Always bet on the house.
With inflation high, fuel prices on the rise, and the pandemic still dealing Americans a bad hand, U.S. casinos are cleaning up on gamblers looking for a lucky break.
The American Gaming Association reported Wednesday that commercial casinos took a record $5.3 billion off of bettors in March. The American gambling industry’s largest trade group said that breaks a record set in July by more than $3 million.
March’s jackpot contributed to a record-breaking first quarter for gambling houses, but still fell just short of the $14.35 billion casinos collected in the final quarter of 2021.
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New York — where quarterly revenues clocked in just under $1 billion — joined Florida and Arkansas as states that started 2022 with record intakes.
In some places that lean heavily on in-person revenue, such as Atlantic City, casinos have reportedly struggled to return to pre-pandemic numbers. Las Vegas, which collected $7.05 billion in 2021, topped intake from Atlantic City, New York City and all of Pennsylvania combined.
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American Gaming Association CEO Bill Miller said labor shortages, supply issues and high prices have not detoured gamblers from trying their luck.
“Consumers continue to seek out gaming’s entertainment options in record numbers,” he said.
Tribal casinos report earnings separately from commercial venues and were not included in the American Gaming Association report. They are also believed to have won big in recent months.
With News Wire Services
