Bet Big? Montanans Gambled a Record Amount of Money this Year

Montana gaming revenue numbers are in for Fiscal Year 2023, and according to the Montana Gambling Control Division reports, it's a new record high of $79.8 million. This is up 2% from 2022, when gaming revenue hit $78.1 million.

If you're a gambler, you've probably heard the phrase, "You have to bet big to win big." I say it all the time. And it's technically true. It's tough to hit those big payouts when you're plinking away on a 25-cent bet. Video gaming machines in Montana generally pay out a higher win percentage when you're betting the max bet of $2 too.

We don't judge.

If you don't like to gamble, don't. If you enjoy it and can do it responsibly, great. Before I got married and had kids, I probably spent way more on machines than I should have. It was fun and social, and I wasn't hurting anyone. I never had to sell my stuff or write bad checks to feed a gambling habit. Nowadays, I'd rather save my money for a blackjack table in Vegas or Deadwood, but we still enjoy throwing a few $20's in the machine once in a while. Sometimes you win, usually you don't. 😉

How many casino machines are in Yellowstone County?

There are 2,668 licensed video gaming machines in Yellowstone County, per the latest report. Most casinos have the max of 20 keno/poker/video slot machines, but some fraternal organizations and golf courses have only a handful.

A 3G's convenience store in Billings has the record for the fewest amount of machines, with one. The sleepy town of Broadview has the fewest machines with two. Custer has just five. There are over 130 places to gamble in Billings. Many of these establishments are also restaurants, gas stations, hotels, or bars.