Gambling has never been more accessible to consumers within the U.S. than it is currently. The majority of states (38) have legalized sports betting; Sweepstakes Casinos offer their services across the country; Online Casino Platforms continue to expand into additional jurisdictions. For the majority of gamblers, they gamble recreationally. However, there exists a substantial minority of individuals whose gambling will develop into an addictive behavior that creates serious financial, emotional, and social problems.

The following is a compilation of the most up-to-date research-based information regarding problem gambling in the united states including prevalence estimates of problem gambling, economic costs associated with problem gambling, demographic risk factors for developing problem gambling, and treatment outcomes for individuals who have developed problem gambling. Due to the limited availability of data from peer reviewed journals or federal/state reports specific to 2026 as well as the continued expansion of Commercial Gaming since the legalization of gaming activities, the data included herein represents the most recently conducted and/or published research and governmental reports.

What Is Problem Gambling? Definitions and Diagnostic Criteria

Problem gambling isn’t just one specific thing. There’s generally recognized as a continuum ranging from casual gamblers to those at risk, then to problem gamblers and finally to people with what has been called gambling disorder, which was the first time it was ever included in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Gambling Disorder can be determined if someone fulfills at least four of these ten criteria over a 12 month period.

• They have to increase their wagering to get the same level of excitement they used to get at lower wagers
• When trying to either quit or cut down their betting activity, they are always restive or irritable
• They have repeatedly tried to curb their need to gamble, and each time they fail
• They spend excessive amounts of time thinking about the last bet they placed and/or the next one they will make
• When feeling upset, they consistently turn to gamble
• Immediately after making a bet and losing money; they return to try to win back some of that money (chasing losses).
• They lie to hide how much time they spend betting
• Because of their betting habits, they have put at risk or lost something significant such as employment, education, relationships etc.
• They rely on other people for money to help them out of financial trouble created by their own betting.

The NCPG says there are approximately 2 – 3 times more individuals who suffer from problem gambling than those who actually qualify as having a gambling disorder.

US Prevalence: How Many Americans Are Affected?

Category	Estimated Population	% of US Adults	Primary Source
Gambling disorder (DSM-5)	5-8 million	1.7-2.4%	NCPG / APA
Problem gambling (broader)	10-15 million	3-4.5%	NCPG 2024 Report
At-risk / recreational harm	20-30 million	6-9%	SAMHSA Survey Data
Lifetime gambling participation	~215 million	~65%	Gallup / AGA
Past-year gambling participation	~155 million	~47%	AGA State of Gaming 2025

Demographic Data: Who Is Most at Risk?

There are certain demographics identified as being at an increased risk for problem gambling. While problem gambling can occur at any age, at any income level and within any other demographic profile, there are consistent patterns of research indicating these specific demographic characteristics.

Demographics

The sex demographic has traditionally indicated men experience significantly higher rates of gambling disorder than women generally around 2:1 in prevalence studies. That being said; however; the difference is closing. Online gambling platforms now provide individuals greater anonymity than traditional casinos. As such, female problem gambling rates have risen dramatically during the last ten years.

Men tend to gamble using action gambling methods (e.g., poker, casino table games, sports wagering). Men typically escalate from social gamblers to problem gamblers more quickly. Women tend to use escape gambling methods (e.g., slot machines, bingo, lottery). Women may also begin experiencing problem gambling earlier in their lives but will then develop their problems more quickly once they initiate gambling behaviors – known as the telescoping effect.

Age

Young adults represent the largest age demographic at an increased risk in today’s gambling environment. Sports betting has resulted in a major impact on young adults by placing a betting interface into the pocket of nearly every adult in states where sports wagering is legal.

Age Group	Problem Gambling Rate	Notes
18-24	4.5-6.2%	Highest risk group; elevated by sports betting apps
25-34	3.8-5.1%	High exposure to online platforms; rising sharply since 2020
35-44	2.4-3.5%	Peak earning years; high-stakes gambling common
45-54	1.8-2.8%	Brick-and-mortar casino gamblers overrepresented
55-64	1.2-2.0%	Lottery and slot machine play dominant
65+	0.8-1.4%	Lower rate but higher financial vulnerability per incident

Income and Socioeconomic Status

The income/problem gambling relationship is somewhat complex. While low-income families may be more prone to gamble with a larger portion of their overall income (percentage-wise) they do not have a greater propensity to experience problem gambling. When individuals from low-income households experience gambling problems, however, the resulting financial ramifications can be significantly worse than those experienced by individuals from higher-income households. This can lead to increased difficulty for these individuals to recover from the effects of their gambling problems because many will lack sufficient resources to obtain effective treatments.

Lower-income households (under $30,000/year) report that they spend an average of 3-4% of gross income per year on gaming activities. In contrast, upper-income households (> $100,000) typically only spend approximately .6% of gross income per year on gaming activities.

Lottery play is also more prevalent among lower-income zip code residents who view playing the lottery as a possible means to achieve upward economic mobility.

Sports Betting and the New Risk Landscape

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. NCAA (2018) paved the way for each of the states to legalize sports betting. Since that time, this industry has rapidly expanded – as well as introduced new forms of problem gambling exposure.

Sports betting differs from casino gaming in its integration within the medium by which fans consume their games. Sports odds are displayed during broadcasts; applications for wagering on sports will provide customers with push notifications based upon real-time events occurring during a game; same-game parlays provide customers with the opportunity to make additional wagers throughout an individual game. Each of these aspects of sports wagering applications are similar to the variable ratio reinforcement schedules typically found in behavioral addictions.

Metric	Figure	Source
US sports betting handle, 2025	$148.7 billion	AGA State of Gaming 2025
States with legal sports betting (2026)	38 + DC	Legal Sports Report
Problem gambling rate in legal vs. non-legal states	~30% higher	Journal of Gambling Studies, 2024
Sports bettors who bet daily or near-daily	~22%	NCPG Sports Betting Survey, 2024
Sports bettors meeting problem gambling criteria	~6%	NCPG Sports Betting Survey, 2024
18-24 year olds who have placed a sports bet	~47%	Morning Consult, 2025

Sweepstakes Casinos and Online Gambling: Emerging Data

Sweepstakes casinos create a legal distinction between themselves and other licensed real-money gambling operators – while using virtual currencies to buy gold coins and sweeps coins (the currencies used at sweepstakes casino), players do not bet real money. Yet, many sweepstakes casinos mirror the design and mechanisms of Slot Machines, Casino Table Games, Video Poker, etc., with near-identical fidelity. As user base increases, so does researcher interest in determining if the Problem Gambling Risk associated with playing at sweepstakes casinos mirrors that of real-money gamblers.

As of early 2026, formal longitudinal studies assessing the incidence of Problem Gambling at sweepstakes casinos are still limited. The existing research indicates:

• Year-to-year self-exclusion request rates are increasing among major sweepstakes casino platforms – suggesting an increase in awareness by users of potential problem play patterns.
• Problem gamble behaviors (loss-chasing, extended sessions, hiding play from family members, etc.) were identified through qualitative survey research completed by harm reduction researchers who studied a subset of sweepstakes casino player populations.
• Documented crossover behavior exists among a portion of sweepstakes casino players who transitioned into participating in Real-Money Online Gaming. Some researchers believe that sweepstakes platforms may be serving as “on ramps” for players transitioning into Higher-Risk Wagering.

Responsible gaming practices are becoming more prevalent within the industry. Many responsible operators are starting to implement more robust harm mitigation tools, such as purchase limits, session timers, reality checks and dedicated responsible gaming pages. While there are emerging industry standards related to these topics, the regulatory landscape remains fragmented.

Treatment: Access, Utilization, and Outcomes

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has the most research support for treating gambling disorder. CBT research continues to show consistent decreases in how frequently an individual gambles; the amount of money lost due to gambling; and/or the degree of psychological distress experienced by the individual. However, very few individuals who suffer from gambling disorder ever receive formal treatment for it.

There is a huge gap between the number of people who suffer from gambling disorders and those who obtain formal help. Less than ten percent of all individuals suffering from gambling disorder will go on to get some form of formal help.

Available Treatments

Treatment Type	Evidence Level	Notes
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)	Strong	Most evidence-based; addresses thought distortions and triggers
Gamblers Anonymous (12-step)	Moderate	Widely available peer support; outcomes variable
Motivational Interviewing	Moderate	Effective for ambivalent patients; often combined with CBT
Medication (naltrexone)	Emerging	Shows promise for reducing urges; not FDA-approved for gambling
Helpline support	Limited-Moderate	NCPG helpline (1-800-522-4700) is an effective first contact
Online / app-based programs	Emerging	Accessibility advantage; long-term outcome data limited

Helplines, Resources, and Self-Help Tools

If you or someone you know suffers from gambling addiction, the below free resources can help.

Resource	Contact	What It Offers
National Problem Gambling Helpline	1-800-522-4700 / text 800GAM	24/7 call, text, and chat; referrals to local treatment providers
NCPG Website	ncpgambling.org	Treatment finder, self-assessment tools, and state-by-state resources
Gamblers Anonymous	gamblersanonymous.org	Meeting finder; peer support groups available nationwide
National Alliance on Mental Illness	nami.org / 1-800-950-6264	Mental health support; particularly useful for co-occurring conditions
Crisis Text Line	Text HOME to 741741	Free, confidential crisis support available 24/7

Conclusion

Problem gambling is a serious and growing public health issue as the number of opportunities to gamble legally have expanded throughout the U.S. Millions of people are negatively impacted by problem gambling on both an emotional and financial level. With those negative impacts estimated to cost society billions per year, there continues to be insufficient funding available for treatment services. In fact, during the last decade or so, the gap between how large the problem is compared to what we are doing to address it has become larger.

With the continued expansion of legalized sports betting, coupled with the rise of online gaming such as sweepstakes casino-style games, the risk environment will continue to change. All three sectors (industry, policy makers and research) now face a pressing common task: to ensure that increased access to legal gambling is accompanied by an equal increase in the support of harm reduction efforts, early intervention programs and treatment infrastructure.

Determining the size and type of the problem is the first critical component in developing solutions to deal with problem gambling. The numbers presented in this report are meant to provide information to help develop understanding of where we currently are in terms of the problem in 2026; for all interested parties including policymakers, industry operators, professionals providing clinical care, media personnel and everyone else looking for information about where things currently exist.