Fewer Americans gambling as lotteries and casinos lose participants, survey says

Americans are gambling less frequently than they were a decade ago, according to a Gallup survey. In June and July, 45% of U.S. adults reported participating in at least one form of gambling within the previous year, down from 64% a decade earlier. The decline is particularly pronounced in lottery participation, which has dropped to 31% from a high of 64% between 1989 and 1999.

Casino gambling has also seen a significant decrease, falling from 30% in 2003 to 14% today. The only category of gambling that has not experienced a decline is online gambling, with 4% of Americans currently engaging in it. Workplace pools have declined from 15% to 7% during the same period, while video poker participation has dropped from 20% in 1999 to 5%.

Sports betting has remained relatively stable, although it remains below its levels from the late 1980s and 1990s. The survey, conducted on 2,200 adults, also found that men are more likely to gamble than women, and that gambling participation declines across all demographic groups. While lottery tickets still lead the list of gambling activities, interest in online sports betting is growing, with 27% of Americans having an active sportsbook account, up from 22% in 2025 and 19% in 2024.

However, concerns about gambling addiction are growing, with 60% of bettors reporting chasing losses and 63% wagering at least $100 in a single day.