US Gambling Participation Hits Multi-Year Low According to Gallup Poll

The American gambling industry is currently facing a significant paradox. While legal opportunities for sports betting and online casinos are expanding across more states, the number of people actually participating in gambling has dropped substantially. A Gallup poll conducted between July 1 and July 19, 2026, among 1,200 adults presents a picture that may surprise industry insiders. Only 45 percent of American adults reported spending money on gambling in the past year.

This trend is particularly noteworthy as participation levels were much higher about a decade ago. In 2016, 64 percent of respondents reported such activities, and in 2007, the figure stood at 63 percent. The decline is evident across almost all traditional sectors of the industry. Most notably, interest in state lotteries, traditionally the most popular form of gambling, has plummeted. While 49 percent of respondents reported buying lottery tickets in 2016, that number fell to just 31 percent in the current survey.

Numbers and facts

Detailed results from the Gallup study show a major shift in consumer behavior. Approximately 14 percent of respondents visited a land based casino in the past year, down from 26 percent in 2016. Surprisingly, self reported participation in sports betting remained low. Despite the market explosion following the 2018 reversal of the federal ban, only 7 percent of respondents said they bet on professional sports. This figure is identical to the one recorded in 2007, raising questions about why the massive growth of legal sports betting markets is not reflected in broader population participation.

One possible reason for this discrepancy could be the survey methodology. Gallup acknowledges that people are generally less likely to admit to gambling in telephone interviews than in anonymous online surveys. A parallel online survey showed a participation rate of 53 percent. Nevertheless, the downward trend compared to previous telephone polls persists. Meanwhile, prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are booming, allowing users to wager on the outcomes of elections, wars, or sporting events. These providers argue they offer financial products, not gambling.

Background

The regulatory classification of these emerging platforms is causing legal battles. Last month, the state of New York filed a lawsuit against Kalshi. The allegation is that the company is effectively operating a gambling business without the required state license and is avoiding corresponding taxes. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) also views these platforms as functional gambling offerings. Cole Wogoman, Director of Government Relations at the NCPG, emphasized the need for protective measures.

„We need consistent consumer safeguards across emerging products like prediction markets, which are functionally gambling platforms. If they involve financial stakes, uncertain outcomes, and repeated participation, we must consider the public health implications."- Cole Wogoman, Director of Government Relations at NCPG

Starting ages also concern experts. A study by The Harris Poll for the NCPG found that 65 percent of adults aged 21 and older had participated in gambling before reaching the legal age of 21. Particularly alarming is that 40 percent of this group consumed lottery products before their 21st birthday, and 23 percent placed sports bets. Despite these extensive early experiences, addiction prevention is rarely addressed in primary healthcare. Only 15 percent of Americans reported ever being asked by a doctor about their gambling behavior.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, these US developments offer interesting points of comparison. While participation is falling in the US but per capita revenue is rising, the German State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) focuses on strict quantity limits to protect individuals. German players using a casino licensed by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) are subject to rigorous safety mechanisms that are often only just being debated in the US. The cross provider deposit limit of 1,000 Euro per month in the LUGAS system ensures that losses remain contained. Additionally, the stake limit of 1 Euro per spin on virtual slots is designed to prevent excessive gambling behavior.

In contrast to the legal grey areas of prediction markets in the US, the German legal situation is clearly defined by the GGL whitelist. German users should exclusively choose providers listed there to remain legally protected. Platforms without a GGL license do not offer access to the OASIS self exclusion system and do not guarantee compliance with strict German player protection rules. While US studies show that the stigma of gambling is increasing in personal interviews, regulation in Germany promotes normalization as a safe entertainment offering under state supervision.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For operators of casinos with a German license, the trend from the US suggests that customer retention quality is becoming more important than the sheer mass of players. Since new customer business is made more difficult by the high regulatory hurdles of GlüStV 2021, GGL casinos must increasingly focus on transparency and fair bonus conditions. The US study shows that young people come into contact with gambling early. German providers have a duty to take identity verification (KYC) extremely seriously to consistently exclude minors. This is the only way to maintain long term trust in the regulated market.

Furthermore, the US debate over prediction markets illustrates the importance of a clear distinction between financial betting and gambling. In Germany, such products are also subject to strict scrutiny. Providers who do not follow the rules or try to disguise gambling as a financial product must expect decisive action from the GGL. The decline in participation in the US alongside revenue growth is a warning sign: player protection must not only kick in when a small group of players loses disproportionate amounts of money. Prevention work, as called for by the NCPG in the US, is already firmly anchored in Germany through legally mandated social concepts.