U.S. commercial casinos wrapped 2025 on a serious hot streak, pulling in roughly $78.6 billion as sports betting and online gambling surged across the map. From the Las Vegas Strip to Atlantic City and New York City, operators rode a wave of action that fattened tax coffers and gave local economies a fresh jolt.
The annual State of the States report from the American Gaming Association pegs commercial gaming revenue at $78.62 billion in 2025, a 9.1% jump from 2024. Sports betting alone climbed to about $16.9 billion and internet gaming to roughly $10.7 billion. Operators also kicked in a record $17.86 billion in direct gaming taxes. “These results are especially meaningful given the economic uncertainty that characterized much of 2025,” AGA President Bill Miller said in the report.
Top markets and trophy casinos
The Las Vegas Strip held on to its crown, booking about $8.64 billion in gaming wins for the year. Atlantic City’s nine casinos collectively reported roughly $2.89 billion. Outside Nevada and Mississippi, Resorts World New York City again ranked as the country’s top-grossing commercial facility, and Atlantic City’s Borgata posted about $800.8 million in total casino win in 2025, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
Online betting reshapes the field
Online casino play was the industry’s rocket ship. The AGA estimates national iGaming revenue at $10.73 billion in 2025, a 27.6% leap that pushed online totals ahead of brick-and-mortar receipts in some states. Pennsylvania featured prominently in the AGA’s analysis as a major iGaming leader, although the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s own year-end report lists a lower 2025 total for the state’s internet casino revenue. That gap comes down to different reporting windows and methodology, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Taxes, regulators and illegal operators
The record haul translated into bigger tax receipts even as regulators spent more time swatting at the shadows of the unlicensed market. State and tribal authorities rolled out enforcement actions in 2025, and several legislatures moved to outlaw sweepstakes-style platforms and certain prediction markets. The trend, detailed by industry reporting from InfoPlay, reflects growing concern that illegal and unregulated sites are siphoning bets from licensed casinos and sportsbooks.
Local implications and what’s next
For cities that host casinos, the boom is a double-edged jackpot. Atlantic City’s year-end filings show the sector delivering roughly $1.0 billion in gross revenue taxes and distributions in 2025, underscoring how deeply local budgets rely on gaming performance, according to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement…