In 2021, there was an increase in irresponsible gambling, but as of now, this trend has decreased.
In a recent development, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has published its third "National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Experiences 3.0," conducted in 2024. The survey, which encompassed 3,013 people across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, sheds light on the evolving landscape of problem gambling in the United States.
The survey findings reveal a decline in problem gambling rates since 2021. After a surge in gambling-related harm markers in 2021, when approximately 11% of U.S. adults reported distress due to gambling, the rate has dropped to about 8% in 2024. This level is close to the 7% reported in 2018 before the pandemic and the overturning of PASPA, suggesting that the 2021 increase was likely pandemic-related and not a continuing trend.
Despite more states (38 by 2024) regulating gambling and greater accessibility to legal gambling options, fewer Americans are gambling overall. This shift toward more responsible or reduced gambling behavior following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions is a positive sign.
However, the survey also highlights that harmful gambling remains a significant concern, with approximately 20 million U.S. adults (8%) reporting at least one indicator of problematic gambling behavior many times in the past year.
The NCPG emphasizes ongoing challenges, including the need for expanded federal action, enhanced public education, and growth of peer support programs to address problem gambling and support recovery. Despite the mass legalization of sports gambling, the number of total sports gamblers has not significantly changed from 2021 to 2024.
Intriguingly, the survey results do not indicate a significant change in the number of people affected by problem gambling and gambling-related harm from 2021 to 2024. However, they do suggest a need for better education about gambling-related issues, as less than half (39%) of the population considers gambling-related harm a serious problem that requires attention.
The NCPG has identified a "critical need" to raise awareness for problem gambling and its associated realities. The latest survey results show that gamblers in the United States were not more affected by problem gambling and gambling-related harm in 2024 than they were in 2018.
The NCPG has conducted similar surveys in 2018 and 2021 to track consumer behavior amid the surge in online gambling legalization. The organisation continues to advocate for increased awareness, education, and support as it monitors these trends closely.
[1] https://www.ncpgambling.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NSGAE3-Report.pdf [2] https://www.ncpgambling.org/press-room/press-releases/2024/04/01/ncpg-releases-third-national-survey-on-gambling-attitudes-and-experiences-30/ [3] https://www.ncpgambling.org/news/2024/04/01/ncpg-survey-finds-decline-in-problem-gambling-rates-since-2021 [4] https://www.ncpgambling.org/news/2024/04/01/ncpg-survey-finds-continued-need-for-awareness-education-and-support [5] https://www.ncpgambling.org/news/2024/04/01/ncpg-survey-finds-decrease-in-total-gambling-participation
- Despite the expansion of legal gambling options and the proliferation of casino-and-gambling establishments, the survey indicates a decrease in overall gambling participation.
- The survey further reveals that, despite the spread of casino-games, lotteries, and sports gambling, problem gambling rates have dropped significantly from 11% in 2021 to 8% in 2024, signaling a shift towards more responsible gambling behavior.
