For some, 2020 was the worst year to be a casino investor. For others, it was the best year in a decade. The explanation is rather straightforward. Brick and Mortar casinos suffered heavy financial losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If you owned stocks for Wynn Resorts, the Bellagio, and Las Vegas Sands, you had to cut your losses or hold onto your stocks despite their declining values. On the flip side, online casino shareholders recorded increased profits because the industry was not impacted by COVID.

Buying Casino Stocks in 2021

While 2020 had mixed results for casino investors, 2021 is proving to be a better year for both types of investors. The fact that Macau casinos lost 79% of their stock values last year means they hold immense growth potential this year.

In the US, Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos performed better than their Macau counterparts. No, they didn’t make higher profits compared to 2021. In fact, they suffered losses for half of 2021.

During the six months US casinos were up and running, though, they generated enough revenues to stay afloat. In 2021, these businesses have been in a recovery mode. Once in a while, they’re ordered to shut down or reduce capacity.

But generally speaking, most of these businesses have been open throughout 2021.Mobile gambling businesses, on the other hand, picked from where they left last year. From leading American brands like Penn National Gaming and DraftKings to 888 Sports and Paddy Power—online casino stocks are on an upward curve.

In fact, some land-based casinos—Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts—have already expressed their interest in buying online gambling stocks. Which stocks will they buy? No one knows.

Go to this page for an overview of the top online casinos in Canada. Check out how they work, their games, terms, bonuses, and payment options. If convinced, you could even play a few games. And if you’re more of an investor, you can buy shares from the best-performing brands.

5 Best Casino Stocks to Check out

Investors with high-risk appetites began bulking up gambling stocks last year. But if you’re yet to make a purchase, below is a list of five stocks to check out:

1. Flutter Entertainment (OTC: PDYPF)

At a price tag of $200 per share, Flutter Entertainment is a fairly expensive stock. However, it also holds incredible growth potential. Here’s why. This Irish company owns some of the biggest online gambling companies in the world:

  • FanDuel
  • Paddy Power
  • Bet Fair
  • PokerStars (The Stars Group)

FanDuel, which added 900,000 new players last year, generated 91% of the company’s US revenue in 2020. FanDuel dominates 36% of the American sports betting industry, estimated to be worth over $5 billion.

Much of Flutter’s growth potential comes from the US. And that’s not just because of FanDuel. Online gambling is increasingly becoming legal in the US. This will lead to more sales and a growing stock value for OTC: PDYPF.

DraftKings’ is FanDuel’s biggest competitor in the US. As such, the growth of FanDuel also means DraftKings is doing pretty well. Indeed, DraftKings prides in dominating 25% of the US online sport betting market share.

Some experts doubt DraftKings will live up to its potential now that brick and mortar casinos are back in operation. But there’s a high chance it will prove these critics wrong. Although Land-based casinos have a huge audience, growing statistics show more Americans are choosing mobile over in-person sports betting.

In New Jersey, for example, 80% of the $5B betting handle recorded in 2019 came from mobile bettors. This is the case for Pennsylvania, DC and a few more states. People are adopting mobile betting in droves, which could improve DraftKings’ stock price from the current $60 to $100 or more.

2. DraftKings

If you’re looking for an untapped company with tremendous growth opportunities, think about Esports Entertainment Group. Based on its stock price alone, Malta-based Esports Entertainment is headed for better days.

At the start of last year, this company’s stock was valued at roughly $4. Then it shot up to $17 by March this year. It has since corrected to $8 but this isn’t to say it’s on a free fall. Esports is a new industry that just hit the $1B valuation a couple of years ago.

This year, experts predict the industry will grow by 15%. In terms of adoption, eSports could welcome up to 729M millions by early next year. The growth will be fueled by corporate sponsorships and live-streaming capabilities.

All the same, what this growth means is that eSports betting websites like EEG could grow in the long term as well. Beware, though, loads of betting websites are embracing eSports betting. As such, EEG’s market share will reduce over time.

3. Esports Entertainment Group

If you’re looking for an untapped company with tremendous growth opportunities, think about Esports Entertainment Group. Based on its stock price alone, Malta-based Esports Entertainment is headed for better days.

At the start of last year, this company’s stock was valued at roughly $4. Then it shot up to $17 by March this year. It has since corrected to $8 but this isn’t to say it’s on a free fall. Esports is a new industry that just hit the $1B valuation a couple of years ago.

This year, experts predict the industry will grow by 15%. In terms of adoption, eSports could welcome up to 729M millions by early next year. The growth will be fueled by corporate sponsorships and live-streaming capabilities.

4. Gamesys Group

Gamesys is one of the biggest gambling brands in the UK. Last year, its stock price plummeted after its brick-and-mortar casinos were shut down. But it managed to recover significantly toward the end of the year mainly due to the solid performance of its online brands.

Considering the gambling industry is projected to climb in the next five years, Gamesys can be a safe bet. It’s a high-cap brand. And as a result, there’s a high chance its stock will climb. However, it’s an expensive stock and it might not surge as much as its smaller competitors.

5. MGM Resorts

If you would love to own a part of Las Vegas, consider investing in one of the biggest brands in the desert: MGM Resorts. This company is always looking for investment opportunities, which is how it became the largest casino in Vegas.

Unlike some of its competitors, MGM Resorts owns an online casino. In fact, it’s constantly acquiring licenses in every state legalizing online gambling. Last year, MGM also made brave decisions by selling a significant chunk of its real estate holdings to focus on casino operations. That said, the brand’s track record and overall stocks growth show it’s a great buy for long-term speculation.