New Survey Finds 20 Million Americans Struggle with Gambling

ewer Americans are showing signs of risky gambling, but experts say the work is far from finished. A recent survey from the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) found a 27% drop in problematic betting behavior compared to three years ago. Still, millions are grappling with the effects of gambling, especially with the rise of online wagering and parlay bets.

Good to know

• Around 20 million adults in the U.S. showed repeated signs of gambling-related problems in 2024, down from 27.5 million in 2021.
• Parlay betting rose sharply, from 17% in 2018 to 30% in 2024, raising concerns due to high losses and difficulty in winning.
• People aged 18–34 reported much higher rates of problem gambling than those over 55.

The latest data, collected from January to March 2024 by Ipsos on behalf of NCPG, indicates fewer people are engaging in risky gambling. However, the numbers are still higher than in 2018. According to the report, many of those surveyed do not meet the official definition of addiction, but their behavior still raises red flags.

One alarming finding: nearly 28% of people who gambled at least 10 times during the study window showed signs of trouble. That rate jumps to 35% among those who wager three or more times per week.

Fantasy sports, parlays, and online betting lead risk areas

Certain types of gambling continue to show stronger links to risky behavior. Among fantasy sports participants, 24% admitted to problematic habits, while 17% of sports bettors reported similar patterns. Since the 2018 repeal of PASPA, legal sports betting has expanded into 39 U.S. jurisdictions.

Online betting, which made up 15% of the market in 2018, now sits at 22%. According to NCPG, online formats are especially risky because of how easily and often users can place bets.

The study also flagged a major increase in parlay betting. Multi-leg wagers are notoriously hard to win, and chasing losses in these bets can spiral into deeper problems. The jump from 17% to 30% participation in parlay betting over six years reflects a shift in gambling habits that favors riskier behavior.

Awareness rising but stigma remains

While public awareness campaigns and tools like the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline have helped, the NCPG says people still hesitate to take the next step. The group believes these helplines are essential for reducing shame and connecting people with resources, even if immediate action is not always taken.

However, gambling addiction still does not get the same level of public concern as drug or alcohol issues. In the survey, 62% of Americans considered drug addiction a very serious issue, compared to only 39% for gambling addiction.

Call for funding and shared responsibility

NCPG wants more federal support and is pushing for a slice of the sports betting excise tax to fund treatment and education across all states. President of the NCPG Board of Directors, Derek Longmeier, said:

“All who profit from gambling, including the government, have an ethical imperative to use some of that money to mitigate gambling’s harms.”

He added that while some states allocate money toward addiction services, gambling often gets overlooked in favor of drug or alcohol programs. Longmeier stressed that gambling addiction should be treated as a serious health issue, not an afterthought.

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