U.S. Online Sports Betting Addiction Statistics - February 2026

By Brian Pempus

Online sports betting is considered one of the most addictive forms of gambling, as indicated by recent addiction survey statistics.

More than half of online sports bettors report having chased losses, a core sign of a potential addiction. Problem sports gambling has other signs, such as an inability to quit. On its own, chasing losses doesn’t mean someone has an addiction.

Nearly 20% of online sports bettors have problems reaching the level of clinical addiction, according to a study. Many people with addiction never receive a diagnosis.

A healthcare professional is needed for a gambling addiction diagnosis, which requires meeting specific criteria. People can still have a problem without a diagnosis. Problem gambling below the threshold of a clinical addiction is sometimes referred to as at-risk betting.

Alongside the 20% with addiction, another 30% of online sports bettors are at-risk.

Problem Sports Betting Numbers

The Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication conducted a study in January 2025 examining rates of problematic online sports betting.

GamblingHarm.org considers this study one of the most comprehensive on U.S. sports betting addiction and at-risk betting.

Here’s an overview of the 2025 sports betting findings:

52% of online sports bettors have chased a bet
50% used a gambling addiction tool in a sportsbook app
37% felt ashamed after losing
37% bet more than they felt comfortable losing
23% had someone express concern about their sports gambling
20% lost money which directly hurt their financial situation
20% lied about the extent of their sports betting
16% say they know someone with a betting problem
9% sought help with problem gambling

All figures are for online bettors, not people who bet only in person (e.g., at a casino).

The American Sports Fanship Survey was conducted Jan. 6 – 11, 2025, among 3047 responses drawn from a proprietary online panel (Cint) of United States Residents.

Young Bettors Most at Risk

Survey results by age group show heightened risks for young adults.

The study identified people aged 18 to 34 as the most hardcore online bettors. Younger sports bettors display more pervasive signs of addiction or at-risk gambling than older age groups.

The reasons are intuitive. Neuroscience research shows that a person’s brain does not fully develop until the mid-20s, which makes youth particularly vulnerable to problem gambling.

Teenagers who gamble are up to four times more likely to develop a problem later in life than teens who don’t gamble, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Misconceptions About Winning

A troubling number of sports bettors think they can earn money or build wealth through the activity. Overestimation of winning chances is among the most common gambling myths.

In 2024, an SCRI study found that 80% of online sports bettors thought they could reliably make money betting on sports. In 2025, that percentage rose to an alarming 86%.

A misconception around winning money was even more pronounced among younger bettors.

The 2024 survey found that 82% of online sports bettors aged 18-34 believed they could make money wagering on sports. In 2025, the same survey found that 90% of online sports bettors aged 18-34 thought they could make money from sports betting.

For some bettors, long-shot parlays seem like the most profitable. However, parlays are often akin to playing the lottery due to their astronomical odds.

Earlier Problem Sports Betting Data

In January 2024, the same U.S. researchers conducted a survey on problem sports betting behaviors. Siena College and St. Bonaventure University found that:

53% have chased losses
38% bet more than they felt they should have
37% felt bad or ashamed after losing an online sports bet
24% bet $500 or more in a single day
22% reported that someone they know has expressed concern about their gambling
19% lied to someone about the extent of their betting
18% lost a bet which made it difficult to meet their financial obligations
9% called a problem gambling helpline or sought other help

NCPG’s Sports Betting Addiction Statistics

The National Council on Problem Gambling, a casino industry-funded group, also had data on sports betting addiction. The statistics are from 2023.

According to the NCPG, the rate of gambling problems among sports bettors is at least twice that of gamblers in general.

When sports betting is conducted on computers and mobile devices, the rate of gambling disorder was as high as 16%, with another 13% of online sports bettors showing signs of compulsive gambling but not yet meeting the clinical criteria for disordered gambling.

In sum, roughly 30% of online sports bettors experienced gambling problems, according to the NCPG in September 2023.

Problem sports betting seems to grow incrementally each year, with several helplines in the U.S. reporting a growing number of calls.

Betting Addiction Statistics By Sport?

Problem gambling risk could vary by sport, but data is lacking for a robust comparison.

The NFL is the top league for U.S. gambling and appears to generate the most problems.

According to one study, up to 60% of NFL bettors reported losing more than they could afford. Losing more than you intended is a core sign of a gambling problem.

NFL football wagering is the riskiest form of gambling for some sports fans.

Fueling the problem are ubiquitous gambling advertisements. For example, the NFL Super Bowl allows up to six betting commercials.

As a marketing tactic, the casino industry promotes NFL betting budgets. This concept shifts responsibility away from an addictive product.

Betting Addiction Statistics Looking Forward

State-sanctioned online sports betting began in 2018. Tracking addiction remains in early stages, especially among teens and young adults.

While the legal age for online sports betting is 21 in nearly every state that sanctions the activity, many underage sports gamblers report using a family member’s account.

Some people develop a gambling problem after just a few betting experiences. For others, it may creep on slowly, taking months to years to become an addiction.

GamblingHarm.org expects online sports betting addiction statistics to worsen over time.

We already see online sports betting cause widespread addiction among people who participate. There are many reasons why you exercise caution when betting on sports.

Problem Betting FAQ

How Addictive is Sports Betting?

Studies show sports betting is among the most addictive forms of gambling. While it’s not the most popular form of gambling, individuals who bet on sports can show signs of problem gambling more frequently than other gambling cohorts.

The rate of problem gambling among sports bettors is double the rate among gamblers in general, according to the NCPG.

How Many People Have a Sports Betting Addiction?

As many as 64.5 million American adults gamble on sports at least once a year, according to statistics from Pew Research and the American Gaming Association.

The rate of problematic activity among online sports bettors is approximately 50% (chasing losses). Based on these findings, as many as 32.25 million adults each year are at risk when they bet.

What Percentage of Sports Bettors Win?

Sports bettors can win some of their bets, but nearly all sports bettors fail to make money in the long run. In the short or medium term, it’s possible to win more often than you lose, but over time, you will more than likely lose money on sports betting.

It’s virtually impossible to earn a reliable income from sports betting, partly due to the industry’s practice of limiting winners.

Which Online Sportsbooks Are Causing Addiction?

All forms of online sports betting are addictive.

Betting apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Bet365 can cause addiction. As of early 2026, more than 30 states had sanctioned traditional online sports betting.

Prediction market sportsbooks, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, allow users aged 18. These platforms, regulated by the federal government, offer a stock market-style form of betting.

So-called sweepstakes sportsbooks such as Fliff and Sportzino are also addictive.