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Gambling addiction statistics, 2026

The numbers behind the rise in gambling problems in the United States, with sources you can check. Updated September 2026.

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Gambling addiction statistics, 2026

How much Americans are betting

  • Legal sports betting is available in 40 states plus Washington, D.C., following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that ended the federal ban.
  • Americans wagered a record $166.9 billion with legal U.S. sportsbooks in 2025, up 11% from 2024 (American Gaming Association).
  • Arizona alone took $9.13 billion in sports bets in 2025, with October 2025 setting a monthly record of $967 million (Arizona Department of Gaming figures as reported by InGame and Eastern European Gaming).

Who is asking for help

  • The National Problem Gambling Helpline averaged more than 31,000 contacts a month in 2025 (NCPG 2025 Helpline Annual Report).
  • Nearly half of those contacts came from people ages 18 to 34.
  • More than 73% cited financial struggles, up from 66% the year before.

What it is doing to finances

  • Economists at UCLA and USC, studying credit bureau data from millions of consumers, found that bankruptcies rose roughly 25% to 30% within a few years of states legalizing online sports betting, alongside more collections and lower credit scores (summarized by the American Institute for Boys and Men; see our summary).

What it looks like clinically

  • Gambling disorder is a DSM-5 diagnosis with nine criteria; four or more in a 12-month period meets the threshold. See gambling disorder symptoms.
  • The National Council on Problem Gambling adopted a new helpline number, 1-800-MY-RESET, in January 2026. Arizona's line is 1-800-NEXT-STEP.

Arizona

  • Arizona's Division of Problem Gambling offers self-exclusion (1, 5 or 10 years, irrevocable) from all casinos and from sports betting and fantasy contests, and state-subsidized treatment through 20+ providers.
  • Details on our Arizona resources page.

Sources

  • American Gaming Association, 2025 commercial gaming revenue
  • National Council on Problem Gambling, 2025 National Problem Gambling Helpline Annual Report (May 2026)
  • American Institute for Boys and Men, "How Sports Betting Can Harm Young Men" (Feb. 2025)
  • InGame, Arizona December 2025 sportsbook revenue report
  • Arizona Department of Gaming, Division of Problem Gambling

We update this page as new data is published. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite it with a link.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of Americans have a gambling problem?

Estimates vary by survey and definition. NCPG's national surveys find a meaningful minority of adults report at least one indicator of problematic gambling in a given year. We report only figures we can source.

Is gambling addiction increasing?

Helpline volume, sports betting handle and the research on financial harm all point the same direction since 2018.

Where can I get help right now?

Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET nationally, or 1-800-NEXT-STEP in Arizona. Outpost Recovery is not open yet, but you can request a confidential consultation to talk with our team.

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Outpost Recovery is preparing to open in-person residential and outpatient treatment in Arizona, built only for gambling disorder, including sports betting and prediction market losses. All inquiries are confidential.

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