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The latest US sports betting statistics make for interesting reading, especially since 39 states (and the District of Columbia) have legalized sports betting. Sportsbooks in these states have generated net cumulative lifetime revenues of $35.86 billion since Delaware became only the second jurisdiction to legalize sports betting in June 2018.
But what other sports betting statistics highlight the growth of the market, and what are the main demographics in the US? We’ll explore all this and more in the guide below.
| US Betting Handle 2018 – 2024 | Total State Tax Contribution | No. of Active Gamblers | Expected Revenue Growth | % of Problem Gamblers in the US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $423,740,350,000 | $6,702,495,897 | 58 Million | 5.09% per year through 2029 | 1% (2.5 million) |
What is a Sports Betting Handle?
During detailed sports betting statistical analysis, the term sports betting handle refers to the total amount of money that has been wagered by bettors. It may apply to a specific game or event (such as the Super Bowl), or a particular financial year.
You can break down this figure further by calculating a state or site’s gross gaming revenue (GGR). This is the amount of money that remains with the casino brand before the deduction of tax and expenses.
Another of the key statistics of online sports betting is the net gaming revenue (NGR). This reveals a state or sportsbook’s bottom line profit, after key deductions including tax payments, bonuses, royalties, and commissions have been paid.
Sports Betting Stats and Trends
In terms of current sports betting stats and trends, it’s clear that American football and the NFL dominate betting volumes in the US. Legal sportsbooks took an estimated $1.39 billion in bets for Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, for example, while the American Gaming Association (AGA) also revealed that around $35 billion was wagered during the regular season.
Basketball is the second most popular sport to bet on in the US. Approximately 38% of US adults wagered on basketball during the year ending February 2025, including the NBA regular season, playoffs, and finals. The AGA has also forecast that $3.1 billion will be bet on this year’s men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments, during March Madness.
Other seminal sports betting events include baseball’s World Series, The Masters in golf, and the iconic Indianapolis 500. As recently as 2022, the betting handle for the Kentucky Derby peaked at $179 million, with this figure up by 17% when compared with the previous year. These events dominate sports betting in the United States year-on-year.
How Many People Gamble in the US?
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, some 85% of all US adults (around 290 million people) have gambled at least once in their lives. A further 60% have wagered within the previous 12 months, with around half of this figure betting on sporting events.
When it comes to individual states, New York and New Jersey account for the biggest sports betting handles. NYC has generated a lifetime sports betting handle of $56,264,605,858 since 2018, while banking total revenue of $5,004,633,335. Interestingly, New Jersey has generated a slightly lower revenue of $4,472,220,807, despite its impressive handle of $58,474,031,778.
Illinois, Virginia, and Pennsylvania were the next three biggest US states from the perspective of total handles and gambling participation in 2024. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of these figures:
| State | Betting Handle 2024 | Betting Handle 2023 | Betting Handle 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $22,624,505,165 | $19,103,521,572 | $16,288,073,156 |
| Illinois | $14,016,684,933 | $11,620,474,009 | $9,751,301,251 |
| New Jersey | $12,774,039,219 | $11,972,320,289 | $10,944,593,978 |
| Virginia | $6,925,832,328 | $5,590,022,862 | $4,914,954,449 |
| Pennsylvania | $6,592,516,051 | $7,683,099,581 | $7,251,428,758 |
Sports Betting Demographics
In addition to learning how many Americans gamble, it’s interesting to analyze and break down this number further. But which gambling demographics are dominant in the US and continuing to drive the market and sports betting popularity in general?
| Activity | 18-30yrs | 31-40yrs | 41-50yrs | 51-60yrs | 61yrs+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Betting | 61% | 60% | 58% | 53% | 35% |
| Annual Average Spend | $1,181 | $830 | $1,308 | $1.037 | $769 |
Facts About Sports Betting – US Legal Situation
The federal PAPSA ruling was struck down by the US Supreme Court in May 2018. Since this date, some 39 US states have sought to legalize sports betting in one way or another, with Missouri the latest to do so earlier this year. Here are some interesting facts about sports betting in the US:
- Fact 1 – Americans have wagered more than $420 billion on sports since the Supreme Court moved to strike down the PAPSA legislation in 2018. This is one of the more startling online sports betting statistics
- Fact 2 – On average, US households spend approximately $1,100 a year on sports betting. According to some studies, however, this sees households cut back on investments and the amount committed to savings.
- Fact 3 – Sports betting now represents more than 40% of the online gambling market in the US. This makes it the second most lucrative vertical behind online casino wagering.
- Fact 4 – In terms of how many people bet on sports, we’ve already touched on the fact that 60% of Americans have wagered on events within the previous 12 months. However, 31% of residents place at least one sports bet each week.
- Fact 5 – New York has produced the biggest state betting handle in 2023 and 2024. It has also ranked first for tax revenue generation during these years, producing $1.21 billion in 2023 alone
Sports Betting Stats and Trends – Top 4 US Betting Events
The US is home to some of the largest and most bet-on sporting events in the world. But which events and forms of gambling generate the most revenue for sportsbooks?
NCAA March Madness Tournament
Despite the profile and popularity of the Super Bowl, this event only hosts a single match. However, the NCAA March Madness tournament features 68 competing college teams, and Americans are expected to wager $3.1 billion on the event during 2025.
Outside of the NBA, this remains the best-known and most popular basketball tournament in the world. If you include bets placed with offshore sportsbooks, Americans wagered $8.5 billion in March Madness in 2019 alone.
The Super Bowl
Among popular events and the most bet on sports in the US, the Super Bowl is next on our list. Around $1.39 billion was wagered on Super Bowl LIX, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. The amount wagered on the previous Super Bowl was $1.25 billion.
This refers to legal bets, and you’ll notice that the amount wagered is nearly half the total bet during March Madness. However, the Super Bowl is more widely watched and wagered on across the globe.
The MLB World Series
The coveted MLB Championship (or ‘World’) Series is also incredibly popular among bettors. This is a seven-game series that determines the eventual MLB champion each season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers beating the New York Yankees 4-1 in 2024.
Although there aren’t precise sports betting stats and figures available for the 2024 World Series, the regular MLB regularly sees more than $1.1 billion wagered each year nationwide.
The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a thoroughbred race and one leg of the coveted Triple Crown, alongside the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Taking place at Churchill Downs, an estimated $210.7 million was wagered on the 150th race iteration in 2024, as Mystik Dan won in a photo finish. Interestingly, the total amount bet increased by $20 million from the previous year.
The 2025 iteration of the race is scheduled to take place at the same venue, on Saturday, May 3rd,2025. When addressing how many people gamble in the US, a significant number of casual bettors wager on the Kentucky Derby.
Sports Betting Statistical Analysis
When you’re wagering on selected events and matches, you should know that there are various statistics for sports betting. Here are some of the key performance metrics and sports betting facts to consider when wagering on specific disciplines:
You can access a huge selection of football betting statistics when wagering on the NFL. At NFL.com, you can access detailed performance stats, including total passing and running yards for players, team form, and even analysis of the leading rookies. These metrics can help to inform both team and player prop wagers.
At NBA.com, you can also access a detailed breakdown of team and player performances. This includes historical data and information from the current season. Key performance stats include points, rebounds, assists, and turnovers recorded during the current season, while you can even access information about the most recent round of matches.
MLB.com is home to detailed hitting and pitching statistics. Here, you can analyze key datasets such as batting average, the number of home runs scored, and a player’s on-base percentage. At Team Rankings, you’ll also find the average runs scored by individual franchises, with a clear delineation made between home and away form.
The NHL.com resource is packed full of team and player data. The site has clear categories for specific positions, which unlock key datasets such as the number of shutouts recorded (by goalkeepers), average shots-per-game, and shots against per 60 minutes.
There are various resources available to golf bettors, including the official PGA Tour site. This includes some incredibly detailed datasets, including current season scoring averages, greens-in-regulation (GIR), and putting percentages. You can also break down driving distances and accuracy, which is key ahead of majors such as The Masters, where players must compete on an extended and tricky course.
Depending on whether you’re betting on men’s or women’s tennis, you can access player statistics from the ATP Tour site or the WTA alternative. This uses data to reveal the sport’s leading servers and returners, alongside the players who perform best under pressure (using break point save and conversion percentages to build rankings).
The Equibase site is a great resource for fans of horse racing betting. Here, you can access detailed form analysis while breaking down performances across different distances, race types, and grades. You can also access granular data on the leading jockeys and trainers.
Future Trends in Sports Betting
Between now and 2030, it’s estimated that the US sports betting market will grow at a CAGR of 10.5%. This is even though just 39 of the 50 US states have now legalized sports betting, as some jurisdictions continue to develop their digital infrastructure and issue more licenses.
However, some states have arguably reached a saturation point when it comes to their sports betting handles. In New Jersey, for example, the 2024 betting handle reached $12.7 billion, up from just $11.9 billion the previous year. This particular number is unlikely to increase markedly in the future.
Another key US sports betting market trend revolves around AI and applications like ChatGPT. Recently, we have seen AI and predictive analytics evolve to create more accurate odds at sportsbooks. Bettors are now leveraging these trends too, to formulate more effective betting strategies that help identify the best odds, wager types, and accurate profit/loss breakdowns.
Chat GPT makes this type of strategy more accessible than ever before. This resource can even carry out rapid comparative analysis of different bookmakers in real-time, enabling you to leverage the best possible promotions and any available odds boosts.
Responsible Betting Trends & Statistics
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, some 2.5 million US adults (1% of the total population) meet the criteria for having a serious gambling compulsion. The NCPG also estimates that the cumulative social cost of problem gambling is around $14 billion.
Interestingly, a further 5-8 million US adults (up to 3%) are considered to have mild compulsions and the potential to develop a gambling addiction in the future. If you believe you fit in this category, consider checking out our responsible gambling resource at ReadWrite, or visit the following independent organizations for help:
Conclusion – The Future of Sports Betting in the US
In total, there are now more than 58 million gamblers in the US, with Americans having wagered around $420 billion on sports since May 2018. The sports betting market will continue to grow in the near-term too, particularly with additional states expected to legalize and regulate the practice in the coming years.
As states like New Jersey and New York reach saturation points in terms of their sports betting handles, the focus is likely to switch more towards ensuring a responsible gambling experience. This will help to reduce the number of problem gamblers and prevent others from developing compulsive behaviors.
