US Gaming Industry Reports Strong October Growth Across Segments

The US commercial gaming industry showed a significant rebound in October 2025, marking a dramatic upswing in revenue which reached an impressive $6.81 billion. This figure reflects a remarkable 17.0% increase from the previous year, indicating a robust recovery from a less dynamic performance in September. The growth was sustained across all three principal sectors of the market: slot machines, table games, and the rapidly expanding iGaming segment. Year-to-date figures through October 2025 also reflect promising trends, standing at $64.30 billion—a robust 8.7% rise compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Specifically, traditional casino gaming revenue saw a notable 5.0% expansion, more than doubling the growth recorded in October 2024, thus setting a new high for the month in the area of brick-and-mortar gaming revenues.

Regional and Sector Analysis Shows Broad Gains

Diving deeper into regional performances, nearly all states experienced an increase in their traditional gaming revenue in October 2025. States such as Illinois, Virginia, and Nebraska captured attention with considerable growth, while New Jersey and Louisiana enjoyed double-digit increases. Slot machine revenues alone rose by 3.7% year-over-year, amounting to $3.10 billion, whereas table games generated $822.5 million, reflecting a 9.5% increase. The appetite for sports betting also remained strong, with no slowdown in the regulated markets' growth, marking the fastest year-over-year handle expansion in over a year, sustained even amidst stable market conditions without the launch of new betting arenas. Additionally, the iGaming sector continued to thrive, reporting $968.7 million in October, a striking 27.3% increase from the preceding year. On a year-to-date basis, iGaming has brought in $8.78 billion, evidencing a powerful 29.4% rise. Notably, in states like Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, online revenues have surpassed those from physical casino sites for both September and October.

Impact on State Finances and Operator Strategies

Gaming taxes proved beneficial to state finances, contributing $1.54 billion in October alone and a cumulative $14.81 billion through the first ten months of 2025. However, states faced financial losses nearing $200 million due to unregulated platforms offering sports betting, which impacted funding allocations for social services and responsible gambling programs. Among the standout performers, New Jersey surfaced as a leader in online gaming, boasting a total gaming revenue of $611.1 million in October 2025, representing a 22% increase from the previous year. With online betting consistently outpacing its land-based counterparts, New Jersey's iGaming brought in $2.39 billion year-to-date. This growth is mirrored in market dynamics where key operators like FanDuel and DraftKings dominate the US sports betting sector, combining to hold about 80% of the market share. FanDuel reported an impressive 29% revenue growth, exceeding $7 billion, while DraftKings forecasts revenues between $6.3 and $6.6 billion, aiming for its inaugural profitable year. iGaming stakeholders, such as BetMGM and Caesars Digital, predict revenues of up to $2.5 billion and $1.5 billion respectively, leveraging technological advancements and marketing strategies to optimise client engagement and market presence. Meanwhile, payment challenges and regulatory constraints necessitate adaptations, with firms increasingly turning to digital wallets, cryptocurrencies, and artificial intelligence to maintain a competitive edge and streamline operations. Source: “Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker”, americangaming.org, December 22, 2025 By GamesAndCasino