Page 8 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2022

Best year on record for Gulf Coast casinos
By David Grisham
MISSISSIPPI — Casinos in Mississippi provided the escape many were looking for in 2021 judging by the final tally of gross gaming revenue for the year. Statewide, revenue at casinos in the Magnolia State was the best since 2006, due in large part to record-breaking numbers enjoyed by Gulf Coast casinos.
The $1,608,201,421 gross gaming revenue generated by casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2021 made it the best year on record for
the region, and 49% better than the prior year; a year heavily impacted by the onset of the pandemic. Remarkably, it was only 3.2% away from being the best year ever
the issues that impact the health of the gaming market so they can partner with the industry in facing the challenges of an ever-changing economic environment.
Larry Gregory, executive
director of the Mississippi
Gaming & Hospitality Association, explained, “The annual report is very important not only to our industry, but to our state. It is
a comprehensive report on the activity of our gaming industry from the preceding year. The significance is to show public officials and citizens the many contributions our
Casinos nationwide set revenue record
LAS VEGAS — While Mississippi casinos experienced big revenue gains in 2021 and set a record on the Gulf Coast, a big year was had by casinos across the country
– a record year, in fact. 2021 set a new record as the highest-grossing year ever
for the U.S. commercial gaming industry, reaching $53 billion in revenue, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracer.
The total breaks 2019’s previous industry record of $43.65 billion by more than 21 percent.
The industry closed the year on a high note, setting an all-time quarterly revenue record in Q4 2021 of $14.31 billion, surpassing the previous high-water mark of $13.93 billion set in Q3 2021.
“These results are nothing short of remarkable,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “The success of 2021 reflects our commitment to health and safety and how Americans have welcomed gaming’s expansion across the country. Today’s industry is effectively meeting customers how and where they want to engage— whether at a casino or through mobile gaming.”
Of the 34 operational commercial gaming jurisdictions in 2021—including four new markets—23 set individual records for full-year commercial gaming revenue. On
a national level, every commercial gaming vertical set new annual revenue records.
Traditional brick-and-mortar gaming led the industry’s recovery, with 2021 combined slot and table gaming revenue totaling $44.94 billion, a 6.6 percent increase over 2019’s previous record.
Sports betting’s growth accelerated in 2021, generating $57.22 billion in handle and $4.29 billion in revenue—jumps of 165 percent and 177 percent over 2020 respectively. The sector’s all-time high was powered by strong demand in established markets like Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and further boosted by the launch of seven new commercial sports betting markets in Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming.
for any region. Only
river casino revenue
in 2006, a year that
saw Gulf Coast casino
traffic migrate north
after Katrina, was
greater. While river casinos didn’t break records last year, they did have some good news to report. Bringing in $1,062,359,093 in 2021, river casinos’ revenue mark was the best since 2013, and 48% better than the prior year.
The glowing 2021 numbers statewide are part of a new, comprehensive State of the Industry Annual Report from the Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association (MGHA). The report looks at gaming’s economic impact on the state, milestones and highlights from last year, updates on gaming developments in surrounding states that could impact the gaming industry here, visitation trends and much more.
The MGHA annual report is
not only informative, it serves as
a reminder to public officials and others about the importance of the gaming industry in generating jobs, tax revenue and tourism dollars. It helps decision makers understand
industry gives back. This includes, jobs, charity, tax dollars, and driving tourism. We want to be transparent in everything we do and the annual report lays out all of the significant facts for everyone to see.”
The ability to adapt and rise to meet challenges has served the Mississippi gaming industry well, as
8MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS WINTER 2022
Larry Gregory
evidenced by the information in the annual report. Gregory said the performance of the state’s casinos last year is the latest testament to the leadership of gaming industry members and their partners.
Gregory talked about the performance of casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “Our Mississippi casinos are setting records with record-breaking gaming numbers. Much of this
can be attributed to Mississippi being a drive-in market coupled
with guests having confidence in our ability to have safe facilities for their entertainment,” said Gregory. “During the pandemic, many
places were closed, so having our casinos and restaurants opened for business attracted more guests. Our guests have come to know that our state is a resort destination. Mississippi offers the beaches, food, golf, blues, hospitality and its people.”
Looking behind the revenue