One in four Americans has an account for online sports betting — study
The popularity of online sports betting continues to grow in the USA: currently, 27% of the country's residents have an active account with bookmakers. These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Siena Research Institute.
For comparison, in 2025, 22% of surveyed Americans reported having such accounts, and in 2024, it was 19%.
Researchers found that 83% of account holders have placed bets at least once. Betting services are most in demand among men aged 18-49, with the share of active account holders reaching 52% among them.
Simultaneously, signs of risky behavior have increased: in 2026, 60% of respondents reported trying to recover losses after a defeat, compared to 52% in 2025. Additionally, the proportion of those who spend more than $100 on bets in a day increased from 56% to 63%, and the share of those seeking help for problems with gambling addiction rose from 9% to 15%.
Public opinion on online sports betting remains divided. According to the study, 65% of respondents believe that online platforms should be regulated the same way as traditional betting shops. But while some advocate for tighter controls, others do not support the introduction of new restrictions.