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Even with several debates surrounding gambling, it is still among the top industries generating substantial revenue. Millions of people worldwide are involved in gambling, whether it is online gambling or in traditional physical casinos. Being a legal activity in most countries means it is also a significant source of tax income for those countries.
World’s Biggest Gambling Nations
Nowadays, casinos are common, meaning you will find them in a lot of states. While gambling is a hobby for most people, it can become a way to earn some extra money for those who perfected their skills. On a national level, states look at it as a cash cow that also happens to entertain its citizens. So, which countries are at the top when it comes to earning from gambling? Below is a list of the top countries.
China
You may be surprised by this, considering that gambling in China has been banned. In fact, any form of gambling by its citizens, such as gambling overseas or online gambling, is deemed illegal. This also includes opening a casino overseas with the aim of primarily attracting Chinese citizens. Still, when you look at the gross gambling revenue by country, China falls among the top.
Not far from the coast of China is a region called Macau that technically falls under the special administration of China and allows gambling. Thanks to this region, China is one of the highest earners in gambling. In 2020, Macau managed to earn around $44.26 billion from gambling. A huge chunk of that income is from VIP players who gamble in private rooms.
Not only has this region managed to attract gamblers, but it has also attracted casino companies from all over the world to set up shop in the area. By 2020, there were 41 casinos in Macau, with the baccarat card game generating the most revenue.
United States
When you hear about gambling in the US, the first thing that comes to mind is Las Vegas. After all, it is considered one of the gambling capitals of the world. That’s not the only gambling hotspot in the US, however. By 2020, the revenue earned stood at $42.10 billion. If you consider COVID and the economic shutdown at that time, this was an impressive number.
Nevada has been in the lead, contributing about 17% of that figure, mostly thanks to Las Vegas. The other two states making a huge contribution to gambling are New Jersey and Pennsylvania. One of the reasons the US is earning so much from gambling is because this activity also attracts visitors from outside. People who enjoy gambling have made trips to famous cities solely for the purpose of gambling. Besides tourists, Americans themselves enjoy this activity, whether it is online gambling or visiting casinos.
Japan
Another country that is earning big from gambling is Japan, with a gross of about $20.61 billion. Most types of gambling are illegal in Japan, but that doesn’t prevent people from gambling in the streets. Currently, legal gambling in Japan is limited to sports race betting and pachinko.
Japanese gamblers are spending about $200 billion every year on gambling games like pachinko. This game is among the most significant revenue earners in the country. When it comes to sports racing, horse racing is among the top games that people bet on, and the government earns through it.
Final Thoughts
From the figures above, one can tell that gambling has a positive impact on the economy. Despite the US, China, and Japan being the highest earners, many countries worldwide are generating a good amount of revenue from gambling.
