Big News Network.com Saturday 29th May, 2004
Nearly half of Americans bought a lottery ticket last year, making lotteries the most popular form of gambling, followed by casinos and sports betting.
Betting in America is more popular than ever with gamblers averaging 5.8 trips to casinos in 2003, according the American Gaming Association.
Some 53.4 million visitors made 310 million trips to casinos providing jobs for 352,428 workers who earned nearly $12 billion in wages, benefits and tips.
The 443 non-tribal casinos in 11 states had combined gross revenues of over $27 billion -- more money than was spent going to the movies, theme parks and on videos and DVDs combined last year. Casinos paid more than $4.3 billion in direct gaming taxes to state and local government.
What these numbers signify is that even when the country is facing an extended period of economic uncertainty, Americans will set aside a portion of their disposable income for fun and entertainment, said AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.
Nearly half of Americans bought a lottery ticket last year, making lotteries the most popular form of gambling, followed by casinos and sports betting.
Betting in America is more popular than ever with gamblers averaging 5.8 trips to casinos in 2003, according the American Gaming Association.
Some 53.4 million visitors made 310 million trips to casinos providing jobs for 352,428 workers who earned nearly $12 billion in wages, benefits and tips.
The 443 non-tribal casinos in 11 states had combined gross revenues of over $27 billion -- more money than was spent going to the movies, theme parks and on videos and DVDs combined last year. Casinos paid more than $4.3 billion in direct gaming taxes to state and local government.
What these numbers signify is that even when the country is facing an extended period of economic uncertainty, Americans will set aside a portion of their disposable income for fun and entertainment, said AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.
