Industry hauls in $6.18 billion, driven by online play and expanding retail markets
The U.S. commercial gaming sector brought in $6.18 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) this April—a 5.6% increase year-over-year—according to new data from the American Gaming Association (AGA). It marks the industry’s highest-ever total for the month and continues its upward momentum, with 2025’s year-to-date tally reaching $25.11 billion, up 6.2% from last year.
iGaming Takes the Lead
Online casino gaming was the biggest mover, pulling in $870.6 million across seven regulated states—a 32.5% jump from April 2024. Overall online gaming revenue, which includes sports betting, rose 10.9%. The AGA pointed out that most of this growth came from iGaming, while online sports betting inched up just 0.7%.
Sports Betting Steady, Retail Bounces Back
Americans wagered $12.44 billion on sports in April, up 8.9% year-on-year. Combined online and retail sports betting revenue reached $1.16 billion, a 3.4% gain. Retail sportsbooks saw a sharp 128.7% jump compared to last April, outpacing their digital counterparts in growth rate.
Slots Hold Strong, Table Games Dip
Traditional casino games also contributed. Slot machines earned $3.06 billion, up 2.5% from a year earlier. Table games brought in $761.8 million, down 2%. Combined, these channels posted a 1.9% revenue increase to $4.14 billion.
State-by-State Highlights
Nevada maintained its top spot with more than $5 billion in GGR from January through April. Pennsylvania followed with $2.4 billion, then New Jersey ($2.1B) and New York ($1.8B). Of the 37 jurisdictions reporting, 30 posted annual growth.
Emerging markets drove some of the sharpest gains. Nebraska’s GGR soared 154.7%, while D.C. climbed 135%. Sixteen other states recorded double-digit increases.
Still, some states lagged. North Carolina saw a 55% drop in GGR despite launching online sports betting last year. Vermont, after banning individual prop bets, fell 8.4%. Smaller declines hit Indiana (-3.3%), Florida (-1%), and Iowa (-0.3%).
Ten out of 27 states with brick-and-mortar casinos saw revenue dips from slots and table games. Indiana and Rhode Island led those declines, while growth was strongest in newer markets like Virginia, Illinois, and Nebraska.
AGA Launches Responsible Gambling Hub
Alongside April’s record figures, the AGA unveiled its Play Smart Consumer Hub—a new digital platform promoting responsible play.
The hub builds on the “Play Smart from the Start” campaign with new tools like a Pre-Play Checklist and the Responsible Gaming IQ Quiz. These are designed to help players assess emotional and financial readiness before gambling and evaluate their habits.
The platform also features a “Know the Game” section explaining betting odds, house edge, and sports betting terms, as well as links to national and state-level support resources.
For operators, an Industry Toolkit provides messaging templates and marketing materials to integrate safer gambling practices into promotions and customer communications.
National Push for Player Protection
Responsible gambling continues to gain traction nationwide. Massachusetts offers the GameSense program, Pennsylvania mandates training and maintains a self-exclusion list, and New Jersey funds treatment and education through the Council on Compulsive Gambling.
The National Council on Problem Gambling leads national coordination, expanding its self-exclusion network and 1-800-GAMBLER helpline. Meanwhile, the Responsible Online Gaming Association—backed by major operators like BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings—is collaborating with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute on an AI-driven initiative to promote safe play.
