Picture the world of high-profile gambling in the most exclusive casinos on earth and your mind is immediately taken to the pounding heart of Las Vegas. Thanks in no small part to popular culture, US casinos (and by extension US gambling in general) are pretty much iconic on a global basis.
As online casino gaming continues its meteoric growth in popularity, the number of people gambling in one way or another is at an all-time high. Across much of the world, millions who would previously have taken no real interest in gambling are now spending their time and their money playing at online casinos.
But what’s interesting is the way in which gambling habits, preferences and spending patterns differ significantly from one region and country to the next. The US gambling scene isn’t the biggest or most lucrative in the world but is nonetheless a major player.
Given the fact that gambling (online and offline) remains illegal in a few states, this is a pretty impressive achievement to say the least.
Online Gambling Statistics: The Global Picture
According to the most recent estimates, approximately 26% of people say that they take part in gambling activities on a regular basis. This would therefore mean that 1.6 billion people across the globe enjoy regular gambling in one form or another.
Even more remarkable, up to 4.2 billion people gamble at least once in the course of each year. It’s worth remembering that things like sports betting, lotteries, bingo and so on all count towards this tally – it isn’t exclusively about online and offline casino gaming.
Speaking of which, the popularity of online casino gaming is accelerating at its fastest ever pace. According to a recent study carried out in the UK, 17% of the entire adult population worldwide now gambles online.
Interestingly, the United States remains somewhat behind the curve where online gambling is concerned. A poll conducted a few years ago suggested that just 3% of people who gamble regularly do so online. This is likely to have increased significantly between then and now, though is still a comparatively small share of the gambling market considering the rapid evolution of the online gaming landscape.
Which Are the Top Gambling Centers in the World?
When taking into account all aspects of the industry as a whole, there are five countries that routinely top the table in terms of total annual gambling revenues and the combined value of the sector.
The five top-performing gambling countries in the world as of right now are as follows:
- Macau – despite the fact that it is illegal to gamble in mainland China, Macau remains the world’s number-one gambling center – contributing a massive 50% of the city’s total annual revenues.
- United States – North America’s gambling industry has created approximately 1.8 million jobs and has an estimated collective value in excess of $261 billion.
- United Kingdom – small in size, the UK nonetheless has a massive gambling industry that pulls in more than £15 billion – up to a third of all Brits gamble every week.
- Australia – gambling is something of a national obsession in Australia, with as much as 80% of the adult population gambling on a regular basis.
- Canada – liberal attitudes to gambling in Canada have fueled the development of an enormous sector, valued in excess of $17.3 billion each year.
A Closer Look at the United States
It has a tendency to be a confusing picture in the US, given how online gambling is still illegal in most states. Meanwhile, traditional casino gambling is legal across much of the US, though often within specific territories only (such as tribal reserves).
Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada lead the charge where online gambling is concerned, having legalized online casino gaming as far back as 2013. TopDogCasinos.com is one of the best places to head to find top-rated and reputable US casinos that are legal to access in your jurisdiction.
In terms of profits, it comes as no surprise to learn that Nevada collects the biggest annual revenues of all. On average, the US collects total combined gambling revenues of around $160 billion each year, which is expected to burst beyond the $200 billion as the growth in online casino popularity continues.
Though ultimately, state regulators will determine the immediate and long-term future of the sector, holding the power of legalization (or otherwise) in their hands.
