Casinos and Casino Hotels

Employment in gaming services occupations is expected to show little or no change through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The popularity of gaming establishments will create some demand for gaming workers. More states are seeking to take advantage of the tax and tourism revenue generated by casinos and are considering licensing new casinos or allowing other forms of gambling. In 2023, U.S. casinos and the makers of games found inside casinos employed nearly 1.8 million people and contributed more than $328 billion to the U.S. economy, including nearly $53 billion in tax revenues to local, state, and federal governments and tribal revenue share, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). Public opinion regarding the ethics of gambling, as well as its importance to the U.S. economy, is also changing. In 2023, approximately 88 percent of Americans viewed casino gaming as acceptable for themselves or others, and 71 percent think the gaming industry has a positive impact on the U.S. economy, according to the AGA.

Non-gaming revenue has become an important part of the casino industry’s bottom line. An AGA report found that about a quarter of casino visitors “never” or “rarely” gamble in casinos. Many casinos now offer a wide range of non-gaming amenities such as fine dining, retail shopping, theater-style shows, golf courses, and spas. Others have state-of-the-art convention centers and meeting facilities to attract business clients.

Revenue in the casino industry will experience strong growth if interstate online gambling is ever legalized. However, the likelihood of this occurring still remains unclear in 2024. A U.S. Justice Department decision to broaden the federal U.S. Wire Act's prohibition on Internet gambling presented a setback to the industry. A January 2019 Bloomberg article explained: "While the federal law specifically prohibits transmission of wagers and related information across state lines, the Justice Department's new interpretation will impact all online gambling because as a practical matter it's difficult to guarantee that no payments are routed through other states." Court challenges to the Justice Department decision were likely.

The employment outlook for casino industry workers varies depending on the job, but overall the employment outlook is for little or no growth in the next few years. According to the Department of Labor, supervisors and gaming managers will experience a 3 percent increase through 2032. Gaming dealers will have 1 percent job growth through 2032, while gaming and sports book writers and runners will experience a slight decline. Competition is expected to be fierce for all jobs, and the best prospects will exist for employees with experience in customer service or hotels.

The mean annual earnings for workers at casino hotels in 2023 was $29,390, according to the DOL. It reports the following mean annual salaries for casino hotel workers in May 2023 gaming managers, $82,380; gaming supervisors, $61,210; gaming and sports book writers and runners, $29,170; gaming dealers, $32,240; and all other gaming service workers, $32,710.

The coronavirus pandemic negatively affected the global market for gambling. Casinos and hotels that catered to gambling closed due to social restrictions, disrupting not only the business of the establishment but the livelihood of employees at all levels. Casinos relying on in-person gamblers suffered great losses during the early stages of the pandemic as did their related hospitality businesses. In regions where online gambling is legal, the digital gambling industry increased advertising and experienced higher-than-usual usage.

The global commercial casino and online gambling industry had reached $227 billion by mid-2020, as reported by Statista. The gambling and entertainment capital has, for years, been the leading gambling and entertainment center in the U.S. Since 2006, Macao has grown to become the largest casino market in the world, with some of its casino resorts operated by Las Vegas Sands. Post-pandemic, the economy has strengthened and the global casino industry was expected to reach $224.1 billion by 2030, growing from an estimated $163.6 billion in 2023, according to MarketWatch. This growth will be attributed to the increase in consumer spending on discretionary activities, such as gambling and vacations, and the expansion of legalized gambling in the United States and Asia. A growing number of traditional casinos are also introducing e-sports and digital bettor platforms, increasing their revenue streams and attracting new customers. IBISWorld reported that in 2023, the market size of the U.S. casino hotels industry was valued at $78.6 billion, with 375 businesses employing 613,000 people.