Overview
- Gallup's telephone poll of 2,201 adults conducted June 1–July 19, 2026 found 45% said they gambled in the past year, down from 64% in 2016.
- The biggest drops were in traditional forms: state lottery play fell from 49% to 31%, in‑person casino gambling from 26% to 14%, and office sports pools from 15% to 7%.
- Participation fell across income, age and gender groups, with 54% of households earning $100,000 or more reporting gambling versus 40% of lower‑income adults and 49% of men versus 40% of women.
- Survey mode affected results: a parallel Gallup online poll measured 53% overall participation and higher sports betting, while the phone poll found only about 4% reporting online gambling.
- Reports that gambling caused family problems rose to 9%, the highest in more than 25 years, and recent prosecutions alleging insider trading on prediction markets have driven new regulatory attention to online betting platforms.