US sports betting jumps 73% in Q4 as GGR breaks $1bn barrier

US sports betting gross gambling revenue (GGR) jumped 73.2% year on year in Q4 2021 to $1.51bn, according to latest data from the American Gaming Association (AGA).

This $1.51bn figure is up a whopping 294% from the same period in 2019.

Igaming GGR also rose by triple digits year on year during Q4, skyrocketing 124.4% to shatter the $1bn barrier for the first time and up 540% from Q4 2019.

Total US Q4 2021 GGR, inclusive of revenue generated from igaming, sports betting, slots, and table games amounted to $14.31bn, up by almost 58% on the total figure recorded during 2020.

At a full year 2021 level, total GGR generated from the combined US gambling industry amounted to $53bn, up 76.7% year on year.

This figure includes $4.29bn of sports betting revenue, up 177.1% on 2020 and $3.71bn of igaming GGR, a total which rose by 139% on the previous 12-month figure.

The market for legalized sports betting in the US accelerated in 2021 as Americans wagered a record $57.22bn with commercial sportsbooks, a 164.8% increase from 2020.

AGA president and CEO Bill Miller expressed his amazement at the bumper figures, coming as they did despite the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic being brought to bear on the US land-based market.

“These results are nothing short of remarkable,” Miller said.

“The success of 2021 reflects our commitment to health and safety and how Americans have welcomed gaming’s expansion across the country. Today’s industry is effectively meeting customers how and where they want to engage – whether at a casino or through mobile gaming,” he added.

Sounding a note of caution on the need for speedy relaxations to Covid-19 restrictions, Miller continued: “Despite our record-setting year, gaming’s total recovery is still reliant on the full return of travel and large events, which requires a safe health environment and open economy.”

“I’m optimistic that we will see continued growth throughout 2022,” the AGA president and CEO added.