Gambling Operations

The US gambling, or gaming, industry consists of about 500 casinos, about 400 Indian casinos and bingo halls, and about 280 hotel casinos with combined annual revenue around $90 billion. Companies with large casino operations include MGM MIRAGE, Harrah’s Entertainment, and Foxwoods Resort Casino. About $35 billion of annual revenue is taken in by commercial casinos, $25 billion by Indian casinos, another $25 billion by state lotteries, and the rest by horse racing, bingo, charities, and bookmaking. (For gambling companies, "revenue" is the total amount bet minus winnings paid to gamblers.) Most casinos are small, limited by the size of the surrounding population. The industry is concentrated: the top 20 gaming companies hold more than 60 percent of the market. The casino hotel market is even more concentrated, with the top 20 firms holding 75 percent of the market.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Growth in consumer income and state spending has driven expansion of the US gambling industry. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and effective marketing. Large operators have the financial resources to make large investments in facilities and efficient computer operations, and have cross-marketing opportunities. Small gambling facilities can thrive by catering to local residents, who may not be able to afford travel to gambling centers such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Gaming operators mainly provide a place or a means to play games of chance, where the odds of ...