Research: 28% of American Adults Gamble Daily
New poll published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) reveals that 28% of adults in the United States take part in online gambling on a daily basis.
March Madness is traditionally a hectic time for sportsbooks as Americans flood to both online and land-based bookies to wager on their beloved college basketball teams. March is also a national Gambling Awareness Month and the APA has published an interesting research poll on adult gambling habits in the US.
Evidence Suggests that Especially Men Are More Active Gamblers
Based on the findings already more than a quarter of adults participate in some form of online gambling every day. This includes sports betting, daily fantasy sports, online casino and sweepstakes activity. The numbers were significantly different by gender as 36% of men and only 20% of women reported daily gambling habits.
For most, online gaming takes minutes per day but 9% reported 4 hours or longer and 2% said they spent over 10 hours a day for gambling. Easier access to games and betting has increased the risk for problematic behavior. President of the American Psychiatric Association, M.D., Dr. Ramaswamy Viswanathan reminded players about their ability to self-regulation.
“If you are struggling to limit yourself, or seem to have lost enthusiasm for other pastimes, it may be time to draw the line and to ask for help.”, Dr. Viswanathan highlighted when the poll was published in Washington D.C. on the 17th of March 2025.
The data for this survey was collected in January 2025 and the sample size was 2201 adults from which 622 indicated taking part in online gambling daily. The margin of error for the study is +/-4%. The APA is the oldest medical association in the United States, established in 1844.
What to Do If You Think You Have a Gambling Problem?
Have you ever considered that you or someone close to you might have a gambling problem? Help is always available and the first step is to identify is you have any problematic behavior towards gambling. Consider seeking help if:
- You feel like you are playing with money you can't afford to lose
- Gambling doesn't bring you joy or has taken joy out of daily life.
- Your work, school or other responsibilities have suffered due to gambling
- Playing has affected your social life and relationships.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have a gambling problem. Consider contacting local NGOs or international entities like Gamblers Anonymous for additional guidance and help.