Gallup Survey Reveals Sharp Drop in U.S. Gambling Participation Since 2016

A new Gallup survey released in August 2026 shows significantly fewer U.S. adults reported taking part in common gambling activities than in 2016, even as sports betting expanded through legalization, mobile apps proliferated, and prediction markets gained visibility. The findings cover lottery ticket purchases, in-person casino visits, sports betting, and online prediction markets, while they also note a parallel decline in the moral acceptability of gambling and reference a separate analysis on rising gambling disorder diagnoses in certain states.

Key Participation Declines Across Major Activities

Lottery ticket purchases fell from 49 percent of adults in 2016 to 31 percent in the latest poll, marking one of the largest drops among tracked categories. In-person casino gambling declined from 26 percent to 14 percent over the same period, while sports betting slipped from 10 percent to 7 percent. Only 2 percent of adults reported using online prediction markets. These figures emerge despite widespread legalization of sports betting and the growth of mobile platforms that have made wagering more accessible in many states.

Researchers compiled the data through national surveys that asked adults about their participation in various gambling forms during the prior year. The results indicate that expanded legal options have not translated into higher overall engagement rates, and observers note that broader trends in consumer behavior may play a role alongside shifting attitudes.

Changes in Moral Acceptability Parallel Participation Trends

The Gallup survey also tracked views on the moral acceptability of gambling, and those figures have moved downward in tandem with participation rates. Fewer adults now describe gambling as morally acceptable compared with earlier measurements, which aligns with the reduced activity levels across lotteries, casinos, and sports betting. This connection appears in the data without any direct causation established in the report itself.

Separate state-level analyses have examined health outcomes tied to expanded betting access. One review found gambling disorder diagnoses rose more than 60 percent in states that legalized sports betting, highlighting a divergence between overall participation declines and increased clinical identification of problems in specific jurisdictions.

Context of Legalization and Market Expansion

Since 2016 many states have authorized sports betting through retail and mobile channels, while prediction markets have operated under regulatory frameworks in select areas. Mobile apps now deliver real-time odds and instant deposits, yet the survey data shows lower reported involvement across nearly every traditional category. The 2 percent figure for online prediction markets suggests limited reach even among newer platforms that combine elements of forecasting and wagering.

Analysts have compared these results against earlier Gallup polls to quantify the changes. Lottery participation posted the steepest absolute decline, dropping 18 percentage points, whereas sports betting fell three points despite the addition of legal markets in dozens of states. In-person casino visits halved, which some attribute to shifts in entertainment preferences rather than regulatory factors alone.

Disorder Diagnoses and State-Level Data

The separate analysis of medical records and insurance claims revealed the over-60-percent increase in gambling disorder diagnoses within states that introduced legal sports betting. This rise occurred even as national participation rates moved lower, indicating that concentrated effects in certain populations or regions may coexist with broader reductions in activity. Public health officials have used these figures to examine screening practices and treatment availability.

Data from the Gallup poll and the disorder study together paint a picture of uneven impacts following legalization. National averages mask variations at the state level, where expanded access coincides with higher diagnosis rates in some places while overall engagement remains subdued.

Conclusion

The August 2026 Gallup survey documents measurable drops in lottery, casino, and sports betting participation since 2016, alongside lower moral acceptability ratings and a separate finding of increased gambling disorder diagnoses in states with legal sports betting. These outcomes appear in the context of expanded legal frameworks and mobile technology, yet reported activity levels have moved in the opposite direction. The linked Gallup survey provides the primary source for participation and attitude metrics, while state-level health data adds perspective on clinical trends. Further monitoring will track whether these patterns persist as markets continue to evolve.