55% of Americans Gamble Monthly, and Many Expect to Win
Provo – – October 13, 2026 -- More than half of U.S. adults (55%) gamble at least monthly, and roughly 1 in 8 gamble every day, according to a new national survey from the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University. Monthly participation is higher among men (63%) than women (48%).
Young adults bet to make money, not just for fun
About 4 in 10 respondents name making money as a primary reason they gamble. Among adults ages 18 to 29, money edges out entertainment, 53% to 50%. Adults 30 and older lean the other way, with 51% citing entertainment and 37% citing financial gain.
The report, "Gambling With Our Future," draws on a survey of 2,548 U.S. adults. It covers 16 activities, from lottery tickets and charity raffles to mobile sports betting, prediction markets and high-risk financial trading treated as a wager.