The Crazy Gambling Statistics of 2024 (and 2025)

Gambling and betting in general are booming! According to Statista, gambling statistics show increased participation among U.S adults during 2024, with 55% of adults engaging in some form of gambling during 2024, a 6% increase compared to 2023.

But where is most of this growth coming from? Should we be looking outside the US to get gambling statistics that allow us to predict the future? And more importantly, how can we use this knowledge to make more money?

Let’s start with online gambling.

Back in 2022, the online gambling market got valued at over $80 billion, and back then it was projected to grow even more. Turns out, that projection was completely on-point, since online gambling market revenue is expected to hit US$107.70 billion dollars in 2025.

If you’re part of the old-school gambling scene, don’t worry, you’re still in the game. But we’d highly recommend that you look into some of the best gambling websites for this year, and take a look at their apps and online platforms. They make the whole process incredibly convenient and have built their reputation as trustworthy middlemen between you and your potential riches. Make sure you roll with reliable platforms that offer juicy sign-up bonuses!

Ever since the federal ban on sports betting got lifted 7 years ago, we’ve seen more and more states legalize sports betting. We’ve been closely following what’ll happen in Florida, California and New York with online casinos since the ban lift changed the whole gambling scene. That being said, let’s talk about sports betting and gambling statistics related to it, since that’s what we’re here for.

Here in the US, sports betting hit $11 billion in revenue, and it’s expected to clear $14.30bn in revenue, which is nothing short of massive. There’s no arguing the economy and inflation has hit all of us, but it hasn’t seemed to slow down the action at all. If anything, it’s gonna be a record-breaking year (once the numbers are out).

Across the pond, we see a similar trend: the European sports betting market is expected to reach $17.14 billion in 2024. Based on the latest gambling statistics data gathered, analysts confidently predict that it’ll even reach $21.84 billion by 2029 because of user penetration rate increases every year. Europe is way bigger on soccer betting (at least compared to the US, where the MLS is making waves), so a larger piece of the action goes towards UCL and local leagues.

The Asia-Pacific sports betting market is expected to clear $3.39 billion in revenue in 2024, and should hit $4.54 billion by 2029. Sports betting isn’t as big, as Asian markets tend to gravitate to other forms of online gambling, but the numbers and growth are nothing to scoff at.

Basketball and NBA fans are going to have an amazing 2025. Turn out that, according to Statista, 52.7% of survey participants said they preferred to bet on basketball, a complete landslide in preference considering how many options there are today.

We’ve covered NBA live betting, parlays and even what kind of bets you should avoid if you’re looking to add some thrill to your game nights. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a super fun game to stake some money on, but due to its volatility, you’d do well to avoid some types of bets this year.

Look, if you’re a Messi fan, you’ve no doubt looked at the GOAT’s games in the MLS and literally Wowed at the sheer number of fans at every game. Sure, some are there to see the Argentinian soccer player show off his skills alongside an all-star team with lots of young talent, but it’s obvious that clubs have cultivated a true following throughout the years. Last season, 11.4M fans raided the stadiums to cheer for their clubs and favorite players, which is a staggering number.

However, if you’re looking for the most action and highest payouts, keep an eye out for soccer matches in the UEFA Champions League and major European soccer leagues. Europe’s sports betting market, as we already covered, is massive and a lot of that money is funneled into soccer sports betting. This won’t change in 2025, especially with Italian clubs retaking the scene and their legendary competitive levels.

Out of all the sports betting statistics we’ve gone over, boxing gambling statistics are probably the most interesting to go over. It’s a mixed bag because, on the one hand, it’s probably the only sport right now that has high-end fights generate just as much money as … well, meme fights. Take Canelo vs Berlanga: the event collected $17 million in live gate revenue and generated a staggering amount of action on betting sites. Which is great, don’t get me wrong. But here’s the other side of the coin:

The Jake Paul vs Tyson fight cleared a ridiculous $18.1 million through gate revenue, and that was hardly something you could call a fight. This is probably the biggest mixed bag because, on the one hand, you got record-clearing fights, but they’re also a poor spectacle. Some think that these fights are quick cash grabs that tarnish the sport as a whole, and could decrease long-term betting action too.

The action over at the NFL is crazy, so if you’re a fan looking to make some extra bucks, 2025 might just be your year! Just to put things into perspective, a 2024 gambling statistics survey showed that 26 percent of respondents would be placing a bet on Super Bowl LVIII between the Chiefs and the 49ers. That’s over a quarter of spectators that want to get in on the action, just imagine what kind of teasers you could nail on the most important game of the year!

Slots continue to dominate online and casino floor growth, no doubt due to its low entry barrier and super compelling gameplay. According to the AGA, Slot machines generated $2.91 billion, up about one percent (0.7%). Yes, you read that right: almost $3 billion equates to less than 1% in terms of growth, it’s just that big. We’re not even talking about Australia, where pokies (slot machines) are the most popular form of gambling.

If youre not big into gambling statistics, we’ve talked extensively about slots machines tips and tricks you can leverage to get those big juicy jackpots, so be sure to swing by!

BusinessWire also projects the casino market to surge to US$224.1 Billion by 2030, and that includes Blackjack. Most of these reports wrap up table game revenue into their calculations, so it’s hard to get granular information on each individual game, but it’s safe to say that things are looking up for Blackjack players. Based on Blackjack specific gambling statistics, expect a lot of action the next year, online and on casino floors with your buddies!

The team over at 360iResearch estimate a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 8.89% with a USD 581.23 billion 2030 forecast, what’s interesting is that their report breaks down casino market by type. So, we’ve actually got some very interesting data on craps and other games here!

Craps’ true depth comes from its strategies and leveraging odds in your favor, which typically requires deep pockets. Can’t make money without money, right? Thankfully there are still ways to be good at craps without an endless bankroll, so be sure to check out some of our guides!

Online Poker is another big player in gambling statistics, with CMI predicting a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 12.2% from 2024 all the way to 2033. Online poker has been extremely popular for well over a decade now, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Today, you can find specific rankings for the best online poker players, and a separate ranking for in-floor, tournament players just because of how big the scene is. Naturally, you’ll see plenty of overlap since many of these online wizards dream of getting a WSOP title under their belt (a few million dollars in prize cash is also nice too, I guess).

As per the current market research conducted by the CMI Team, the global Online Poker Market is expected to record a CAGR of 12.2% from 2024 to 2033. In 2024, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD 102.8 Billion. By 2033, the valuation is anticipated to reach USD 302.2 Billion.

Look, it’s no secret that North America dominates the market when it comes to online gambling, and roulette is no exception. However, the report also states that the Asia-Pacific region should witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period (2025-2030), which is interesting. Asia is the ultimate emerging market, but regulations are still tough over there, are they expecting a change in legislation, or for Australia’s gambling to grow at an even more accelerated rate? (every laws have gotten more flexible, gambling statistics show growth-spikes)

Either way, we also got you covered when it comes to American and European roulette, so make sure you read up, practice and join the party while it’s still early!

The people over at Knowledge-Sourcing published a report that predicts the global horse racing market to reach a market size of US$182.393 billion in 2030 from US$127.339 billion in 2025. Horse racing is going through a bit of a renovation, and while there’s still tremendous projected growth, it’s not as massive as online casino’s Compound Annual Growth Rate but it definitely show in terms of gambling statistics/

Don’t worry, the future is still looking bright, and if horse racing is your jam, then you’ll love our complete breakdown on each type of bet in horse racing.

What Percentage of People Gamble Worldwide?
Around 80% of adults globally have gambled at least once. Gambling covers pretty much everything between casual lottery tickets to regular sports betting, so it’s become super common across many cultures and demographics.

What Are the Most Popular Forms of Gambling?

Lotteries are the most common form of gambling, followed by sports betting and casino games. Online poker and slots are growing really fast, but there’s something for everyone.

What Are the Economic Benefits of Gambling?

Gambling creates millions of jobs, and it can contribute billions to taxes if it’s regulated. Some cities like Macau and Las Vegas have built a reputation and economy around gambling.

How Many People Are Affected by Gambling Addiction?
About 1-3% of gamblers develop problem behaviors, but the ripple effects—on families, finances, and communities—are significant. It’s a small percentage with a big societal impact. It’s why you always gamble responsibly.

What Are Some Effective Ways to Reduce Problem Gambling?

It’s all about prevention and support! Self-exclusion programs, accessible treatment options (for those that have unfortunately gambled their savings away) are incredibly effective. Educating bettors about risks and setting limits also makes a huge difference, hence why we extensively talk about bankroll management.

So, if you’re new to the betting scene, you’ll probably want to take your money to platforms and games that actually have volume. This is where the action and the big payouts are, and this year is looking to host even more money than ever before.

First things first: we highly recommend you choose a sport or a casino game that you actually enjoy following or playing. If you’re more of a sports betting guy, that’s great! Stick to one game for now, and consider specializing in one or two teams that you’d be willing to follow all their day-to-day information, development and performance.

We’ve actually made a few guides that’ll get you started, so be sure to check them out!