According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), Americans' opinions on legal gambling have never been better, despite a gambling scandal that has rocked the NBA and raised concerns about the integrity of professional sports.

According to the AGA's annual consumer study, which was carried out by the research firm Kantar from July 22 to August 8, a record number of Americans are going to casinos, and their perceptions of these establishments are becoming more favorable.

The researchers discovered that over half of all American adults (57%) had engaged in some kind of gambling during the previous year among the 2,000 respondents. Approximately 134 million adults, or 53% of the population, went to a casino. Both scores represent all-time highs.

According to the investigation's findings, nine out of ten people believe that casinos are suitable for them or others, and over six out of ten believe that gambling is acceptable for them personally.

"These results underscore a sustainable foundation for the American gaming industry, reflecting strong consumer confidence in a state-regulated market as a safe and trusted form of entertainment,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

The margin of error for the Kantar study was +/-2%. At the federal and state levels, the AGA represents the interests of the commercial and tribal gaming sectors.

Unprecedented Gambling

Casinos were mostly limited to Nevada, Atlantic City, and tribal casinos just a few decades ago. All states except Georgia, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Utah now permit some kind of legal gambling, including casinos, racinos, iGaming, and sports betting. However, state-run lotteries exist in Georgia and South Carolina.

43 states have commercial or tribal casinos, 39 states allow sports betting, including Washington, DC, and seven states allow iGaming.

More Americans than ever before are losing money when they gamble. For the third consecutive year, commercial gaming revenue reached $74 billion in 2024. For the fourth year in a row, the 243 federally recognized tribes that run tribal casinos in 29 states saw record revenue of $43.9 billion in their most recent fiscal year.

According to the AGA's data, Americans aren't angry about losing nearly $120 billion annually to gambling. According to the survey's findings, 77% of Americans think the gaming industry boosts the US economy as a whole, 85% believe casinos provide entertainment and dining options to places that might not otherwise be able to draw them, and 86% believe casinos boost tourism and bring conventions and meetings to areas.

Additionally, 82% of respondents stated that casinos generate well-paying jobs, and over 80% agreed that the gaming business generates investments and jobs in the US that cannot be outsourced to other nations. 

The Rosy Report

The commercial and tribal gambling markets were described favorably in the AGA-commissioned consumer survey. According to the poll, nearly three out of four Americans reported having come across responsible gaming messaging in the previous year, and 64% of Americans believe the industry is dedicated to promoting responsible gaming and preventing problem play.

The study was carried out prior to the FBI's revelation of the NBA scandal. We'll find out later how the federal prosecution of NBA players and coaches for allegedly taking part in illicit insider sports betting and gambling operations may affect consumer attitudes.