The first two months of 2022 started off in an excellent way for the US commercial casino market.
In a report issued by the lobby group for the industry, the American Gaming Association, the 460 or so commercial casinos in the country saw $8.92 billion in combined gross gaming revenues in January and February 2022.
The numbers incorporate both in-person and online casino games and sports betting options when offered by casinos.
Only five states in total got off to a slower start to the year when compared to the same period last year. These were Oklahoma, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Kansas and Louisiana.
The numbers are particularly good considering that the casino continues to recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many casinos saw months of closures due to lockdowns, while others were impacted by social distancing regulations and limitations on the number of guests allowed in indoor spaces.
“This record start to the year demonstrates the sustained momentum of our industry’s recovery into 2022,” said the president and chief executive officer for the American Gaming Association, Bill Miller. “While it remains to be seen if we’ll match last year’s all-time high, it’s clear that Americans are continuing to make gaming a first-choice entertainment .”