by providing a virtual currency for play. There are two types: Gold coins are used for free play on the game. Sweep coins are the second, which are redeemable for cash. The former can be given through daily logins or can be purchased in packages. People can then play all the games you would expect to find in online casinos, from table games to slots and even new crash gaming-style titles.
Essentially, if people log in every day they can play the games for free. Winning is harder, as the process of acquiring sweep coins takes more effort, but technically they are still casinos. Yet finding data on engagement for them is tough. This may be because most want to keep a low profile. While they are not breaking the law, there have been crackdowns on them in some states.
It is also impossible to quantify how many people use offshore casinos, and crypto casinos, and access VPN software to use those in other states. This is bound to be happening and will have an impact on the statistics and figures. However, putting these aside it is obvious that casino engagement is rising in the US, and it is not just the large states embracing it but smaller ones like Rhode Island.