STATESIDE Stateside
The AGA’s State of the State report is out, and it makes for happy reading, says Sharon Harris.
I
t’s out and the news is fantastic. Every year, I eagerly anticipate the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) annual ‘State of the State’ analysis for the prior year. The 2017 report examined the 24 US commercial gaming states, which reached a record $40 billion and
increased over 2016 by 3.4 per cent. Although not scrutinized by the AGA, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) reported that more than 500 tribal gaming facilities across America hit a record $32.4 billion in 2017, up 3.9 percent from 2016. The same underlying public trends drove tribal gaming to its successes. These phenomenal gaming totals excluded lotteries,
racetracks without gaming equipment and tribal casinos. Smaller individual amusement operators’ routes in taverns and truck stops were also omitted. Ten states did not operate commercial or tribal gaming, but conducted other forms. Hawaii and Utah have no gaming options. State and local governments everywhere should be happy. The $9.23 billion in direct commercial gaming taxes also showed increased employment. The report always came beautifully printed, but the AGA
has saved printing costs by posting it online. For lovers of statistics and data, the report reveals much and proves multiple facts. For the most part, regulated gaming provided amazing economic and job opportunities in all types of communities. Today’s sophisticated public demands modern, appealing facilities in competitive markets. I know…I live in one of them. New York State opened three commercial properties housing thousands of new slot machines. Kansas debuted a commercial casino and numerous properties nationwide began or completed major renovations or expansions. Into 2019, Massachusetts will become a major New England player. The $960 million MGM Springfield resort casino hotel opened August 24th to huge customer traffic the first week. According to MGM executives, daily visitor counts reached 50,000 that weekend and 25,000 visitors on weekdays, surpassing their estimated 15,000 to 20,000 guests. Across Massachusetts, north of Boston, Wynn Resorts will
8 OCTOBER 2018
open its $2.5 billion Encore Boston Harbor in Everett next year. Encore sits on a reclaimed 33-acre industrial site. This would have been impossible a few years ago in
Massachusetts, but positive public policy changes transformed everything. Also, Pennsylvania’s broad new gaming expansion authorized Internet gaming, ten smaller satellite casino properties and sports betting ahead of the Supreme Court’s May 2018 decision. Key regulatory changes also motivated Maryland, Nevada,
New Jersey, Louisiana and Oklahoma to develop multipurpose reforms. They adopted new technologies, reinforced their states’ casinos’ competitive advantage or eliminated obsolete restrictions. Although the industry cheered this massive favorable
news, it also came with a warning against market saturation. New York State and Maryland both enjoyed unprecedented revenue totals statewide from 2016 to 2017, but also suffered revenues decreased among individual casinos. Growing competition within each state, plus legalized gaming from neighboring border states, eroded their profits. For sure, MGM Springfield and Encore will add to competition within New England, mostly impacting Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Connecticut. Further south, Atlantic City’s new Hard Rock and Ocean casinos will compete with the existing Atlantic City properties. To counteract this prospect, the smart planners in New
Jersey have been ahead of the curve on Internet gaming and now sports betting for years. Chris Grove, managing director of sports and emerging verticals at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, claims Nevada may provide a blueprint for New Jersey’s bright sports betting future. When football season begins in late summer, Nevada’s
sports betting action jumps about 150% from August to September. With New Jersey’s own population and proximity to tens of millions, Grove believes totals could reach $250 million in wagers during September. That would be a huge jump from almost $100 million in August. Analysts predict that New Jersey’s casinos and racetrack
slots could expand within a year to almost 30. The maximum would ultimately top out at 42 online sports book brands. When lawmakers designed New Jersey’s sports betting
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