YTD May 2026

For the first five months of calendar year 2026, total domestic gaming revenue increased by $2.4m year-over-year, or 5.8%. We highlight the significant growth across the iGaming segment (18%), modest growth in the sports betting segment (5.8%), and to a lesser extent, the growth in the VGT distributed gaming (7%) and commercial casino (3.4%) segments.

For the first five months of 2026, all individual market segments trended up, with all iGaming markets and a majority of commercial casino and VGT distributed gaming markets increasing year to date through May.

Commercial casino performance through May continued to grow at a steady pace, with the month up 3.1%. Compared to May of last year, 29 of 40 markets showed growth. The month was buoyed by an exceptional month for the LV Strip, up 13.8%, and Virginia Casinos, up 26.9%. HHR markets showed continued strength with New Hampshire up 48.5% and Kentucky up 10.9%. Overall, land-based gaming showed continued resilience despite potential headwinds from gas prices and inflation. 

Sports betting markets showed weakness as the month saw just eight of 34 markets with an increase and monthly activity down 6.2%. However, activity increased YoY January through May resulting in a total segment increase average of 5.8% YoY. New York was down 18.1% in May, presumably driven by the strong run of the Knicks on their way to the NBA title. Sports betting results will likely get a boost in June from the World Cup, but late spring is showing signs of a maturing market that will fluctuate due to varying hold rates driven by event outcomes. 

iGaming continued its consistent run of strength with an average growth rate of 15.5% across its seven markets, all up for the month, quarter, and YoY periods over last year. For the YoY period, every market is up double-digit percentages over last year and the rate of change has hardly moderated over the last few months.

VGT distributed gaming also saw growth year over year (+7.0%) with only one market, West Virginia, showing a slight decline for the first five months of 2026. Illinois, the nation’s leading market, is up 7.6% for the five month period, while Georgia, the second largest market, is up 9.1% over the same period. While growth rates are moderating slightly, strength in VGT distributed gaming’s two biggest markets signal the category has a bright outlook for the rest of the year.