US commercial gross gaming revenue (GGR) increased for the sixth consecutive month in October to $3.38bn, primarily due to growth within both the igaming and sports wagering sectors.
Total GGR for the month amounted to $3.38bn in October, which was 7.0% lower than in the same month last year, but 6.0% higher than in September this year, according to figures published by the American Gaming Association (AGA).
The October figure also represented the highest monthly total since February, prior to casinos having to temporarily close due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The majority of states posted a month-on-month increase in commercial GGR, while Ohio, South Dakota, Iowa, New Jersey and Pennsylvania also reported yea-on-year growth.
The figures showed that despite ongoing capacity restrictions on activities at land-based casinos, slots were by far the main source of income for commercial operators in the US.
Slots GGR for October reached $2.11bn, which was 10.6% lower than last year, while table games GGR also slipped 16.9% to $542.9m, but remained the second highest source of revenue during the month.
Sports betting GGR increased 53.5% year-on-year to $237.5m, the highest ever monthly amount recorded in the US.
This, the AGA, was helped by players spending $2.82bn on sports betting across the 17 states that have legalized wagering, as well as Washington DC. However, the AGA said this figure could eventually surpass $3.0bn upon the release of the October revenue report for Illinois.
Sportsbooks in all but two states accepted more money in wagers in October than in any previous month, while Nevada reported an all-time high handle of $659.2m and New Jersey broke the national handle record for a third straight month, processing $803.1m in bets.
In terms of igaming, GGR from this area of the market rocketed by 209.5% year-on-year to $156.0m.
GGR for the year-to-date, through to the end of October, amounted to $24.12bn, which was 33.5% lower than at the same point in 2019.
Slots revenue in the 10-month period was 35.5% lower at $15.35bn and table game revenue fell 40.2% to $4.17bn, but sports betting GGR was 33.0% higher at $915.4m and igaming GGR was up 206.2% to $1.23bn.