The 2025 Prospectus for the US Online Gambling Market

The US online gambling market has experienced explosive growth over the past decade. By 2015, this was a tiny sector valued at approximately $3 billion. Now, according to numerous sources, this is a booming industry that’s expected to bring in over $30 billion in 2025 alone.

Several factors are facilitating the unprecedented growth of America’s online gambling sector, including regulatory changes and technological advancements. Presently, more states are adopting friendlier regulatory frameworks, making it easier for gambling companies to offer their services. Moreover, thanks to advancements, most people can now access gambling platforms with incredible ease.

Here’s an in-depth exploration of vital factors related to the US online gambling market and its fascinating rise to the top.

Regulatory Landscape and Legal Framework

In the US, online gambling is primarily regulated by the Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act as of 2025. These set overarching guidelines, while state laws cater to the actual governing. Presently, every state that has legalized online gambling has a regulatory body, like Pennsylvania’s PGCB, Nevada’s NGCB, and Michigan’s MGCB.

Online gambling is legal in 7 American states, including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Michigan. That said, numerous states, like Maryland, Louisiana, and Hawaii, are expected to allow their residents to gamble online in the near future.

The states that have legalized online gambling regularly introduce new rules and policies for various reasons. First, they do that to ensure newer forms of gambling have their regulatory frameworks and consumers enjoy optimum security and fairness. New policies can increase compliance costs for operators, but ultimately, they benefit everyone involved.

Market Size and Growth Projections

Before online gambling truly took off, it was considered nothing more than a niche market. But things are very different today. As of 2024, the US online gambling market was worth approximately $11 billion. This number is expected to reach over $30 billion in 2025 and breach the $40 billion threshold by 2029. This exponential growth will be fueled by numerous factors, including:

• Increased legalization: More US states are expected to legalize online gambling in the near future. That means more people will have access to this service, which is a foolproof route to increased revenue. This will subsequently allow operators to invest in next-level gaming technology guaranteed to provide enhanced user experience, thereby drawing more consumers to online casino games.
• Technological advancements: The ongoing tech revolution will catalyze growth in the online gambling industry. Soon, more consumers will shift from occasional to avid gaming, courtesy of enhanced connectivity and availability of top-shelf mobile casino games. Other technological aspects expected to orchestrate massive growth in this sector include live-streaming technologies, virtual casinos, and blockchain integration.
• Shifting consumer preferences: One of the major drivers of future growth in the online gambling industry will be shifting consumer preferences. As more players opt for mobile gambling games, immersive experiences, and loyalty programs, service providers will be forced to adapt accordingly. And as that happens, more people will be drawn to online gambling, causing significant growth.
• Regulatory changes: In addition to increased legalization at the state level, many other regulatory changes will play a dispensable role in the growth of the US online gambling market. For example, authorities are increasingly considering adopting uniform regulations across the US. If this happens, more operators will be able to provide their services in multiple US jurisdictions, thereby helping the market grow and expand.

The US online gambling industry isn’t the only one that’s growing at an incredible pace. Other global markets are also experiencing the same trend. For instance, in only a few years, the UK market’s worth has ballooned from around $6 billion (2022) and is expected to reach approximately $16 billion before 2029.

Note that, as of 2025, Europe’s online gambling market is exponentially bigger than that of the US. That is primarily because most European regions have legalized online gambling. However, the US is expected to catch up soon as more state authorities embrace this venture.

Major Players in the Industry

The US online gambling scene is a battleground for hundreds of service providers. All available companies are doing everything they can to dominate and attract more players. That said, a handful of operators are dominating the market, including DraftKings (with over 30% market share), FanDuel (with over 30% market share), and BetMGM (with over 10% market share).

Top US online gambling companies are where they are today because they took certain steps, including partnering with outstanding tech companies. Courtesy of their partnership with tech firms, the most successful gambling companies are able to enhance the functionality of their platforms and provide exceptional services like virtual gaming and support for crypto payments.

But the aforementioned companies are running the show uncontested. They are facing stiff competition from new entrants like PointsBet and Barstool Sportsbook. These companies are trying to unseat the current kings of the hill using aggressive marketing, highly personalized gaming experiences, and other tactics. This is a good thing since it forces all providers to step up their game.

Consumer Behavior and Market Trends

Online gambling is popular among young gamblers aged 21 to 40. These individuals are choosing to bet on sports and play gambling games online using their PCs, tablets, and smartphones. On the other hand, most older adults still opt for land-based casino games.

Furthermore, social gambling is catching like wildfire, with more modern consumers demanding gaming services that prioritize socialization. Moreover, esports betting and fantasy sports are gaining traction at an unprecedented rate, especially among the younger, tech-savvy players.

The growth of America’s online gambling market has forced authorities to introduce more responsible gambling practices that consumers and service providers must abide by. Today, operators are required to offer solutions that promote responsible gambling, such as deposit limits, reality checks, and self-exclusion tools.

Challenges and Risks in the Online Gambling Market

The US online gambling market has its fair share of challenges and risks. For starters, operators and consumers constantly face cybersecurity threats like hacking and identity theft. Millions of online gamblers report hacked accounts and stolen funds every year. Plus, many players are exposed to losses associated with unregulated, fraudulent online gambling platforms.

As a gambler in the US, you are also exposed to addiction and subsequent issues. According to the NCPG, millions of Americans are addicted to gambling, so this is a real threat. That said, most service providers offer solutions you can use to lower your odds of becoming a statistic, including reality checks and deposit limits. Use them to ensure fun times don’t turn catastrophic.

Finally, operators and players in numerous US states are also facing one significant hurdle: high taxation. Exorbitant taxes lead to higher expenses for service providers. To curb this issue, gambling companies resort to lowering RTP and odds, which can undermine your experience as a gambler.

The Future of Online Gambling in the US

The future of the US online gambling market is quite promising. If more states decide to legalize online casino gaming and sports betting, the industry will continue to thrive. Other factors will also fuel uncapped market growth, including technologies like AI.

Speaking of AI, you should expect numerous disruptors to change the industry for good, like AI-driven predictive betting, VR gaming, and gamification of gambling. They will transform everything from your experience as a gambler to operators’ abilities to attract and retain savvy consumers.

For investors, there’s never been a better time to provide online gambling services. After all, this market is experiencing exponential growth, and there are countless opportunities to exploit. Plus, if you are an investor, you now have the chance to use different types of media to advertise your services, reel in more clients, and rake in significant income.

The Kingpins of the Las Vegas Casino Strip

The Las Vegas Strip has undergone a dramatic transformation from a remote desert highway into one of America’s most iconic districts – a neon-lit canyon of glamour, excess, and capitalist ambition. Its decades-long journey reflects the shifting tides of power and vision that have defined Sin City.

The Strip’s humble origins date to the 1930s as a vital road linking LA to Las Vegas through empty Nevada desert. Back then, Vegas was a sleepy railroad town. Visitors were scarce beyond Hoover Dam construction workers who lodged in modest motels flanking the two-lane road.

However, some visionaries saw potential in the desert outpost. For example, in 1941, the El Rancho Vegas resort opened on the Strip, pioneering the casino-hotel model. Its success inspired more developers, even catching the eye of notorious East Coast mobster Bugsy Siegel. In 1946, he built the extravagant Flamingo Hotel, cementing organized crime’s presence on the Strip and kicking off an era of rapid development.

Over the ensuing decades, the Strip exploded with lavish properties like the Sands, Dunes, and Stardust coming up. By the 1960s, complexes like Caesars Palace had transformed the Strip into an entertainment epicenter synonymous with indulgence. The 1970s saw boundary-pushing projects like the original MGM Grand.

All this time, the Strip remained a diverse patchwork of independent hotel-casinos. But today, this landscape looks very different. Today, the Strip is dominated by just two gaming giants – MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment – which combined control over half the major resorts.

This consolidation of power is a new phenomenon. So how did we get here? How did just a handful of brands come to rule Sin City’s once fiercely independent Strip? This article delves into the key power players ruling today’s Las Vegas casinos and how they clawed their way to the top. Let’s get right into it!

The Rise of the Vegas Titans

The modern battle for the Strip began in 1989. After over a decade of stagnation, the opening of Steve Wynn’s opulent Mirage Resort kicked off a casino building boom in Las Vegas. Competitors rushed to construct ever more ostentatious properties along the Strip. MGM Grand, Luxor, Excalibur, Paris, New York-New York and other eye-catching megaresorts popped up in quick succession.

Behind the scenes, casino operators scrambled to expand their footprints. The Mirage’s success inspired a wave of mergers and acquisitions that steadily consolidated power. By the early 2000s, four major companies controlled the Strip landscape:

• MGM Mirage owned the MGM Grand, The Mirage, and Treasure Island
• Caesars Entertainment owned the Caesars Palace, Bally’s, and Paris Las Vegas
• Harrah’s Entertainment owned Harrah’s and later Imperial Palace
• Mandalay Resort Group owned Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus

However, come 2005, two seismic deals shrank that number to two. MGM acquired Mandalay in a deal worth $7.9 billion, bringing the Luxor, Excalibur and Mandalay Bay under its umbrella. Meanwhile, Harrah’s purchased Caesars Entertainment for $9.4 billion, including Caesars Palace. Almost overnight, MGM and Harrah’s (later renamed back to Caesars) became the undisputed kingpins of Las Vegas casinos.

Today these two giants lord over the Strip. MGM Resorts owns iconic properties like Bellagio, MGM Grand, The Mirage, New York New York and Park MGM. On the other hand, Caesars Entertainment has under its wings Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, Paris, Planet Hollywood and other famous resorts. Together they control around 17 of the 27 major hotel-casinos on the Strip.

Challengers remain, however. For example, Phil Ruffin’s TI west of Caesars Palace provides some tough competition, while there’s the Venetian and Palazzo complex which operate independently as well. But none come close to matching the power of the “Big Two.” For better or worse, MGM and Caesars together form the public face of Las Vegas.

The Fall and Rise of Caesars

Caesars Entertainment’s path to becoming one of the Strip’s titans was particularly rocky. The company seemed an unstoppable force in the early 2000s following its mergers with Harrah’s. However, the massive 2005 leveraged buyout by Apollo Global Management and TPG Capital soon saddled it with crippling debt.

As the 2008 financial crisis hit, Caesars struggled to manage its over $20 billion leverage. By 2015 it was forced to declare bankruptcy. The subsequent restructuring slashed Caesars’ Strip presence, with creditor ownership rising to over 60%. But it also birthed a new force in Las Vegas real estate: VICI Properties.

Part of Caesars’ bankruptcy settlement involved splitting its property assets from gaming operations. As a real estate investment trust (REIT), VICI could own Caesars resorts tax-free and lease them back to the operating entity. This allowed Caesars to offload debt while benefiting from rent payments.

Initially owning just former Caesars properties like Harrah’s and Planet Hollywood, VICI expanded by acquiring competitor real estate. In 2022, it bought fellow REIT MGM Growth Properties, assuming ownership of MGM Grand and other non-Caesars casinos.

VICI now owns more than 10 resorts on the Strip assets including Caesars Palace, The Mirage, Park MGM and the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. Though banned from gaming operations, its massive property portfolio makes the company such a powerful player in the battle for Las Vegas real estate.

MGM Follows the REIT Route

Seeing the advantages of removing real estate from gaming, MGM Resorts followed Caesars’ lead in 2016. MGM Growth Properties was spun off to hold iconic Strip properties like Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage. Leasing them back brought MGM valuable rental income while unburdening itself from billions in leverage.

The REIT strategy bore other benefits too. By selling its properties, MGM gained cash to reinvest in expansion and acquisitions. In recent years it purchased the Cosmopolitan and CityCenter complex on the Strip, along with prominent U.S. regional casinos like Empire City in New York.

The creation of MGM Growth Properties also positioned MGM’s real estate for acquisition. When VICI bought MGM’s REIT in 2022, it gained a treasure chest of prime Vegas hotels. MGM in turn saw over $4.4 billion freed to deploy in new gaming ventures. The global resort company likely remains eager for future Strip acquisitions.

The Changing Face of Las Vegas Ownership

The rise of real estate investment trusts (REITs) has fundamentally altered the ownership landscape in Las Vegas. By spinning property assets into separate companies like VICI and MGM Growth Properties, casino operators gained numerous advantages:

• REITs provide tax benefits, allowing property owners to lease hotels back to casinos at lower effective rates.
• Separating real estate from operations removes leverage from gaming companies’ books thereby improving debt profiles.
• Cashing out property assets helps to generate funds for new investments and growth opportunities.
• REITs can acquire competitors’ real estate and consolidate ownership under one roof.

For casino operators, these benefits come at the cost of no longer owning their iconic hotels. On the other hand, for REITs, gaming regulations prohibit direct involvement in casino operations. This new structure divides the Strip’s power between property kingpins like VICI and casino brand giants like MGM and Caesars.

It also opens the playing field to commercial real estate investors. For example, groups like Blackstone and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians are snapping up Strip hotels purely for their property potential. The battle, therefore, is expanding beyond gaming corporations to include private equity firms, REITs, and investment funds drawn to Vegas real estate.

However, some foresee the REIT structure as merely a temporary separation between ownership and operations. VICI in particular has steadily consolidated control of the Strip’s most valuable buildings and land. Its CEO recently acknowledged ambitions to eventually operate casinos should regulations change.

For now, the REITs remain formally separated from gaming. But down the road, the kingpins of Las Vegas real estate could make a play at uniting property and operations under the same roof once again.

The Other Players Circling for a Piece

While MGM and Caesars may dominate center Strip, other investors continue battling for a slice of the action. Here are a few notable ones making huge moves:

Phil Ruffin

A successful businessman, Phil has acquired and revived distressed properties like Circus Circus and also owns half of Trump International Hotel. Ruffin remains a small but opportunistic player worth watching.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

This wealthy California tribe recently purchased The Palms and Rio Hotel & Casino. They are leveraging their tribal gaming experience to enter the competitive Vegas market.

Blackstone

The private equity group has gone on a Vegas buying spree, acquiring The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Bally’s and more. Their deep pockets make them a real threat for future deals.

These investors, along with VICI Properties, reflect how the “battle for Vegas” now includes property owners and real estate players beyond gaming companies. The kingdom MGM and Caesars once ruled alone clearly has attracted new power brokers into the space.

The Strip of the Future

MGM and Caesars will likely continue holding their kingpin status for the foreseeable future. Their rewards programs, volumes of hotel rooms, and Strip geography give them prime advantages with visitors. Consolidation has also led to cost savings and operational efficiencies that benefit their bottom lines.

However, as with any industry, staying on top requires constant adaptation. A case in point for example is that younger generations don’t gamble as much as their elders. Today, Las Vegas is responding by emphasizing clubs, pools, restaurants, and experiences catering beyond the casino floor. For this and more reasons, MGM and Caesars will need to evolve to keep drawing new visitors into their resorts.

There are also signs the real estate divorce between gaming and property ownership could one day lead to divorce between owners and operators. VICI Properties is legally prohibited from running casinos. However, with its growing presence on the Strip, some speculate it could lobby to change REIT rules banning gaming involvement.

If allowed to operate casinos, VICI would become a fearsome competitor given its footprint on the Strip. For now, MGM and Caesars’ control looks solid. But as past decades have shown, the battle for Las Vegas never stays quiet for long. The ruthless competition will likely churn the Strip’s ownership for decades to come.

An Overview of Key Players in the Battle for Vegas

• MGM Resorts International
  • Current Properties: Bellagio, MGM Grand, The Mirage, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, Park MGM, Luxor, Excalibur.
  • Previously Owned: Treasure Island, The Cosmopolitan, Monte Carlo/Park MGM, Circus Circus.
  • Future Projects: New megaresort The Fontainebleau planned for northern Strip
  • Company History: Formed from mergers including MGM Grand & Mandalay Resort Group in 2005
  • CEO: William J. (Bill) Hornbuckle IV since 2020, veteran executive with decades at MGM
• Caesars Entertainment
  • Current Properties: Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, Paris, Planet Hollywood, The Cromwell, The Linq
  • Previously Owned: Rio, Imperial Palace
  • Recent Moves: Merged with Eldorado Resorts in 2020, rebranded Bally’s to Horseshoe Las Vegas
  • Company History: Grew rapidly in 1990s/2000s before 2008 leveraged buyout crippled finances
  • CEO: Tom Reeg since 2020 merger with Eldorado, veteran casino executive
• VICI Properties
  • Current Properties: Caesars Palace, The Mirage, MGM Grand, Park MGM, The Venetian, more than 50 Strip assets
  • Recent Moves: Acquired competitor REIT MGM Growth Properties for $17.2 billion in 2022
  • Company History: Spun off from Caesars Entertainment during its bankruptcy in 2017
  • CEO: Edward Pitoniak since VICI’s inception, veteran REIT executive
• Blackstone
  • Current Vegas Properties: The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, CityCenter
  • Company History: Global private equity group, acquired its first Vegas asset with Cosmo purchase in 2014
  • CEO: Stephen Schwarzman, co-founded Blackstone in 1985, a net worth of over $29.7 billion
• Phil Ruffin
  • Current Properties: Circus Circus, TI (formerly Treasure Island)
  • Company History: Self-made businessman who acquired first Vegas property in 1997
  • CEO: Phil Ruffin runs his privately held company, with no outside investors
• San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
  • Current Properties: The Palms, Rio Las Vegas
  • Company History: Prominent California tribe expanding off-reservation land
  • Leadership: Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena guiding the tribe’s gaming ambitions

We Can’t Forget The Little-Known Players

Behind MGM, Caesars and the deep-pocketed investors above lie an ecosystem of smaller independent casinos still retaining influence along the Strip. Here a few notable ones you might have heard of:

• Wynn Resorts: Upper-end niche with Encore and Wynn properties at the north end of the Strip.
• Las Vegas Sands: Focused on conventions after selling The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts to VICI and Apollo in 2022
• Station Casinos: Locals-focused casinos like Palms Springs off the Strip now owned by Red Rock Resorts

Additionally, casino magnate Steve Wynn also retains a lot of influence as the visionary developer behind The Mirage and Bellagio, despite exiting these companies.

The Ever-Changing Strip

The Las Vegas Strip today would be nearly unrecognizable to visitors from just 20 years ago. The quick rise of REITs like VICI has particularly fractured ownership of the Strip’s crown jewels.

Yet while the players keep changing, the allure of Las Vegas remains intact overall. MGM and Caesars might have ruled the Strip’s casinos for over a decade, but now they must actively fight to maintain their place. Changing customer tastes, new regulations, competition and technology are all shaping the battlefield and the next wave of consolidation or fragmentation likely lurks just over the horizon.

The true winners in this never-ending battle are the millions of visitors who come to Las Vegas to play under the neon lights each year. The ruthlessly competitive casino industry must continually reinvent itself to attract and wow growing legions of gamblers and tourists who visit every year.

For anyone seeking thrills and making bets, Las Vegas remains undefeated and will likely remain this way for many years to come.

Casinos are powerful drivers in US economic activity netting over $300 billion a year

By Shadrack Kairu

According to a new study by the American Gaming Authority (AGA), the casino gambling industry in the United States now drives nearly $329 billion in total economic activity annually, cementing its status as a pivotal economic anchor across dozens of states nationwide.

The extensive report underscores the gaming industry’s monumental growth, with recent metrics indicating the sector’s aggregate impact has swelled over 26% since 2017. That translates into 1.8 million American jobs underpinned by the industry today, alongside $104 billion in associated wages and benefits. Additionally, $52.7 billion flows into public coffers via taxes applied on elements like casino earnings, supplier sales, and employee incomes.

Breaking down the economic impact of the casino industry in the US

A closer analysis of the sector’s full footprint shows a multiplier effect that goes far beyond proceeds directly won by commercial, tribal, and online casinos. In fact, direct gaming revenues accounted for only 22.5% of the industry’s total $329 billion US economic impact calculated for 2022.

The research also reflects substantial gains registered across critical metrics since the last AGA analysis published in 2018 using 2017 metrics. Over those five years, aggregate economic activity has expanded by 26% fueled especially by swelling employment, capital investments, and tax payments tied to the national gambling ecosystem.

While casino properties themselves remain top contributors, the loosening of gaming laws has paved the way for the emergence of a sprawling industry web including construction companies, tourism bureaus, entertainment firms, restaurants, tech vendors, payment processors and countless other beneficiaries.

For example, when you zoom in on core operations, America’s commercial and tribal casino sectors directly supported around 1.8 million jobs last year. This includes about 700,000 positions within casinos or affiliated hospitality businesses.

Employee wages have notably risen above 2017 levels, totaling $24 billion nationwide during 2022. This showcases how casinos increasingly provide middle-class incomes, especially in smaller cities or rural areas often eager to attract gaming development.

Given ongoing state-led pushes to legalize both retail and online gambling coupled with further post-pandemic recovery anticipated, projections point to America’s gaming sector enlarging its world-leading status over the decade to come.

The industry contributed $52 billion in taxes to the government in 2022

In terms of tax contributions, AGA’s analysis calculates that federal, state and local taxes collected from the gambling industry exceeded $52 billion for 2022. This drastic 29% increase over 2017 levels highlights gambling’s integral fiscal role in bankrolling critical public services countrywide.

As AGA CEO Bill Miller observed regarding the tax windfall, “Think back to where we were a few years ago with nearly 1,000 casinos, almost all of them closed. Today, we’re seeing record revenue in the industry.”

Underscoring this viewpoint, multiple authorities described the sheer magnitude of casino tax infusions and associated job creation as fundamental for myriad municipalities.

“Despite some economic headwinds, casinos remain powerful drivers of economic activity,” explained gambling historian David Schwartz of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He added that climbing annual revenues signal gaming’s enduring popularity amongst Americans from coast to coast.

Likewise, Stockton University Professor Jane Bokunewicz noted that besides tax proceeds, many casinos constitute the largest overall employers within surrounding populations. Through hiring local workers and utilizing regional vendors, such enterprises confer an instrumental economic role where established.

“Casinos are often the largest employers in a region, with major commitments in terms of wages and benefits. People employed by casinos use those wages and benefits to purchase additional goods and services, generating secondary economic impact.”

Stated Bokunewicz

By investing substantially in amenities and area infrastructure whilst providing careers that foster wider spending, casinos frequently catalyze prosperity indirectly. This manifests via revitalized local establishments as employed residents afford more recreation and shops flourish when visitor numbers swell.

As millions countrywide already rely on casino-derived incomes, upgrading regulations to attract further development could thus be prudent for state and city leaders pursuing economic growth.

The casino industry continues to grow exponentially in the US

Historically, the concept of legalized gambling originally took root back in 1931 when Nevada permitted gaming locally before later welcoming the famous casino hub Las Vegas. Over subsequent decades, many other states followed across America.

For example in 1976, New Jersey became the second state to allow commercial betting, including within the now-iconic casino destination Atlantic City. 11 more states gradually followed from 1989 to 2011, authorizing slot machines or full-scale casino gambling venues.

Today, the industry continues to see unprecedented levels of growth as more states acknowledge the potential this industry holds in terms of spurring their local economy. At the same time, more policies are still being introduced to tame issues arising with this growth.

The rise of online casinos

A big part of the growth of the gambling industry today can be attributed to the increasing capabilities of internet-connected mobile devices. As smartphones and tablets enable convenient real-time access to games, once-obscure niches like online bingo and digital lottery services have gone mainstream.

For example, there has been a sharp rise in the number of online sweeps casinos and other forms of social casinos. These platforms enable players to play using virtual coins – usually named Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins. The former holds no monetary value and is meant purely for entertainment purposes, while the latter can sometimes be redeemed for prizes like gift cards or vacations. While not tied to real money, these new platforms allow participants to experience the excitement and engagement of various casino-style games from slots and poker to bingo and keno.

Of course, there has been a lot of debate around whether such platforms should be considered a form of gambling or not from a legal standpoint. Proponents argue that since users don’t wager or win real money, no actual gambling occurs. However, others counter that the games too closely emulate US real money online casinos, potentially serving as a gateway, especially for minors. Lawmakers continue to grapple with appropriately regulating such new internet entertainment spaces. Ultimately though, their rising popularity speaks to humanity’s timeless attraction and embrace of gambling for entertainment.

What does the future hold?

With even more states vying to welcome casino gaming as awareness builds around associated fiscal advantages, projections suggest industry growth reaching a compound annual growth rate of 12% annually moving forward nationwide. Supported by ballooning iGaming as online platforms get regulated progressively, financial experts foresee casinos becoming nearly a $150 billion market by 2030.

The recognition of gaming’s economic potential combined with the increasing digitization that continues to expand access promises an incredibly vibrant future for US gambling interests. Couple this with the growing societal acceptance and you can easily tell that the coming decades point towards increasing integration of gambling into mainstream recreational ecosystems.

Now driving 1.8 million jobs and billions in incomes and taxes, the sector’s sheer scale debunks outdated notions of casinos as magnets for vice. Instead, the country now appears to fully embrace their role in uplifting local economies from coast to coast. As that understanding widens, so too will gaming’s already mammoth $329 billion footprint as casinos morph into mainstream entertainment and catalysts for shared growth.

Tough Love – Five US casinos decline paying out $77K won by underage gamblers

By Shadrack Kairu

Five US casinos and a race track are taking a hard line regarding underage gambling by forfeiting over $77,000 won by prohibited patrons considered underage.

New Jersey state regulators ordered Resorts Casino Hotel, Ocean Casino Resort, Bally’s, Golden Nugget, Harrah’s and Freehold Raceway to surrender the payouts after investigations found underage gamblers had accrued the winnings against the rules.

The casinos placed funds into escrow temporarily allowing gamblers to prove eligibility. But with no one validating the legal gambling age despite waiting periods, authorities designated the violators as banned “prohibited patrons”. Now forfeited monies totaling $77,600 will go towards assisting state programs that help vulnerable groups.

Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City accounted for the highest forfeiture at over $51,000 accrued from cases that took place since 2020. Investigations revealed that banned underage gamblers or those unable to validate legal ages had accrued slot machine payouts playing games illegally.

Ocean Casino, on its part, relinquished $7,500 while Bally’s casino forfeited $5,600. Freehold Raceway harness racing track and sportsbook surrendered $4,400 and lastly, Golden Nugget and Harrah’s gave up $4,200 and $900 respectively and will now fund state programs instead.

Other US Cases Involved Gamblers On Self-Exclusion Lists

Separately, gamblers caught playing after voluntarily placing themselves onto New Jersey’s confidential “self-exclusion list” registry also faced winnings seizures recently.

This database run by gaming officials allows individuals admitting gambling problems to formally ban themselves statewide, requesting removal from mailing lists plus blocked access from online casinos and forfeiture of any prohibited payouts if caught violating terms.

Once listed, casino compliance staff are required to prevent gaming activities by these patrons. However if incidents occur violating agreements, winnings by self-excluded persons still get surrendered as regulations dictate. Exclusion terms at most US real money online casinos span one year, five years or permanent lifetime bans.

Ongoing enforcement by the casino industry

As the issue of underage gambling continues to pose challenges, the American Gaming Association (AGA) and its casino members have pledged to prioritize responsible gambling policies as an integral part of daily operations across the industry. This includes diligent efforts to prevent minors from accessing casinos and gambling opportunities.

The latest AGA code of conduct states that members must communicate legal gambling ages clearly in properties, online casinos, and promotions. Besides, all customer-facing staff must undergo training on procedures for addressing unattended children, underage gaming, and preventing minors from accessing alcohol and tobacco.

If an unattended child is identified in a casino, security personnel take reasonable steps to locate parents on-site or by phone contact. The code emphasizes: “If a child appears unsupervised or in violation of curfews, security or appropriate personnel must be contacted.”

According to Gary Schneider, a decades-long Gamblers Anonymous member, rising numbers of teens are seeking help for severe gambling problems in recent years:

“In the last year, we are seeing more and more 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds, 18, 19, 22, 24 that are coming in with severe gambling disorders,”

Gary Schneider observed.

Experts also warn online access has “exacerbated” gambling addiction risks by enabling instant betting from mobile devices. “It’s very easy to lose tens of thousands of dollars just by picking up your phone,” said Felicia Grondin of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

To tighten the noose even further, some gambling companies including some sweeps casinos are now increasingly integrating machine learning and AI to restrict prohibited groups automatically. This is to ensure forged IDs become virtually useless as biometric facial recognition databases expand preventing underage patrons and banned persons from slipping through cracks.

How Parents Can Get Help Around Underage Gambling

One of the biggest modern challenges for parents has to be navigating new threats like underage gambling addiction. Luckily, there are now plenty of support options for concerned parents and guardians including the following:

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)

As America’s oldest advocacy group solely countering gambling addiction founded in 1972, NCPG uniquely understands this affliction’s strains on families. So they offer parents multi-format help including a 24/7 confidential helpline, live chat services, webinars, video tutorials, extensive prevention literature and training sessions all focused particularly on youth gambling disorders.

Realizing one-size rarely fits all, offerings range from home-based monitoring controls plus bank activity oversight to frank conversations objectively explaining gambling’s balanced risks versus entertainment realities for teenagers today. Specific parental advice also covers appropriately utilizing activity blocking and detailed accounting software, teaching broader balanced financial and money management life skills as well as tips on selecting qualified counsellors or credentialed therapists during early troubling stages.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

Complementing NCPG’s focus on the practical aspect of gambling, AACAP provides more clinical assistance through online education. This is aimed at unveiling warning signs of addiction like peer pressure, undiagnosed impulse control issues or unresolved emotional problems that disproportionately affect minors. Their searchable database connects affected families to local accredited specialists ranging from counsellors and therapists up to child psychologists and board-certified adolescent psychiatrists.

Some of the treatment avenues covered include both outpatient and intensive inpatient programs using evidence-based modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) tailored to counteract root causes behind harmful dependencies like gambling. For parents preferring faith-based approaches, AACAP resources also integrate suitable providers espousing applicable spiritual principles into individualized therapies that promote overall positivity.

Gamblers Anonymous (GA)

For over 65 years, the GA program has helped parents, teenagers and anyone else wanting to confidentially share gambling addiction struggles in order to move forward positively day by day.

Multiple free support meetings occur nationwide both virtually and locally in most regions to provide solidarity plus strength and practical lived experience – all necessary when stopping destructive habits like gambling. Attendees find non-judgement talking through challenges among peers who understand the exact difficulties faced. GA also partners frequently with addiction therapists for supplemental care avenues aiding families as part of customized game plans addressing individual needs.

Children and Screens

The non-profit Children and Screens group offers parents assistance through their “Betting on Our Future” program explicitly focused on emerging Generation Z threats from mushrooming gambling outlets and persuasive marketing messages.

Their interdisciplinary experts including child psychologists continually generate adolescent gambling risk studies quantifying impacts. They also provide parental monitoring controls, balanced youth gambling usage advice in an entertainment context, short educational videos and broader advocacy against unrestrained gambling growth’s behavioural effects on highly impressionable kids.

Therapy Insider

Finally, for parents understandably feeling overwhelmed tackling a newly diagnosed gambling disorder affecting their teenager, Therapy Insider delivers an impartial mental health resource consolidating best available treatment guidance in one place. Their searchable addiction therapist directory assists families in identifying fully-qualified counsellors, psychiatrists and dedicated treatment facilities locally using simple screening tools filtering by exact speciality needs around juvenile gambling alongside independent reviews from verified past clients.

Beyond the therapist finder, their services also incorporate useful educational materials conveniently explaining warning signs of gambling addiction, preventative steps cultivating healthier habits and all-important proactive measures avoiding further destructive dependencies threatening adolescents.

The Road Ahead

For a long time, underage gambling wasn’t given the attention it deserves. But finally, authorities are starting to show seriousness by enforcing regulations and now even seizing winnings from underage gamblers. Tougher policies, biometric screening, and forfeitures send a clear message – exploiting minors for profit won’t be tolerated.

Still more is needed, like ramped-up education on gambling addiction and counselling tailored to increasingly tech-savvy youth. Parents must also stay vigilant in monitoring online activities while instilling balanced perspectives on gambling’s risks. Finally, there’s a need for tighter legislation that caps excessive gambling amongst the society’s most vulnerable.

It’s certainly going to be a struggle, but with the renewed efforts, there’s hope for future generations to gain resilience against the harms that come with gambling addiction.