Overall Balance Sheet Health, Access to Credit Continue to Improve 

In the face of slowing revenue expansion, gaming industry leaders continue to hold an overall positive view of the current business situation, with a notable improvement in credit conditions, according to the latest American Gaming Association (AGA) Gaming Industry Outlook.

The majority of respondents (88%) view the current state of the gaming industry as either good or satisfactory. Meanwhile, executives have a more conservative outlook on future business conditions, with respondents split on whether they expect conditions to improve over the next three-to-six months (3% net positive) and many expecting a decrease in customer activity (28% net negative).

“After years of very strong consumer gaming spending growth, expectations around customer activity over the next three to six months have cooled considerably,” said AGA Vice President of Research David Forman. “Still, gaming businesses remain well positioned, with executives touting strong balance sheets and more viewing access to credit as easy than restrictive for the first time in two years.”

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Gaming Executive Panel

Since Q1, gaming executives’ sentiment has shifted, with a greater number of respondents now expecting a decline in customer activity over the next three to six months (28% net negative, up from 4% net negative in Q1). Despite this, panelists foresee improvements in overall balance sheet health (34% net positive).

Additionally, more executives reported access to credit as easy (19%) rather than restrictive (3%) for the first time in two years, and fewer cite interest rates as a major limiting factor than in the spring.

Hotel (56%) and food and beverage facilities (56%) continue to be the main and growing focus of capital investment among operators, followed by live entertainment (28%) and casino floor slots (22%).

Meanwhile, gaming equipment suppliers now believe their pace of capital investment and game sales will decelerate (13% net negative).

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These expectations are impacted by evolving macroeconomic challenges, with uncertainty of the economic environment vaulting to the top of executive concerns (56%, up from 34% in Q1), followed by state regulatory concerns (31%), and inflationary or interest rate concerns and geopolitical risk (both 34%).

The Current Conditions Index 

The Current Conditions Index for Q3 2024 was 97.3, which is consistent with real annualized contraction of 2.7 percent. The Current Conditions Index measures real economic activity in the industry, as measured by gaming revenue, employment and employee wages and salaries.

The Future Conditions Index 

The Future Conditions Index, a leading indicator of changes in industry conditions, measured 98.9 in Q3. This indicates an environment in which real economic activity in the gaming sector, after controlling for underlying inflation, is expected to moderately decrease over the next six months (1.1% annualized rate).

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NIGC Compliance Officer Jo’Elle Thompson was inducted into the Emerging Leaders of Gaming (ELG) “40 Under 40” Class of 2025.

The ELG “40 Under 40,” designed by The Innovation Group (TIG) in collaboration with Global Gaming Business magazine, recognizes the significant contributions that gaming professionals under the age of 40 have made to the casino gaming industry. Recipients of this award are not only being honored for their achievements, but also paving the way for the next generation of innovators and leaders in the gaming industry.

“At the NIGC, we take pride in our dynamic workforce who work tirelessly to carry out our mission and support our partner tribal gaming regulators and operators. We are fortunate to have some of the most talented and dedicated individuals who work diligently to uphold the integrity of Indian gaming and ensure it remains sustainable for the future. Jo’Elle is a testament to that,” said NIGC Chief of Staff Dustin Thomas.

“Jo’Elle possesses a passion for the gaming industry, especially for Indian gaming, to succeed and continue to prosper while protecting its integrity to benefit future generations,” said NIGC Washington, D.C. Region Director Shawnna Castellano.

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Thompson is a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel announced the opening of the Aristocrat Gaming Lounge, a cutting-edge gaming area showcasing some of the most popular slot games by Aristocrat Gaming. The lounge is conveniently located near to the hotel lobby, offering easy access for guests.

The Aristocrat Gaming Lounge houses 32 popular game titles by Aristocrat Gaming including fan favorites like Dragon Link, Buffalo, Mo’ Mummy, Whisker Wheels, and more. The new lounge will provide an engaging and entertaining atmosphere for all types of players, whether they prefer the thrill of familiar games or the excitement of trying something new.

“The Aristocrat Gaming Lounge is a fantastic addition to FireKeepers, and we are excited to bring this top-tier gaming experience to our guests. We’ve carefully curated a collection of machines that will appeal to both seasoned players and newcomers alike, and we’re looking forward to seeing our guests enjoy this exclusive gaming space,” said Steven Senk, VP of Gaming Operations at FireKeepers Casino Hotel.

“We pride ourselves in creating entertaining games that invite players to step into a world of fun. The creation of the Aristocrat Gaming Lounge has truly been a collaborative effort with the FireKeepers team, and we look forward to seeing player excitement when they see all their favorite games in one centralized area,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer for Aristocrat Gaming.

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