Online sports betting is reaching more Americans, with new survey data showing continued growth in participation alongside concerns about gambling-related harm. More people are opening accounts and placing wagers, while reports of risky behavior have also increased.
The survey found that 27% of Americans now have an active online sports betting account, up from 22% in 2025 and 19% in 2024. Among men aged 18 to 49, participation rises to 52%. Of those with accounts, 83% said they actively place bets, matching last year’s figure.
Rising Participation Linked To Risky Habits
Among bettors, 60% said they had chased losses by placing additional wagers. The survey of 3,084 respondents also recorded increases in several negative indicators tied to gambling behavior.
Although 92% described betting as entertaining and 89% said it improves watching sports, many cited financial motives. Eighty-five percent said they believed they could make money, and 83% favored bets offering higher payouts.
Spending has also increased, with 63% reporting wagers of at least $100 in a single day, up seven percentage points. Meanwhile, 31% said someone had confronted them about their betting, compared with 23% the year before, and 27% admitted misrepresenting their activity.
Other responses point to strain. Around 42% said they bet more than intended, while 43% felt regret after losses. Fifteen percent said they had contacted a gambling helpline or sought support, rising from 9%. In addition, 22% said they knew someone with a gambling problem linked to online betting.
“The results show that online sports betting remains an active part of life for a significant portion of Americans,”SRI Director Don Levy said in the release.
Strong Demand For Tighter Regulation
Public support for oversight remains high. Half of respondents support legal sports betting nationwide, while 67% said the federal government should “aggressively regulate” the sector.
Concerns include access and promotion. A total of 74% said allowing 18-year-olds to bet is a serious issue, including 69% of those aged 18 to 34. Meanwhile, 53% support banning sportsbook advertising during broadcasts, and 48% believe analyst mentions of betting harm sports.
More than half, 56%, said online betting could lead to corruption in organized sports, and 51% opposed NCAA rule changes allowing certain individuals to bet on professional sports.
“Legal and accessible gambling is perhaps the defining issue facing the sports world in the 2020s,”Dr. Brian Moritz said in the release.
“What our survey shows is that sports fans have a complicated relationship with sports gambling.[…] But the growing support for restrictions on sportsbooks’ advertising during live sporting events as well as support for restrictions on betting on college sports show a desire for some guardrails to be put in place around legal and accessible gambling.”
Prediction Markets Draw Similar Scrutiny
The survey found that 15% of Americans have used prediction market platforms for sports-related wagers. That share rises to 42% among avid fans and 33% among men aged 18 to 49.
A majority, 65%, said such platforms should be regulated in the same way as traditional sports betting, rising to 73% among men aged 19 to 49.
Source:
“More Americans are Betting on Sports. Over Half Report Chasing Losses: Poll”, gamblinginsider.com, April 15, 2026
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