Following on from the launch yesterday of its Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has put some of the headline figures and the wider results into context via a statement from President and CEO Bill Miller.
Setting out the rationale behind the tracker initiative, Miller wrote: “In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the AGA has focused on building internal capabilities and new resources that provide value to our members and the broader gaming industry. Part of this effort has been investing in our in-house industry data collection capability and I’m pleased to share the first quarterly update on the financial performance of the commercial gaming sector.”
The Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker features state-by-state and cumulative financial performance data with breakdowns for individual gaming verticals, including brick-and-mortar slot and table games, retail and online sports betting, and igaming.
The update uses monthly state revenue reports to provide a national picture of the commercial gaming industry. The inherent lag of these publicly available reports means that, for example, complete revenue data for the July reporting period will be available by late-August.
While the content of the first report makes for difficult reading, Miller attempted to add some balance and context, saying: “While the Q2 2020 headline reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I remain optimistic for our industry’s reopening and recovery. The 850 commercial and tribal casinos open have demonstrated how our culture of compliance, commitment to communities, and strong health and safety measures make us well-positioned to adapt to today’s reality.
“I am also encouraged by continued reports of consumer demand and sports betting’s resurgence with the recent return of the MLB, NBA, and NHL. The AGA is steadfast in our commitment to guiding gaming through this turbulent time.
“As our industry reopens its doors and welcomes patrons and colleagues back, the AGA will provide monthly commercial gaming revenue updates on our website and make our complete data set available to members upon request.”