20 Alarming Statistics on How Much Money Americans Bet On Sports in 2025

The Americans love to gamble. From its iconic Vegas Strip, to its massive casino resorts, to its world-class sports betting scene, the US splurges on betting all year round, whether legal or otherwise.

With the 2018 repeal of the PASPA Act and US states gradually legalizing their sports betting market, it’s unsurprising to know US sportsbooks generated $149.6 billion in 2024, a 23.53% increase from 2023.

This article examines the US Sports Betting Market to determine the amount of money Americans wager on sports, including US betting costs, spending per sport, and trends in sports betting.

How Much Do Americans Spend on Sports Betting In 2025?

With the US government’s monumental repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, the country’s love for sports betting became undeniable, with Americans spending a total cumulative $519.82 billion on sports bets as of fiscal year 2025.

This massive revenue can be attributed to several factors, including the legality and availability of online and in-person sports betting, the growing number of sports betting sites, and a thriving community.

Since the 2018 repeal, the US sports betting market has generated $45.05 billion, while also supplementing the country with approximately $7.6 billion in taxes. The US spent its largest amount on sports wagers in 2024, at $148.75 billion.

But let’s dig deeper and dissect just how much money Americans bet on sports by analyzing the sports gambling trends, betting habits, and the top sports that Americans love to wager on.

Statistics on the Cost of Sports Betting to Americans

For the fiscal year of 2025, Americans have wagered a total of $57.6 billion in handles as of May, generating $5.5 billion in GGR. Approximately 90% of the revenue is allocated to winning payouts, leaving 10% for gambling companies. With stakes this high, US bets can only go higher.

Discover how expensive Americans’ sports betting spending has become in 2025, with the facts and statistics presented below.

1. As of 2025, around 78% of US States that legalized Sports Betting allow Online and Retail wagers.

(Action Network, RG)

In the US, 39 states have legalized Sports Betting in some form. Out of those 39 states, only 32 permit both in-person and online betting, which accounts for around 82.05% of the states with legal sports betting.

North Carolina is among the latest states to legalize both retail and online betting, launching its online betting platform on March 11, 2024, just three years after introducing retail betting.

Below are the states allowing both online and retail sports betting outlets:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia (D.C.)
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

2. The month of January saw the most significant spending on sports betting by Americans in 2025 yet, with a handle of around $16 billion.

(Sportsbook Review, Deadspin)

As of July 2025, Americans have bet the most money during the year’s opening, with January garnering the largest handle at $15.79 billion. Imposing a 10.6% hold that month, the US generated a whopping $1.68 billion in GGR while raking in $381 million in taxes.

January has consistently produced one of the most lucrative months for sports betting across the USA due to the NFL playoffs, the mid-season NBA playoffs, as well as college Bowl games. 

3. Americans bet the most in the state of New Jersey, proven by the state’s sports betting handle of $52.4 billion in legal bets.

(RG, US iGaming Hub)

Unsurprisingly, New Jersey has generated the biggest sports betting services across all US states, producing a whopping $52.44 billion in total sportsbook handle. As of 2025, New Jersey has generated $3.943 billion, while providing $549 million in taxes.

However, New Jersey’s year-over-year handle tells a different story, as the rate has decreased each month, resulting in a $930 million drop. More so, while NJ sportsbooks already pay 14.25% in taxes, US lawmakers are signaling their intention to raise that to 30%, aligning with the latest state budget.

4. In 2024, New York led the US states in gross gaming revenue, with $2.05 billion.

(Sportsbook Review)

With a sportsbook handle amounting to $22.7 billion, New York established itself as the go-to state for sports betting in the US, generating $2.05 billion GGR while raking $1.04 billion in taxes, the highest among all US states in 2024.

At the helm of the Big Apple’s thriving sports betting scene is DraftKings Sportsbooks, one of the first sportsbooks in the US to launch NY mobile betting on day one.

5. Sportsbooks in the US have earned over $14.2 billion from American bettors.

(Investopedia)

Given that Americans have placed around $520 billion on sports bets, the 2018 PASPA repeal has allowed sports betting operators across the US to capitalize on this, including market leaders like 0x.bet and SportsBetting.ag.

As more Americans bet on their favorite sports, the GGR per state increases rapidly. In 2024, studies indicate that US sportsbooks earned over $14.2 billion after paying out bettors, a 29% increase from 2023.

6. American households wagered over $1,100 annually on online sportsbooks in 2023.

(Investopedia)

A 2024 study reported that around 8% of households in the US were involved in some form of sports betting. On average, these sports bettors placed around $1,100 yearly on online sports betting sites.

Sadly, as Americans increased their spending on betting, their savings decreased significantly. Investments dropped 14% on average for households in states with legal sports betting, meaning households invested $2 less per dollar spent on sports gambling in their investments.

Statistics on American Betting Spending per Sport

The US is among the world’s most competitive sports countries, hosting some of the most prestigious sporting events, boasting some of the most incredible sports talents and teams the world has ever seen, and being home to some of the most passionate fans.

American football leads all sports in the US as the most-viewed sport, with the NFL garnering an average of around 67,600 live spectators, the highest average attendance of any sports league globally. While American football leads the rankings, other sports aren’t far behind, not only in spectators but also in sports bettors.

The following statistics show the largest sports and events in terms of betting participants and amounts.

7. American sports bettors wagered over $1.39 billion in betting services on the NFL Super Bowl LIX.

(Investopedia, AZ Central, The Guardian)

With over 127.7 million American Football fans tuned in to the Super Bowl LIX via cable and streaming, it’s unsurprising to know that US bettors placed around $1.39 billion sports bets on the NFL’s annual ultimate event.

The finals, which featured the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, showcased the profitability of legal sports betting. However, this number pales in comparison to the Super Bowl LVIII reports, which forecasted $23.1 billion in bets but included bets placed outside of legal US sportsbooks.

Over 30 million Americans wager an average of $2 billion in the Super Bowl alone. Some bet through sportsbooks like BitKings, while others place their bets in person, especially in states like Nevada and New Jersey.

8. Over 50% of US bettors prefer to gamble on American Football in 2024.

(Statista)

According to Statista’s 2024 research, 30% of the study’s participants were involved in sports betting. Of these participants, 51% reported that American football was the sport on which they placed their bets.

Second to Football was Basketball, with 38% of sports bettors mentioning they preferred the sport. Baseball and Soccer followed closely, with 25%. Other sports that American bettors prefer to gamble on include boxing, tennis, and ice hockey.

9. The 4th quarter of 2024 in the US horse racing scene saw a 5.01% decrease in handles compared to the previous 4th quarter of the year.

(Bloodhorse)

In 2023, the American horse racing market generated $11.656 billion from approximately 31,746 US races that year, with an average race day betting rate of $3.005 million. Those numbers dropped by 3.35% in 2024 to $11.27 billion.

The 5.01% decline in the last quarter was attributed to the holiday season coinciding with a weekend, which can impact sports bets late in the year. Additionally, cancellations due to winter weather can significantly impact betting totals.

Additionally, the decrease in pari-mutuel bets also factors in how some bettors have refrained from betting due to computer-assisted groups that have tote access and receive rebates for high-volume bets. Their last-minute and retail wagers can substantially influence odds.

10. Basketball is the most popular sport to bet on in the US, with 52.7% of bets as of the third quarter of 2023.

(Statista, Open Court Basketball, Doc’s Sports Service, Variety)

American sports bettors find basketball ideal for live betting due to its high-scoring and competitive nature. The NBA and NCAA are the most profitable sports to bet on in the US, as shown by the weekly bets below:

• NBA – 50% weekly bets
• College Basketball – 16% weekly bets

The user-friendly interface and accessibility of mobile basketball betting apps allow users to bet conveniently anywhere it is legal, such as Cloutbet Casino.

11. Men’s and Women’s College Basketball tournaments generated more than $2.7 billion in sports betting handles in 2024.

(American Gaming)

The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimates that American bettors will spend $3.1 billion on the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball tournaments in 2025, representing a notable 14.8% increase from the $2.7 billion spent in 2024.

The months of March and April are highlights for US sports bettors, marked by the March Madness frenzy, which showcases Americans’ passion for the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. 

The AGA also added that 75% of Americans support legal sports gambling in their home states, while 90% of the US TV viewers believe that sports betting is an acceptable form of entertainment.

12. The 2023-2024 NFL season garnered an estimated 76 million American sports bettors.

(Spectrum Local News)

In 2024, the NFL estimated a 60% increase in US bettors, compared to 2023’s 46.6 million sports bettors, which affected the total bets in the 2023-2024 season. The large bets in 2024 show the league’s popularity and the varied betting market.

Statistics on American Sports Betting Spending Trends

Gambling industry experts predict that the online sports betting scene will soon balloon into a billion-dollar market, with a projected market value of $27.15 billion by 2029, showing a CAGR of 8.63% from the $16.52 billion in GGR from the online sports betting market in 2024.

The primary factors driving the demand for sports betting include varying gambling habits on a global scale, diverse legal gambling landscapes, the adoption of smart devices for betting, and the expansion of digital infrastructure.

The statistics below examine the factors that will influence the growth and trends in American Sports betting spending over the coming years.

13. In 2024, 20% of Americans were involved in some form of sports betting.

(Nerd Wallet)

With 82% of the US opening its sports betting market to legal service providers, the number of American sports bettors is skyrocketing year over year. 1 in 5 (20%) Americans say they’ve bet on sports in 2024, a 67% increase from the 12% Americans participating in sports betting in 2023.

14. Experts forecast the eSports betting scene to reach around $3.2 billion by 2027.

(Coaches Database, Statista)

The eSports betting scene is slowly gaining dominance in the gambling market, with a revenue prediction of $2.34 billion by the end of 2023. Experts also anticipate a CAGR of 8.05% from 2023 to 2027. As a result, the eSports betting market is poised to grow to around $3.19 billion by the end of 2027.

Esports has a global audience of around 530 million, creating a massive potential customer base. Additionally, betting has become more accessible, as players can now do it from anywhere.

15. Almost 65% of US sports bettors participate in gambling as an extra source of income.

(Nerdwallet)

In 2024, a study suggested that American sports bettors reported spending an average of $3,284 on sports gambling in the past 12 months, with ⅔ of the participants claiming they participate in sports bets to make extra money.

16. A 2024 Statista study showed that 29% of Americans saw sports betting as addictive as illegal substances.

(Statista)

According to the 2024 Statista research on American sports betting, the study inquired about the participants’ general views toward sports betting. Out of the 1,030 participants, 29% mentioned that sports betting was as addictive as alcohol, drugs, or tobacco.

However, around 25% of the American participants, aged 16-50, found sports betting enjoyable and believed it made watching professional sports more exciting, while 14% expressed support for it if sports gambling were legalized.

17. From 2018 to 2022, debt collections increased by 8%, a trend that experts attribute to the 2018 repeal of PASPA.

(Investopedia)

According to a UCLA study, consumer financial health worsened in US states that legalized online and retail sports gambling. Between 2018 and 2022, credit scores decreased by an average of 1%.

The study also found that debt collection rates in those US states with legal sports betting increased by 8%, and bankruptcy filings rose by 28%, resulting in approximately 30,000 additional bankruptcies annually.

18. 2023 projects a 46% annual increase in US sports betting revenue.

(Insider Intelligence, Lines)

US sports betting revenue will generate $10.85 billion in 2023, a 46% increase from 2022. Moreover, US online sports bettors are expected to increase from 19 million in 2022 to 23.1 million in 2023.

The increasing number of participants indicates the amount spent on sports betting each year. The massive rise in sports bettors willing to invest in bets is the driving force behind the significant surge in sports betting revenue.

19. Mobile devices accounted for approximately 70% of the US online betting revenue in 2020.

(Focus Gaming News)

In 2020, approximately 62% of online gambling was focused on sports, with roughly 70% of these sports bets placed on mobile devices.

Several factors contribute to the frequent usage of mobile devices for bets. One is the availability of mobile payment apps such as Apple Pay. Bettors can link their banks to these mobile payment apps and check which casinos accept the platforms.

Another factor is the availability of 5G technology, which enables players to bet conveniently, accounting for 55% of mobile bets.

20. In 2022, 42% of sports bettors believed that wagers make the games more exciting.

(USA Today)

Results from the research suggested that 56% found gambling enjoyable, while 42% believed that personal wagers, such as live betting, heightened the excitement of games. These numbers reflect gamblers’ thoughts on the motivations and experiences that drive their engagement in this activity.

Post-Game Analysis

The rapid growth and economic significance of the US sports betting industry show the passion Americans have for sports and gambling, the increasing popularity of online wagers, and the potential impact of emerging technologies.

Exploring aspects of the US sports betting market, including revenues, state tax contributions, and sports preferences, highlights the passion of US fans for their sports.

Statistics indicate a growing need for policymakers and stakeholders to tailor their strategies to promote responsible and accessible sports betting experiences, thereby fostering the growth of the market.