The United States has seen a steep decline in gambling over the past decade, a surprising result given the proliferation of online sports betting.
A Gallup poll found just 45% of people had partaken in one or more forms of gambling over the past year, compared to 64% in 2016. Previous polls going back to 2003 had the proportion of people who partook in gambling hovering steadily around two-thirds of the population, only to plummet to less than half as of 2026.
Results were skewed by age and gender, with the younger demographic pushing the total of gamblers decisively downward. Women were much less likely to gamble than men at 40% and 49%, respectively, with women aged 18 to 49 the least likely at just 35%.
However, even among older people and men, gambling had sharply declined. The poll found the percentage of gamblers declining across the board, with the only question being how dramatically among each subgroup.
Despite the decline in gambling, complaints that it’s led to familial problems have increased. Those reporting that gambling has caused family problems is the highest it’s been in over 25 years, with 9% of respondents reporting problems. Between 2003 and 2016, this total was 6%-7%.
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The much-watched proliferation of online betting markets has failed to make a sizable dent, according to the survey. Only 7% of respondents said they had bet on a sports event over the past year, down from 10% in 2016. Just 4% reported playing a fantasy sports game for money, and just 2% reported betting on a prediction market, such as Polymarket or Kalshi.
Though gambling is at an all-time low, the problems generated by it are reaching new heights. The ascent of Polymarket, Kalshi, and other event prediction markets has led to new opportunities for insider trading. The past year has seen the first prosecutions of soldiers and military figures using classified knowledge to make money on these prediction markets.