Gambling participation in the U.S. drops below half, poll reveals

According to a recent Gallup poll, gambling participation among U.S. adults has fallen to 45% over the past year, a steep drop from the 64% recorded in 2016 and the lowest level since the early 2000s. The decline is most pronounced among younger adults and women, with women aged 18 to 49 reporting the lowest involvement at 35%. Even traditionally higher-participating groups, such as older men, have seen noticeable reductions.

Paradoxically, the share of respondents citing gambling-related family problems climbed to 9%, the highest figure in more than a quarter-century. Online betting activity remains limited, with just 7% having placed a sports wager and only a few percent engaging in fantasy or prediction-market betting. The rise of platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi has coincided with the first insider-trading cases involving soldiers and other military figures using classified information to profit.