Despite all the hacking drama MGM and Caesars have endured recently, TIME has ranked them the two best gambling companies in the world for 2023. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

MGM tops new ranking

In a refreshing change of headlines for cyber-attack frazzled MGM Resorts International, TIME has ranked the Las Vegas-headquartered firm one of the World’s Best Companies of 2023. The new statistical ranking by TIME and data gathering firm Statista of 750 of the globe’s best companies makes MGM the world’s best gaming firm.

The ranking gave both the Reno and Vegas based firms a growth rate evaluated as “very high.”

According to the yearly ranking by the US publishing giant, MGM was the top gambling brand, coming in at 218 out of 750. Its fellow Nevada firm Caesars Entertainment, also a recent victim of a $30m hack, was not far behind at 277. The ranking gave both the Reno and Vegas based firms a growth rate evaluated as “very high.”

In terms of employee satisfaction, MGM ranked at 615 with Caesars again just behind on 691. Classified under TIME’s Hospitality, Travel & Leisure category, the two corporations were the biggest hitters among the six gambling firms that made the top 750.

Rest of the best

While MGM and Caesars are some ways ahead of Wynn Resorts, which placed third among gambling firms with a position of 430, TIME also gave it the “very high” growth rate forecast. Only given a “moderate” growth rate ranking was Paradise, Nevada gaming giant Las Vegas Sands, which placed at 483.

Taking fifth spot among gaming firms was FanDuel’s parent Flutter Entertainment, the only non-US based entity among the six gaming powerhouses. The rankings placed the Ireland-headquartered iGaming titan at 597. Despite TIME ranking Wynn above Flutter, however, the latter’s FanDuel Sportsbook is the US market leader and, as such, contributes to its “very high” growth score.

Bringing up the rear for gaming firms among the world’s best companies was Penn National Gaming, ranked at 716. Despite its nightmare dalliance with Barstool Sports, Penn has big sportsbook ambitions via its ESPN partnership and, like Flutter, TIME also gave Penn the “very high” growth stamp.

Digital a sure bet

MGM’s co-owned BetMGM sub-brand joins Caesars, Flutter, and Penn as firms having significant skin in the sportsbook game to get the very high ranking. While TIME also gave Wynn a “very high” for 2023, the firm only announced it was pulling the plug on its entire WynnBet US sportsbook operation in August.

reflects the power in TIME rankings of tech-related or pure tech companies

Despite Wynn’s exit, that the digital sports betting arms of four of TIME’s big six gaming companies are driving their parent brand’s growth, reflects the power in TIME rankings of tech-related or pure tech companies. Microsoft bears this out by taking top spot as the world’s best company of 2023, followed by Apple, Alphabet, and Meta.