US Commercial and Tribal Gaming Generated $109B in 2023

The inaugural craps roll at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa took place in December 2023. Revenues are growing as are the diversity of gaming and entertainment options at tribal casinos. (Image: Tampa Bay Times/Zuma Press Wire)

The National Indian Gaming Commission released its fiscal 2023 gross gaming revenue numbers on Thursday, reporting $41.9 billion in GGR, a 2.4% increase over the previous record-setting year. When combined with non-tribal commercial gaming numbers tracked by the American Gaming Association, the figure puts revenues generated from licensed and regulated American casinos at $108.9 billion. 

This number represents a 7.1% increase over 2022’s previous all-time high of $101.3 billion, according to the AGA.

Significant Tribal Gaming Growth

Acting NIGC Chairwoman Sharon Avery announced the tribal numbers at the Wisconsin Gaming Regulators Association Summer Conference in Green Bay.  

“This year’s GGR results demonstrate how a strong regulatory framework and diversity of tribal gaming enterprises generates growth in the gaming industry,” Avery said. “Tribal gaming operators and regulators have proven that their ingenuity and tenacity are catalysts for growth, even in the face of an ever-changing gaming landscape.”

Avery noted that all eight NIGC regions showed growth in gaming revenue, showing the viability of tribal casinos across the US as technology advances and casino customer preferences evolve. 

You can read the NIGC’s full 2023 report here. 

New Games in Play

NIGC officials explained how new offerings at tribal casinos contribute to the overall growth in the American gaming landscape. 

“Changes in Tribal-State compacts that expand legal games to play have the potential to diversify casino offerings,” an NIGC spokesperson told Casinos.com. “This provides more enticement to play and can subsequently have a positive impact on revenues.” 

The spokesperson noted that the NIGC does not include data on revenues from non-gaming enterprises, such as restaurants, theaters or concert venues, nor does it break out revenue by game for the purpose of reporting the GGR. 

However, “anecdotally, we’ve seen growth in sportsbooks in the states where such play is allowed by state compacts,” she said.

Gross gaming revenue is based on the amount wagered minus winnings returned to players. This number reflects earnings before salaries, tribal-state compact fees, commercial taxes, and other operating expenses are deducted.

Early indicators for this year suggest the positive growth trajectory for American casinos is continuing. The AGA two weeks ago noted that commercial gaming revenue from January to April 2024 totaled $23.7 billion, a 6.5 percent increase over last year’s record pace.

Sports betting and igaming showed the most significant growth, with traditional casino GGR for commercial operators more flat, up only 0.2%.

Tribal additions to these 2024 numbers will be available at a later date.