Responsible Betting Statistics In The U.S.

Sports betting has become increasingly popular with younger Americans. A 2021 study by the McCreary Centre Society reported that Americans between the ages of 20 and 25 are the fastest-growing group of gamblers in the country, while 39% of sports bettors are under 35.

According to the American Gaming Association, nearly half of American adults reported participating in some form of gambling in 2023.

This has caused concern among experts in the problem gambling community. Tommy Fong, the co-director of the gambling studies program at UCLA, told The Guardian that “more and more younger clients are seeking treatment.”

The main reason sports betting is popular with young adults is the prevalence of sports betting apps, which can be easily accessed on smartphones and mobile devices. Mobile sportsbooks are also designed to be addictive and trigger the same kind of dopamine releases that make games like Candy Crush popular.

Previously, gamblers had to make the effort to visit a physical sportsbook in person. Now, they can bet anytime and anywhere if they’re in a state where online sports betting is legal.

“These compulsive behaviors can be engaged in so much more easily,” said Dr. Koriann Cox, a clinical psychologist and the clinical program director of the Intensive Outpatient Program at UW Medical Center – Northwest. “If you were addicted to gambling and before you had to go to a casino, well, now you’ve basically got a casino in your pocket.”

Sports betting is a predominantly male activity. According to Ipsos, 69% of sports bettors are male, 51% are white, and 44% report having a household income of $100,000 or more. Most identify as sports fans, with 84% of sports bettors saying they’re fans of a particular team.

Sports betting is not legal for anyone under the age of 18. In most states with legal sports betting, you must be at least 21 to bet.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and 42 out of 50 states invest in problem gambling resources.

• The eight states that do not spend money on problem gambling resources are Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Texas and Utah.

An average of 40 cents per capita is spent on problem gambling in the U.S.

$94 million was spent on state-level problem gambling services in 2021.

15% of Americans know someone with a gambling problem.

• Research has found that those with a parent who has suffered from gambling addiction are more likely to suffer as well.
• While young adults are the fastest-growing group of gamblers, over 60% of kids aged 12 to 18 have reported betting or playing gambling-like games in the past year.

Betting has the highest suicide rate of any addiction at 20%.

90% of problem gamblers have taken cash advances from credit cards.

• This contributes to high levels of debt among problem gamblers—an estimated 23 million Americans are in debt due to gambling addiction.

Massachusetts spends the most on problem gambling programs.

• In 2021, Massachusetts spent $9.2 million on the behavioral health impact of problem gambling and the awareness, treatment and prevention techniques pioneered by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

There are 36 organizations operating problem gambling helpline numbers.

• An average of 16% of state funding for problem gambling is spent on helpline services.

21 states funded one or more full-time state employee positions dedicated to administering problem gambling programs.

The total annual amount of state public funding specifically allocated for problem gambling services in the U.S. increased 28%, from $73 million in 2016 to $94 million in 2021.

• These numbers represent a 5% annualized growth rate.

Every year, the National Council on Problem Gambling holds Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March, which seeks to increase public awareness of problem gambling and promote prevention, treatment and recovery services.

Around two million Americans are expected to be suffering from a severe gambling addiction, with another four to six million having mild or moderate problems. Those figures are based on self-reporting, however, so the real numbers are likely even larger.

A research survey by Siena and St. Bonaventure found that 15% of Americans know someone with a gambling problem. It also found that 30% of “avid” sports fans know someone who has or had a problem with sports betting, while 38% of respondents who bet on sports feel that they bet more than they should have.

A betting addiction can also have negative mental health impacts. Research from the National Association of Addiction Professionals found that people suffering from gambling addiction have a suicide rate of 20%, which is the highest of any addiction. Additionally, 19% of gambling addicts have lied to someone about the extent of their betting, while 18% have bet and lost money that was meant for meeting their financial obligations.

That can lead to sports bettors using credit cards to fund their accounts, which is a horrible decision. Not only do some credit card companies treat gambling like a cash advance, but it can also accelerate the amount of debt generated through gambling. An estimated 23 million Americans are in debt due to gambling addiction.

Problem gambling is a national issue, and nearly every state is making an effort to combat it. All but eight states invest in some kind of problem gambling resources, and the country spent $94 million on problem gambling services in 2021 – a 28% increase from 2016. Massachusetts spends the most, dedicating $9.2 million to the behavioral health impact of problem gambling in 2021.

On average, 16% of state funding for problem gambling is spent on helpline services, which is the main way that Americans with a gambling addiction are able to report their addiction and get help. There are 36 organizations that operate problem gambling helpline numbers.

As sports betting continues to spread across the U.S., there will be even more pressure on the state and federal governments to address the rise in gambling addiction. While legal sports betting has allowed the online gambling industry to become regulated and generate money that could help local economies, it comes at a cost and negatively affects millions of Americans.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Regulated sports betting is on the rise in America, which has also caused a rise in gambling addictions.
• While sports gambling addictions can impact everyone, it mostly impacts young men.
• Gambling addictions need to be self-reported, so the true number of people with gambling addictions is unknown.
• A gambling addiction can cause you to rack up a lot of debt quickly (especially if you bet with a credit card), so it’s important to practice moderation.
• Many states have programs built around helping problem gambling.

• IPSOS
• NYT
• Siena.edu
• GamblingHarm.org
• Onlinedegrees.edu
• Understanding the Odds, McCreary Centre Society, 2021 [PDF]