100314_G2E Econ press conference_300Commercial casinos within the United States generated a record-breaking $38.98 billion in combined 2013 gaming revenue, a 4.4 percent increase over the $37.34 billion the industry compiled in 2012, according to a study from the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Oxford Economics released at Global gaming Expo (G2E), which was held this past week in Las Vegas.

The previous high-water revenue mark for the commercial casino industry was the $37.52 billion it generated in 2007, according to the 2013 State of the States report from the AGA.

The new study, entitled Economic Impact of the US Gaming Industry, also reported that commercial casinos created $11.85 billion in non-gaming revenues to create a total commercial casino revenue figure of $50.83 billion. The study also examined Native American casino properties, determining they generated a combined $28.03 billion and $2.23 billion in gaming and non-gaming revenue respectively, for a total casino revenue figure of $30.26 billion.

Looked at as a whole, the U.S. casino industry produced $81.10 billion in total casino revenue last year, according to the study.

The report also determined the domestic gaming industry:

• Supports more than 1.7 million jobs and $74 billion in income;

• Generates a total of $38 billion in annual tax revenue; and

• Contributes $240 billion to the U.S. economy.

“We’ve known for a long time that our industry’s contributions have gone underestimated, but those numbers are even bigger than we anticipated,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA in a prepared statement. “Gaming is driving big results in hundreds of American communities.”

A complete version of the Economic Impact of the US Gaming Industry can be found on the AGA website at www.americangaming.org.