Key Stats from New National Problem Gambling in U.S. Survey
Published:
Jul 23, 2025
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05:39 p.m.
ET
Key Points:
8% of U.S. adults (approx. 20 million people) reported experiencing at least one indicator of problematic gambling behavior “many times” in the last year.
Risky behaviors include frequent gambling, online play and beliefs that gambling is a good way to make money.
Those most at risk are often the least likely to believe in the effectiveness of treatment.
Lacking awareness of the national helpline 1-800-GAMBLER persists, and many still underestimate the seriousness of gambling addiction.
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The National Council on Problem Gambling’s latest survey, NGAGE 3.0, provides an updated snapshot of how Americans are gambling and what beliefs they hold around gambling addiction. Based on responses collected in early 2024, this third installment of the NGAGE series is not a prevalence study of gambling addiction, but a complete picture of attitudes, experiences and behaviors that influence gambling-related harms.
Learnings and key takeaways from survey
At a glance, some metrics show modest improvement since the last survey in 2021. For example, gambling activity overall has returned to 2018 levels following a pandemic-era surge. But a closer look reveals areas of serious concern, particularly among high-risk groups like men under 35, regular online gamblers, and sports bettors.
Roughly 8% of U.S. adults (around 20 million people) reported experiencing at least one indicator of problematic gambling “many times” in the past year. While this is on par with earlier years, it underscores how widespread harmful gambling behavior remains.
The strongest predictors of risk included:
Participating in multiple types of gambling
Gambling weekly or more
Believing gambling is a good way to make money
Engaging in online gambling or sports/fantasy betting
Being male and/or under age 35
Another red flag: nearly 1 in 5 respondents (18%) agreed that gambling is a good way to make money, a mindset that can increase financial risk and fuel compulsive play.
Despite these troubling indicators, many Americans still underestimate the seriousness of gambling addiction. A troubling number of respondents (64%) had not heard of 1-800-GAMBLER, and those at greatest risk often remain skeptical about treatment effectiveness.
Changes in Gambling Participation
The number of Americans who gambled in the past year has remained steady, even with the continued expansion of legalized gambling. However, the percentage of people placing sports bets did not increase, despite new markets going live in several states.
What did change was how people bet. Parlay betting, known for its higher “house edge,” has nearly doubled in popularity, rising from 17% of sports bettors in 2018 to 30% in 2024. Similarly, while brick-and-mortar casino activity fell slightly, online gambling participation remained high.
This rise in online play is significant. Online environments make it easier for individuals to hide gambling from friends or family, gamble in isolation, and access 24/7 betting opportunities. This nature of online gambling speaks to the fact that 63% of respondents agreed they were honest with friends and family about how much money they were spending on gambling, and 62% were honest about the amount of time spent gambling. Both those figures are down from the 2021 survey. (NOTE: these are all self-reported)
The survey also showed that gambling on sporting events declined slightly, from 26% in 2021 to 23% in 2024. Spending on slots, casino visits, and March Madness-type pools also saw modest drops. Still, these reductions are not cause for celebration but rather signs of shifting behavior, particularly online.
Public Awareness and Perceptions
While there are signs of progress in some areas, public understanding of gambling addiction continues to lag. Perhaps most concerning: 64% of respondents had not heard of 1-800-GAMBLER, despite its national visibility and use as a centralized helpline.
There were also mixed results when respondents were asked about control. Around 74% said they strongly feel in control of their gambling, a slight improvement from 69% in 2021. But it’s unclear how many of these self-assessments align with actual behavior.
What’s evident is that many Americans believe gambling is largely harmless or under their control, even as the data shows millions are engaging in risk-heavy behaviors and reporting signs of addiction.
Why These Trends Matter
The findings in NGAGE 3.0 have important implications for public health and policy. As the report emphasizes, rates of problem gambling may appear stable, but the landscape is anything but. New risk factors, like more aggressive marketing and mobile access, are colliding with old myths that gambling isn’t a serious issue.
The survey identifies an urgent need for prevention and education for high-risk groups, like young adults and men. Even among those with clear warning signs, distrust in treatment remains high, making outreach and access to evidence-based support necessary.
There is also a need for continued investment in research, public health messaging, and regulation, especially regarding sports betting and online platforms. The NGAGE Trends Dashboard helps identify changes over time, but the job is far from over.
As the NCPG notes, we shouldn’t interpret these small improvements as a signal that the problem is solved. On the contrary, this data shows we must double down on education, visibility, and treatment access.
Getting help for Gambling Addiction
If you or someone you love is struggling with gambling, you're not alone. An estimated 2.5 million U.S. adults may meet the criteria for gambling disorder, with millions more showing signs of risk.
In addition to the standard hotlines, Birches Health confidential, evidence-based care tailored to each individual’s needs is provided. Birches’ virtual programs make it easier than ever to begin your recovery journey from the comfort of home. You can:
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
