Current Casino Market Market Projections from leading market research firms and industry analysts point towards a future of continued recovery, strategic evolution, and a significant geographic rebalancing of the global gaming landscape. The core of all projections is the continued, strong rebound of the land-based casino sector from the impacts of the global pandemic. Projections indicate a powerful resurgence in both domestic and international travel, which will directly benefit the major destination resort markets like Las Vegas and Macau. A key element of these projections is the strong performance of the mass-market and premium-mass segments, which are proving to be more resilient and profitable than the historically volatile VIP/junket segment, particularly in Macau. Projections for the US market remain exceptionally strong, driven by robust consumer demand and the expansion of gaming into new states. The overall projection is one of a return to, and in many cases, a surpassing of, pre-pandemic revenue levels, driven by the enduring appeal of the integrated resort experience.

Another crucial element of the current market projections is the profound and accelerating convergence between the land-based casino industry and the rapidly growing world of online gambling (iGaming) and sports betting. The future of the casino industry is omni-channel. Projections show that the most successful casino operators will be those that can create a seamless, integrated experience that connects their physical properties with their digital offerings. This involves creating a single loyalty program and a single digital wallet that a customer can use both on the casino floor and on their mobile betting app. The projections indicate that the legalization and rapid growth of online sports betting and iGaming, particularly in North America, is not a threat to the land-based casino, but a massive opportunity. It allows the casino brands to engage with their customers 24/7, to cross-promote their properties to a massive online audience, and to create a powerful and sticky ecosystem that drives loyalty and increases the total lifetime value of a customer.

From a development perspective, the market projections highlight a continued focus on the creation of large-scale, iconic integrated resorts as the primary engine of new market growth. The projections are centered on a few key, high-potential development opportunities. The development of the first integrated resorts in Japan is the most anticipated event in the industry, with projections for it to become one of the top three gaming markets in the world. The potential for new integrated resorts in major global cities like New York City and in emerging markets like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand are other major projects that feature prominently in the long-term outlook. The projections also indicate a continued trend towards diversification within these new resorts, with an even greater emphasis on non-gaming attractions, such as theme parks, world-class entertainment venues, and massive MICE facilities, to appeal to a broader range of visitors and to comply with the development goals of the host governments.