10 Facts About How Much Americans Spend on Sports Betting

US sports betting is now America’s fastest-growing form of entertainment. Since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, sports betting has been legalized by 39 states, though in some form, fueling record-breaking growth. American customers legally bet between $148 billion and $150 billion in 2024. This generated a record $13.7 billion in operator revenue, a 23% year-over-year boost, according to the American Gaming Association’s 2025 State of the States report. 

Industry growth is heavily driven by digitalization and mobile accessibility, which have made it easy for millions of Americans to place sports wagers through apps and websites. DraftKings and FanDuel, the two industry giants, control almost two-thirds of the market within the country, leading the industry in marketing and technology. Platforms such as Amunra mirror this wider trend, developing from internet casino services to complete US sports betting environments, competing on innovation and regional license strategies.

How Many States Allow Sports Betting

As of 2025, 39 U.S. states have legalized sports betting in one form or another (retail, online/mobile, or both). Retail-only approval authorizes wagers in person at licensed sportsbooks, and online approval permits wagers on web or mobile apps statewide within geofenced areas.

North Carolina demonstrates the transition from book to online: the state legalized mobile sport betting and went online on March 11, 2024, three years after books went retail.

By contrast, two giant markets remain outstanding. There is currently no legal retail or online sports betting in California as of 2025; voters rejected 2022 ballot measures, and subsequent attempts have not resulted in legalization. Texas also has not legalized sports betting USA. Although proposals continue to surface, passage remains unlikely in the current legislative climate.

Seasonal Patterns: Why NFL, March Madness and Super Bowl Drive the Numbers

Certain portions of the year push sports-betting handle sharply higher. Super Bowl LIX will bet about $1.39 billion in 2025. Super Bowl LIX will stake approximately $1.39 billion in 2025. The NFL regular season and playoffs, NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, and NBA playoffs are a few other busy times. These season spikes account for a major portion of the annual handle because so many sports bettors concentrate their business around marquee events.What sports do Americans bet on the most

When Americans bet money on sports, their preferences are clear, and the data prove it. According to a Statista Consumer Insights survey of 1,030 U.S. respondents aged 16-50, about 30 % of Americans reported placing at least one sports bet in the previous 12 months. Of these active sports bettors, the majority favored football, with 51 % saying they wagered on NFL or college games. This makes football the undisputed king of sports betting USA.

Basketball ranked second at about 38 %, driven by both March Madness betting and NBA bets. Baseball and soccer trailed closely, each garnering about 25 % of bettors, due to their strong fan base and increased real-time, live betting. Other popular categories included:

• Boxing (18 %);
• Tennis (11 %);
• Ice hockey (11 %).

Together, they form the smaller but consistent share of betting activity.

How Much Does the Average Bettor Spend?

Kellogg School of Management studies reveal that online sports gambling families spend an average of approximately $1,100 per year on sports wagers:

• About 65 % of sports bettors place bets in the $1-$100 per month range;
• 20-23 % bet between $101-$500 per month;
• Roughly 9-12 % bet more than $500 per month.

The average can be pulled up by heavy bettors. The median is likely lower. In states that legalized online betting, household spending was associated with increased bankruptcies.

For example, one report estimated a 28 % increase in state bankruptcy filings within the first four years.

Growth of the Esports Betting Market

While traditional sports dominate now, the growth of esports betting is notable. Globally, projections show the esports online betting USA or esports market will continue to expand strongly. For example, one report indicates the global esports betting market size was about USD 2.614 billion in 2024, with North America accounting for a large share and growth continuing at a moderate rate.

Although specific U.S. figures are less detailed, it’s clear that with a global audience of about 530 million (or more) for esports, there’s a large potential base for the future of sports betting / esports betting. With betting becoming more accessible (mobile apps, live streaming), this segment is expected to grow significantly.

29% of Americans Saw Sports Betting as Addictive as Illegal Substances

According to a 2024 survey by the market-research firm Statista, among U.S. respondents 29% said that sports betting is as addictive as alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. Meanwhile, about 25% of participants aged 16-50 said they found sports betting enjoyable and that it made watching professional sports more exciting. 14 % expressed support for banning sports betting entirely. The attraction to gambling and the fear of damage are built into these findings in a large minority of the population.

The Rise in Popularity of Mobile Betting

Mobile and online lie at the core of the sports-betting craze. In 2020, about 62 % of all online gambling in the U.S. was focused on sports, and among that, about 70 % of bets came via mobile devices. Reasons include:

• The ubiquity of mobile payment apps like Apple Pay (making deposits easy);
• Widespread 5G connectivity enabling smooth live bets;
• Platforms using geolocation (via GeoComply) to ensure compliance/geo-fencing.

States without a license still restrict access for bettors, using age verification and KYC (know-your-customer) checks. Mobile access has thus made betting more convenient, and more frequent.

Market Structure: Dominance by FanDuel & DraftKings

The US sports-betting market is concentrated. The two giant platforms, DraftKings and FanDuel, are estimated by the industry to have some 60-65 % market share. For example, some reporting puts the figure at roughly two-thirds of the market.

Other newer entrants like ESPN Bet and Fanatics are gaining attention, but their share remains much smaller. These firms have large marketing budgets and deep ties to sports media, yet they still face the incumbent duopoly’s advantage in user base and brand recognition.

The Main Motivation for Betting Among Players: to Earn Additional Income

Surveys of sports bettors show the following motivations:

• Roughly 65 % of bettors say their main reason is to try to earn additional income;
• About 53 % say they bet for social entertainment;
• About 31 % believe in betting as an investment.

However, treating sports betting as an investment carries significant risk. The house-edge means returns are uncertain and losses are more likely than gains. 14 % of the population had debts on sports betting since they had bet on sports in the past 12 months. Responsible-gaming advice consists of bankroll management (bet within one’s means), deposit/ loss limits, and contacting assistance if one’s betting gets uncontrolled.

New York’s Leadership in the Sports Betting Market

In August 2025, the New York State Gaming Commission reported that the monthly sports-betting handle in New York State reached $2.04 billion, up 41.9 % compared to August 2024, and up 45.9 % compared to July’s ~$1.4 billion. These results underline New York’s role as the leading U.S. market in terms of size and growth.

Post-match Analysis

In brief, the American sports-betting market is growing rapidly. Handle from legal venues comes in at around $148 billion, while revenue in the market reaches nearly $13.7 billion in 2024. Mobile usage dominates, leading players claim most of the market, and holiday events (Super Bowl, March Madness) drive peaks.

But with growth comes problems: average spend (~$1,100 per year per active user/household), danger of harming financially strained households, and the need for regulation to catch up. As more states legalize and online/mobile platforms evolve, the future of sports betting in America will be driven by two forces: innovation and convenience, and consumer protection and regulation.

There is, thus, a requirement for balanced regulation that brings together technology (geo-fencing, KYC, deposit restrictions), education (responsible gaming), and policy (licensing, taxation) in such a manner that growth in this business is not realized at the cost of consumer harm.