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U.S. casinos reported a monthly record $5.31 billion in revenue in March as gamblers streamed back to slots, wheels, and tables, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA).
Players surrendered $819 million to slot machines alone during the period, the AGA noted.
The first quarter’s revenue also set a record, with gamblers losing a net $14.31 billion.
The figures do not include revenue collected by Native American gambling houses.
In 2020, the COVID War shrank casinos’ revenue to $30 billion for the year, a 31-percent plunge from 2019 to the lowest amount since 2003, the AGA said.
The next year, casinos took in $53.03 billion, surpassing the record revenue booked in 2019.
Now, with restrictions fully lifted and demand rocketing up for entertainment and travel, gamblers are venting pent-up demand, The Wall Street Journal noted.
The rise in air fare, restaurant prices, and other costs of travel have so far not deterred people from visiting gaming sites such as Atlantic City and Las Vegas, the WSJ said.
In Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International doubled its first-quarter casino revenue to $475 million, year on year; Wynn Resorts saw a 55.5-percent increase, collecting $124.3 million.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Food prices are rising by the day and gasoline prices are setting records, but people always have money to gamble and buy junk food . . . it is the way of the world.