Two-Thirds Of NFL Bettors Report Losing Too Much

Problem sports betting is on the rise in the United States, and it’s perhaps most visible during the start of each NFL season.

According to a new survey, 66% (two-thirds) of NFL bettors “admitted to wagering more than they could afford or wanted to lose,” up from 45% from the same survey in 2023.

The findings come from online gambling industry researcher Optimove, based out of New York City. The Optimove Insights 2024-2025 Consumer Report on NFL Wagering Intentions was based on queries of 356 U.S. citizens who bet on NFL preseason football fielded in August 2024. Respondents were ages 21-plus, and household incomes were $75,000-plus.

It’s worth noting that the NFL preseason could attract more people with problems, as the games are usually more unpredictable and thus less conducive to making relatively informed bets. Regardless of preseason or regular season, betting isn’t a skill game.

Additionally, the survey didn’t account for underage sports bettors, who usually have access to an online sports betting account through family or friends. Underage sports bettors are generally more susceptible to problem gambling issues, but gambling addiction can take years to develop.

Let’s look at some other findings from the survey:

• 71% of bettors place bets on one or more games per week, up from 63% in 2023.

• 43% of bettors wager several times per week, an increase from 37% in 2023.

• 79% bet during the NFL regular season, compared to 69% in 2023.

• 85% of respondents make live bets during games, a rise from 61% in 2023.

Generally, about 30-40% of online sports bettors experience gambling problems. Based on NFL-specific surveys, the rate of problem online gambling on the NFL is likely higher.

One of many reasons is that the state-sanctioned online sports gambling industry is pushing live betting, which could lead to more compulsive betting than traditional pregame wagers.

Widespread print, TV, radio and social media advertising also help fuel NFL gambling addiction, with LeBron James promoting gambling being one of the more prominent examples. 

The NFL season is the time of year when many sports fans realize they need to quit gambling.

Image by Keith Johnston from Pixabay