Sports betting in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Sports betting is a type of gambling that refers to the act of placing a wager on the outcome of a sporting event. Bets are typically made through sportsbooks, also known as bookmakers, or bookies. Sportsbooks operate both as land-based establishments, for example, at casinos or betting shops, and online. In 2021, the total sports betting revenue in the United States amounted to 4.33 billion U.S. dollars. In the U.S., sports betting is legal at the federal level, however, it is still not legal in every state. Even when the practice is legal, regulations regarding sports betting vary on a state-by-state basis. As of January 2023, 30 states including Washington D.C. had operational legalized sports betting. Nevada, one of the leading U.S. states for sports bettors, reported a total of 126 sportsbooks in 2021. That same year, the win amount of sportsbooks in Nevada reached 445.13 million U.S. dollars. This figure represented a considerable increase over the previous year’s total of 262.8 million.

Which groups engage in sports betting in the U.S.?

The share of sports fans interested in sports betting in the United States varied by professional sport in 2021. The National Hockey League's (NHL) fan base was the most interested in sports betting with 62 percent of fans stating that this was the case. Despite the National Football League's (NFL) popularity in the U.S., NFL fans were the least interested in sports betting across six sports leagues, with only 48 percent of fans expressing an interest in betting. Meanwhile, when looking at sports bettor demographics, it was found that men were more likely to place wagers on sports. According to a 2021 survey, the gender distribution of sports betting and fantasy app users in the U.S. was heavily skewed in favor of men regardless of the betting company. Two additional surveys that year revealed that the distribution of U.S. sports bettors also varied by age and ethnicity. The majority of sports bettors tended to be Caucasian and between the ages of 26 and 35.

How much revenue do states receive from sports betting?

In conjunction with Nevada, many other states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Indiana have legalized sports betting. The amount of revenue generated for each state fluctuates on a monthly basis, however, many states have experienced an overall increase in sports betting revenue since legalizing the practice. The monthly sports betting revenue in New Jersey, for instance, was roughly 98 million U.S. dollars in September 2022. This figure represented an increase over the previous month’s total of roughly 65 million. Meanwhile, the monthly sports betting revenue in Pennsylvania amounted to 75.32 million U.S. dollars in September 2022 and the monthly sports betting revenue in Indiana was 51.17 million. Both of these states, too, experienced an increase in sports betting revenue over the previous month. More states are in the process of legalizing sports betting and by 2028, the forecast revenue for sports betting in the U.S. is expected to exceed 10 billion U.S. dollars.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 18, 2023

Key insights

Total sports betting revenue in the U.S.
7.56bn USD
Amount wagered on sports betting in commercial casinos in the U.S.
57.71bn USD
Number of sportsbooks in Nevada
176
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