GAMING - The US commercial gaming sector has seen record-breaking figures at a pace few expected. The American Gaming Association (AGA) confirmed that commercial gaming generated a staggering $72.04 billion in 2024, which was a 7.5% increase from 2023. Those figures also show how online gaming and the widespread adoption of sports betting across various states have allowed the industry to soar to new heights. Gambling activity that once sat on the fringe state now plays an integral part in various state budgets.
The impressive growth also forms the backdrop for an important leadership move within the sector. Lou Jacobs has been selected as the chairperson for the AGA Board from 2026. The moment couldn’t have arrived at a better time, as the entire industry shows rapid growth, changing regulations, and increasing expectations from businesses relying on the AGA.
Exploring the AGA’s Recent Gains
The AGA has become integral to guiding the gaming industry through sustainable expansion and transformation over the last few years. Various commercial casinos, sports betting operators, and iGaming platforms have seen an increase in annual gaming revenue, with many commercial gaming operators seeing new records more frequently than before.
The growing acceptance of online gambling has partly driven the surge, with revenue from the seven legalized states generating $8.41 billion by 2024. US residents can more easily access a range of online casino apps regulated by the seven states or offshore licensing officials. These sites are available on smartphones and offer a wide range of gaming options like slots, roulette, blackjack, live dealer, crash, and specialty games.
Sports betting has also seen major improvements in retail and online formats, with revenue of $13.78 billion generated in 2024 alone. The sports wagering revenues are sure to grow more as 38 states now allow legal sports betting operations in 2025. All of these figures show just how much gambling has embedded itself into the US economy, and leadership changes will only redefine the relationship between the industry and its consumers.
The Appointment of Lou Jacobs
Lou Jacobs has decades of experience in hospitality and gaming after managing operations across various regional casinos and the company’s iGaming divisions with online sports betting as the CEO of Delaware North. His diverse portfolio includes experience in entertainment, food, hospitality, and even hotel management, supported by his Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Harvard University. Jacobs’ new role will continue with him contributing to the AGA’s roundtable meetings and discussions.
Jacobs is set to succeed Michael Rumbolz, who has served in his position since early 2024. Rumbolz advanced crucial policy objectives at the state and federal levels during his chairmanship, and Jacobs is set to build upon that foundation after an official AGA election that will allow him to assume the chairman role from January 2026.
Jacobs said in a statement that it’s an honor to lead the AGA at such a dynamic time. The man claims to look forward to building on the previous success and working with Bill Miller, the CEO, to ensure that legal gaming remains the strongest economic engine, benefiting communities across the nation.
How Jacobs’s Leadership Changes the Game
Jacobs is much more than a simple figurehead. His background and experience position him to lead the AGA into a new phase, one where modern gaming instruments drive massive revenue growth and innovative expansion. Jacobs managed a diverse portfolio that included online gaming, land-based casinos, and hospitality organizations in Delaware North.
He’s been exposed to legacy and emerging technology sectors within the business. Jacobs’ operational understanding also arrives just when the AGA must navigate complicated policy debates, particularly around online gambling and interstate regulations. The timing of Jacobs’ appointment can also change how the AGA addresses future expansion opportunities. His experience in online betting is especially relevant now that iGaming contributes a large portion of the industry revenue.
The AGA’s gaming states report shows that 28 of the 38 states with legally licensed commercial and online casinos and betting operations have seen between 1% and 181.7% growth from 2023 to 2024. Of the states that legalized online gambling, Delaware saw a 10.4% increase, Connecticut welcomed a 31.3% increase, and Michigan saw a 17.1% hike in revenue. Jacobs’s leadership may just spur the AGA to push for more states to legalize iGaming so that revenue growth can leak into other budgets. It may also encourage federal-standard guidance to achieve better market stability and oversight.
The new appointment also comes during membership changes within the AGA. Some sportsbooks have left the association, claiming that disagreements related to the organization’s take on prediction markets made the membership undesirable. This development highlights a recalibration moment within the trade group, and Jacobs may be able to guide the AGA through this transitional phase with his broad industry knowledge. This could strengthen relationships and unity among key stakeholders.
What Jacobs Means for Different States
Jacobs’ appointment may influence how the AGA approaches policy and online gambling advocacy moving forward, which may see possible downstream effects for state governments, regulators, and the public. The association will likely continue its efforts to promote legal gambling through its chairmanship because it has shown powerful economic benefits.
Jacobs may also push for tighter partnerships between retail and online gaming operators because he is familiar with both sectors, which could improve existing regulatory models or cross-state agreements and create new business models altogether. These models would aim to benefit players and operators. Meanwhile, Jacobs’ deep understanding of the hospitality industry could guide the AGA toward more integrated resort developments that welcome casinos, restaurants, hotels, and digital operators to collaborate for added value.
The AGA has already made great improvements in lobbying for sensible online regulations on the public policy front. Jacobs’ appointment could accelerate efforts to create harmony between state laws so that more jurisdictions will legalize or expand iGaming. There could even be more emphasis on the tax frameworks because of how much these platforms contribute to the state revenues. Ultimately, the new chairperson may just add clarity to the AGA’s future direction, allowing the perfect balance between governance and growth.
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