AGA Reports Record Participation in Legal Gambling Across the US

A new national survey by the American Gaming Association (AGA) has revealed how mainstream legal gambling has become in the United States. The American Attitudes Toward Gaming 2025 report found that more Americans than ever are wagering legally, visiting casinos, and supporting regulated betting across all political groups.

Good to Know

• 57% of U.S. adults — about 134 million people — gambled in the past year.
• Over half of all adults visited a casino for the first time in survey history.
• 74% of respondents said they support legal sports betting.

The AGA report shows that gambling has firmly entered the American mainstream. According to the survey, 57% of adults engaged in at least one form of gambling over the last year, marking a record participation level since the AGA began tracking public attitudes.

In another first, more than half of U.S. adults visited a casino in 2024. Public opinion toward gambling has also softened: 62% of respondents said it is morally acceptable, and nine in ten expressed comfort with either participating themselves or seeing others do so.

Support for legal sports betting remains high, with 74% of respondents backing regulated sportsbooks — a reflection of how deeply betting has integrated into American entertainment culture.

Bipartisan and Broad-Based Support

One of the survey’s most notable findings is how gambling has transcended political divisions. Among those surveyed, 56% of Democrats, 60% of Independents, and 58% of Republicans said they gambled within the past year. Nearly 90% of respondents agreed that casinos have a positive impact on the economy, highlighting the public’s growing acceptance of gaming as an industry that creates jobs and boosts local business.

Perceptions of responsible gaming efforts have also improved sharply. 64% of respondents said they believe the gaming industry is genuinely committed to promoting responsible play and addressing addiction — a major jump from less than 40% in 2018.

While public support for legal gambling grows, the AGA has taken issue with a new development involving the National Hockey League (NHL). The league recently became the first major U.S. sports organization to sign long-term partnerships with prediction market operators Kalshi and Polymarket.

These platforms let users buy and sell shares based on real-world outcomes — from sports results to political events — a model similar to trading in financial markets. Both Kalshi and Polymarket operate under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rather than under individual state gambling regulators, claiming federal oversight.

That legal status has caused friction. The AGA called the NHL’s decision “deeply concerning,” arguing that such platforms operate outside state betting laws and lack the consumer safeguards found in licensed sportsbooks. Despite that criticism, the NHL maintains that its partnerships are designed to improve data integrity and monitoring across betting markets.

Prediction Markets Keep Growing

Even amid regulatory disputes, Kalshi and Polymarket are expanding fast. Kalshi recently launched sports parlays and began offering markets related to the Stanley Cup, leveraging its new access to league data and branding under the NHL partnership.

The move places the NHL at the center of a new intersection between traditional sports and prediction-based trading — a space that federal regulators and gaming advocates are still debating over jurisdiction and consumer protection.

FAQ

How many Americans gambled last year?

According to the AGA, 57% of adults — about 134 million people — participated in gambling in 2024.

Which political groups support gambling the most?

Gambling participation is nearly even across party lines, with slightly higher rates among Independents.

Do Americans view gambling positively?

Yes. Around 90% of respondents said casinos have a positive economic impact, and most view gambling as morally acceptable.

Why is the AGA criticizing the NHL?

The AGA says prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket operate outside state regulation, despite the NHL partnering with them.

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