NCPG’s Latest Survey Reports 27% Decline in Problem Gambling Since Pandemic

Nearly 20 million American adults reported experiencing at least one problematic gambling behavior “many times” in the past year — down from 27.5 million in 2021 — according to the National Council on Problem Gambling‘s most recent national survey.

Just released last week, the NGAGE 3.0 survey found that risky gambling behavior has lessened compared to the COVID-19 pandemic days, and awareness of the gambling health crisis has grown with the expansion of available care. Widespread gambling-related harm, however, persists especially among younger adults.

NCPG Board of Directors President Derek Longmeier said: “This new research shows that the nationwide efforts in responsible gambling and public awareness are making a positive impact, but the work is far from over.”

“We must build on this momentum by embedding problem gambling into the broader public health infrastructure and investing in what we know works: collaboration across prevention, education, treatment, and research with the support of the government and communities.”

NGAGE 3.0 surveyed over 3,000 U.S. adults between January and March 2024.

Men Are Far More Likely to Have Gambling-Related Problems

This marked the third National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences, following previous iterations in 2018 and 2021. The methodology utilized was consistent for all three. Here are some of the most recent survey’s key findings:  

• 35% of individuals who gambled on three or more activities weekly or more often met the threshold for concern.
• 24% of fantasy sports bettors and 17% of traditional sports bettors reported problematic behaviors.
• 15% of adults ages 18–34 reported concerning behavior, compared to 2% of those 55+.
• 10% of men—nearly double the rate of women—reported gambling-related problems.
• Online gambling participation rose from 15% in 2018 to 22% in 2024, and is closely associated with risk.

Online Gambling, Parlay Bets Remain Popular

NGAGE 3.0 identified several interesting trends regarding participation rates in sports betting. It’s important to note that the last time this survey was conducted came at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

The percentage of respondents who reported gambling once in 2024 has remained essentially unchanged over the past six years, according to the NCPG’s new study. The number of American adults who gambled in 2024 (71%) dipped from 2021 (73%) and returned to its original level in 2018 (71%).

Furthermore, overall participation in sports betting has not increased despite the expansion of legal states to 38 (including the District of Columbia). The number of adults who reported placing a sports bet rose from 20% in 2018 to 26% in 2021, but dipped slightly to 23% in 2024. The survey findings suggest that most individuals who want to wager on sports are likely already doing so, regardless of whether it’s legal in their state.

While overall sports betting participation has plateaued, one type of bet being placed has increased dramatically. The percentage of sports bettors making parlay bets — wagers that require multiple outcomes to hit for a higher potential payout — has nearly doubled, rising from 17% in 2018 to 30% in 2024. Parlay bets may appeal to gamblers seeking to recoup losses quickly. The NGAGE 3.0 data suggests that prop betting may also be associated with risky gambling behavior, but more research is required in this area.

Meanwhile, online gambling participation remains high relative to other types of gambling. In 2018, just 15% of adults reported making an online wager. That number spiked to 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and remained relatively high at 22% in 2024, even as participation in many other forms of gambling returned to pre-pandemic levels.