How popular is sports betting in the USA?

We’re not alone in wanting to heighten our sports experience with a bet and the market was worth a rather staggering $70bn worldwide in 2024.

In the USA, sports betting stands on shifting sands which have seen a number of States legalize the pastime in recent years. The movement online has also driven the growth of sports betting, allowing millions of Americans to bet on their favorite sports from the comfort of their own home. So, just how popular is sports betting in the USA and what is behind its growth?

What’s behind our love of sports betting?

As a country, it’s safe to say that we’re big fans of sports betting. It’s ingrained in many of the sports we love, from basketball to baseball, and it’s hard to imagine what something like the Kentucky Derby would look like without it. It adds an extra layer of suspense to the sports we watch and can make the NBA finals or Superbowl even more exciting. For many though, it’s not just a case of enhancing their experience, but about the tradition of placing a bet for specific events.

Our love for sports betting can be easily traced through betting numbers; for example, research by St. Bonaventure University found that 22% of American adults have an account at a sports betting provider. That number grows to 48% when looking at men between the ages of 18 and 49, equating to tens of millions of sports bettors.

The move online

Betting online has been a complete revelation for the industry which has made wagering on our favorite sports more accessible than ever. Instead of having to trek to their local bookies to place a bet, punters can get the latest odds directly to their phone.

Online platforms have helped to increase this popularity as sports betting has become more accessible than ever. Instead of having to trek to a casino to place a bet, bettors now have access to the latest odds directly from their phone. Alongside other boosting factors like innovation, this has driven sports betting in the country to record highs in revenue. In 2024, the American Gaming Association reported sports betting highest ever turnover at $13.71 billion with 30% of that coming from digital sources.

More sports

Aside from convenience, there’s the advantage of a wider range of sports available online, including international options such as Premier League or La Liga soccer. As the online world puts sports betting platforms directly at bettors’ fingertips, there are more options than ever. Bettors can also easily compare the odds available at different sportsbooks by using handy comparison sites like the industry leading World Sports Network (WSN).

You can easily filter based on your chosen sport or location, which makes comparing the best odds and bonuses a real breeze. Their expert team, who have decades of combined experience and first-hand knowledge of sports betting, consider factors such as user experience, bonuses and customer support when selecting the best options.

Innovation in sports betting

The sports betting industry never rests, and constant innovation is at the forefront of every provider’s mind. It doesn’t just take one shape either; there are plenty of bonuses to choose from, including low budget options like no and low wager options, which allow all players to get in on the action. In addition, there are more payment options, with digital wallets and crypto both being commonplace at providers.

When it comes to the actual betting, providers are very innovative as well, including offering live sports betting, which allows players to bet while they’re watching the action. You’ll also see things like pools, where groups of players can make predictions for a game and win a share of a prize pool depending on where they finish on a leaderboard. Pools are a good example of the movement towards greater social features in sports betting. There are also community hubs and chat rooms, where players can catch up on the latest NFL game or share their betting tips.

The legislation of sports betting in the US

In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned a law which made sports betting illegal throughout the country. They ruled 6-3 in favor of striking down the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act which had banned sports betting across the country — aside from a few exceptions, such as wagering on horse racing in Nevada. The 2018 change made it the responsibility of individual states to determine whether they would offer legal sports betting. Since then, many states have legalized the practice.

Which states have introduced sports betting?

New Jersey became the first state to legalize sports betting when they did so on May 15^th, 2018. Governor Phil Murphy approved the act, which allowed both in-person and online providers to begin taking bets. Other states quickly followed, with Delaware legalizing sports betting in early June, Mississippi in August, West Virginia in September, in-person betting in New Mexico in October, and both Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in November.

Since the initial flurry of sports betting legalization, states such as New York, Kansas and Arizona have followed suit. At the time of writing, there are now 38 states that allow sports betting in some capacity. In Michigan, the Secretary of State’s office recently approved putting sports betting on the ballot, so players can have their say on the issue in November. Texas could also be close to legalizing sports betting.

How does shifting legality affect sports betting?

Once legal sports betting channels opened up, betting began to gain popularity. As the number of legal stakes continues to grow, these numbers are only likely to keep on increasing. Although the industry remains closely monitored, its new legal standing in many states has allowed it to attract more players compared to casino challengers.

Which sports are the most popular to bet on?

Here in the US, we’re fortunate enough to have some of the best sporting leagues in the world. Whether you’re interested in basketball or football, there’s a sporting event to watch pretty much all the time. Given their popularity, it might not come as much of a surprise that these sports are also popular options for betting.

Taking a punt on baseball

The 2025 MLB season saw viewing numbers increase once again from the previous season for an average of 1.740 million per game. There’s no denying that baseball is one of our country’s favorite sports to watch and bet on. Its popularity is largely down to the wide range of betting options available. You can plump for a straight forward moneyline bet which wagers on the overall outcome of a game, or get more technical with a spread bet on the winning margin.

Scoring with the NFL

The Superbowl alone is one of the most popular events when it comes to sports betting. There’s even more choice than you’ll find with baseball with almost endless possibilities to bet on. Prop bets, which wagering on the possibility of a specific outcome happening, are some of the most popular football bets. They’re often about touchdowns and worded as yes or no questions like ‘Will Mahomes score a touchdown against the Eagles?’. If you want to extend the fun, it’s also possible to place a season-long prop bet on who you think will win the Superbowl, for example.

Netting a win on the NBA

We can also proudly say that we’re home to the best basketball league in the world and one of the most exciting sports to bet on. What makes the NBA so unique is that it’s almost always unpredictable and underdogs always stand a chance. Who would have thought at the start of last season that Oklahoma City Thunder would be netting the championship for the first time since 1979? Total bets are some of the most popular betting options in the NBA. They look at the overall points total of a game, for example, a bet that more than 100 points will be scored when the Lakers play the Warriors.

How does sport betting stay so popular?

Sports betting is an inherent part of many of our favorite sports events, from the Superbowl to the MLB World Series. Its continued growth can be attributed to the range of options in terms of betting types, sports and things like live betting offered through continuous innovation. We’ve also seen more and more states beginning to offer legal sports betting, in various different forms. As it begins to appeal to more players than ever, we’re likely to see sports betting continue to grow throughout the country and stay making our favorite games that little bit more fun!