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- U.S. commercial sports betting revenue hit $16.96 billion in 2025 as adult participation rose to 10%.
- Growth slowed slightly in May 2026, with revenue dropping 1.8% year-over-year to $1.34 billion.
U.S. online sports betting continued to expand in 2025, with commercial revenue reaching $16.96 billion and total handle climbing to $166.94 billion, according to American Gaming Association data cited in a new report on how wagering is changing sports fandom.
The shift matters beyond operator revenue. As regulated markets spread and mobile access becomes routine, betting is increasingly tied to how some fans watch games, track statistics, and engage with live action. Pew Research Center data cited in the report shows 10% of U.S. adults said they had placed an online sports bet in the previous 12 months, up from 6% in 2022.
Mobile betting and live odds are becoming part of the viewing experience
The report says fans can now check scores, statistics, odds, and live updates from a smartphone while watching at home, in bars, or inside stadiums. That convenience has helped make betting part of the broader sports viewing experience, especially as live betting gives users more chances to wager during a game.
Younger adults appear to be a key part of that shift. The Pew survey, conducted from July 8 to Aug. 3, 2025, found 17% of adults under 30 said they had placed an online sports bet in the previous year, up from 7% in 2022.
The source article also pointed to Bovada as an example of an online betting platform in the broader market, while noting that New York regulates mobile sports wagering through the New York State Gaming Commission, which maintains a list of licensed operators in the state.
Revenue remains high even as monthly figures level off
The longer-term trend remains upward, but more recent monthly data cited from the AGA suggests growth has moderated. According to the association’s Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker, sports betting revenue reached $1.34 billion in May 2026, down 1.8% from May 2025.
Handle in May 2026 totaled $12.06 billion, down 0.4% year over year.
Those figures suggest the U.S. market remains large even as month-to-month comparisons become less explosive than the gains posted in 2025.
Regulation and responsible gambling remain part of the story
The report says the rise of live betting can encourage more frequent wagers, making responsible decision-making and a clear understanding of local rules more important for bettors.
It also notes that the New York State Gaming Commission addressed high-profile incidents involving athletes and gambling in February 2026, underscoring that betting’s deeper connection to sports also brings regulatory and integrity concerns.
Taken together, the data points to online betting becoming more embedded in U.S. sports consumption, while regulators and industry watchers continue to track participation, market performance, and consumer risk.
Source: As reported by yonkerstimes.com.
