According to Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association, the focus on entertainment combined with gambling has shifted over the last decade. The recent growth of sports betting has also influenced this trend. As a result, the casino industry is increasingly appealing to a younger audience.
Milner highlighted some industry trends during a keynote address at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas. The demographics in the gaming industry have been changed by the changes in the industry. Over the last few years, it has also led to some growth.
He noted that a decade ago, the gaming industry was trying to understand why it wasn’t attracting younger generations. The mantra back then was, “Well, we’ll get them when they’re 50.” That’s changing.
According to Miller, the end of COVID pandemic also played a role in seeing younger people heading to casinos after avoiding social interaction for months. The average age of a casino visitor in 2019 was 50, and that age is now 42, as pointed out by Miller.
He said that this is a huge shift for the industry, and it’s one that we need to keep driving, to stay on the growth trajectory. Post pandemic, they are continuing to capture younger adults through innovation such as fast growing mobile and online platforms.
In recent years, online gambling has seen record numbers. That gaming segment has attracted even younger players with an average age of 34. An omni-channel approach combining live experiences and online gaming and sports betting has paid dividends for the industry.
He also mentioned that the retail industry has pursued an omni-channel approach for years. This strategy combines physical stores with digital platforms to create a seamless customer experience. Millennials and Gen Zers now expect this kind of integrated experience, and the industry is rising to meet those expectations.
