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How Much Do Americans Bet on Sports? (2026)
Americans now bet an astonishing amount on sports. In 2025, legal U.S. sportsbooks took a record $165.6 billion in total handle — the amount wagered — and kept $16.8 billion in gross gaming revenue at a 10.15% hold, according to RG.org's tracker. The first quarter of 2026 alone saw $40.5 billion wagered, putting the industry on pace for yet another record. Just seven years after the Supreme Court cleared the way, legal sports betting spans 39 states plus D.C., and roughly 1 in 5 American adults now places a bet.
US sports betting at a glance (latest data)
- Americans wagered a record $165.6 billion on sports in 2025, producing $16.8 billion in revenue (RG.org).
- Q1 2026 already hit $40.5 billion in handle and $3.82 billion in revenue — record pace.
- Legal in 39 states + Washington D.C. (and Puerto Rico) since the 2018 PASPA repeal.
- About 20–22% of US adults bet on sports in 2025, up from 12% in 2023.
- Sportsbooks paid $3.71 billion in taxes in 2025 (+32.4%).
- Mobile is 80%+ of all wagers; FanDuel + DraftKings hold ~75% of the market.
How much do Americans bet on sports?
In 2025, regulated U.S. sportsbooks processed $165.6 billion in handle (total money wagered) and generated $16.8 billion in gross gaming revenue — the money kept after paying out winners — at a national hold rate of about 10.15%. Handle is the headline number, but it recycles: most of it is paid back to winners, so revenue (the sportsbooks' actual take) is roughly a tenth of it.
The momentum is still accelerating. Through Q1 2026, sportsbooks had already taken $40.5 billion in handle and $3.82 billion in revenue — a record pace. For how this fits into the wider gambling economy, see our data on how much money casinos make.
Handle vs. revenue: "handle" is every dollar wagered; "revenue" (GGR) is what the sportsbook keeps after paying winners. A $165 billion handle at a ~10% hold means ~$16.8 billion in revenue — the rest is returned to bettors as winnings.
Which states bet the most?
Legal sports betting has expanded from a single state (Nevada) before 2018 to 39 states plus D.C. today. The five biggest markets by annual handle are New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. New York in particular has become a giant thanks to its dense population and mobile-first market.
| Metric | 2025 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Total handle | $165.6B | Record; +growth on 2024 |
| Gross gaming revenue | $16.8B | ~10.15% hold |
| Legal jurisdictions | 39 + D.C. | From 1 (Nevada) pre-2018 |
| Biggest markets | NY, IL, NJ, OH, PA | By annual handle |
| Taxes paid | $3.71B | +32.4% vs 2024 |
Who bets on sports?
Sports betting has gone mainstream fast. About 20–22% of U.S. adults placed a legal sports bet in 2025 — up from just 12% in 2023. It skews young and male: roughly 31% of adults aged 18–29 bet on sports, versus about 12% of those 65 and over. But the gap is narrowing — participation among adults 45+ has roughly doubled since 2022, and female participation has risen every year since legalization.
Share of US adults who bet on sports, by age (2025)
Source: industry surveys via RG.org, 2025. Younger men still dominate, but older and female participation is rising.
This rapid uptake among young adults is also a growing responsible-gambling concern; see our data on gambling addiction worldwide and losses by country.
How much tax does sports betting generate?
A lot, and rising. State-regulated sportsbooks paid $3.71 billion in taxes in 2025, a 32.4% jump on the prior year. Tax rates vary wildly by state — from mid-teens to well over 50% of revenue — which is a big reason states keep legalizing it. New York's 51% rate on sports-betting revenue alone has generated well over a billion dollars a year for the state.
Who dominates — FanDuel or DraftKings?
Two operators run the market. As of early 2026, FanDuel held about 39.6% of U.S. handle and DraftKings about 35.3% — a duopoly controlling nearly 75% of the regulated market between them. BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN Bet and Fanatics split most of the rest. That concentration gives the top two enormous pricing power and marketing reach.
How much is bet on phones?
Overwhelmingly. Mobile betting accounts for more than 80% of all legal wagers nationwide. The shift to in-app, in-play betting — where you can bet on the next pitch or possession — has removed nearly every barrier between the impulse and the wager, which is a large part of why handle keeps climbing.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Americans bet on sports each year?
In 2025, legal U.S. sportsbooks took a record $165.6 billion in handle (total wagered) and kept $16.8 billion in revenue at about a 10% hold. Q1 2026 alone saw $40.5 billion wagered — a record pace.
How many states have legal sports betting?
39 states plus Washington D.C. (and Puerto Rico) as of 2026, up from just Nevada before the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban (PASPA) in 2018. New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania are the biggest markets.
What percentage of Americans bet on sports?
About 20% to 22% of U.S. adults placed a legal sports bet in 2025, up from 12% in 2023. Participation is highest among 18–29 year-olds (~31%) and lowest among those 65+ (~12%).
Which sportsbook is the biggest?
FanDuel is the largest with about 39.6% of U.S. handle, followed by DraftKings at about 35.3% — together nearly 75% of the regulated market as of early 2026.
How much tax does sports betting pay?
State-regulated sportsbooks paid $3.71 billion in taxes in 2025, up 32.4% on the prior year. Rates range from the mid-teens to over 50% of revenue depending on the state.
Sources
- RG.org — U.S. Sports Betting Statistics 2026: Handle, Revenue & Tax
- American Gaming Association — State of the States 2026
- Legal Sports Report — Sports Betting Revenue Tracker by State
- Statista — Sports betting in the United States