Sports Betting Industry Statistics 2026: The Complete Data Report

Sports betting industry statistics show a market that keeps breaking its own records. In 2025, legal U.S. sportsbooks processed $166.94 billion in bets and kept $16.96 billion as revenue, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). Early 2026 numbers suggest this year will be even bigger.

If you’re trying to understand where this industry stands right now as a bettor, an investor, a journalist, or just someone who’s curious this guide breaks it all down in plain English. No jargon, no fluff, just the numbers and what they mean.

We pulled data from the American Gaming Association, state gaming commissions, Statista, and other publicly available industry reports. Every figure below is sourced, and we’ve flagged estimates where exact numbers aren’t public.

Key Sports Betting Industry Statistics (Quick Facts)

Here’s the Sports Betting Industry Statistics. These are the numbers most people search for:

• US legal handle in 2025: $166.94 billion (up 11% year-over-year)
• US sportsbook revenue in 2025: $16.96 billion (up 22.8% year-over-year)
• State tax collections in 2025: $3.71 billion (up 32.4% year-over-year)
• Q1 2026 handle: more than $40.47 billion
• Q1 2026 revenue: $3.82 billion
• States with legal sports betting: 39 states plus Washington, D.C., as of mid-2026
• States with online/mobile betting: 30 states
• Mobile betting share of handle: roughly 95% of all US wagers
• Top two operators by revenue share: FanDuel and DraftKings, controlling close to three-quarters of the market combined
• Global sports betting market size (2026): roughly $88–125 billion, depending on the research firm and what’s counted
• Total handle since 2018 legalization: more than $600 billion

Now let’s go deeper into each of these.

How Big Is the Sports Betting Industry in 2026?

The US sports betting industry statistics is on pace for another record year in 2026. In the first quarter alone, legal sportsbooks processed over $40.47 billion in bets and generated $3.82 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR).

To put that in perspective: the entire industry didn’t exist legally outside Nevada before May 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in Murphy v. NCAA. Since then, bettors have wagered more than $600 billion through licensed sportsbooks.

Growth has slowed slightly compared to the explosive early years, but it hasn’t stopped. Revenue growth (22.8% in 2025) is outpacing handle growth (11%), which tells us something important: sportsbooks are getting better at pricing bets and keeping a larger share of every dollar wagered. This is sometimes called an improving “hold rate.”

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Why Growth Isn’t Slowing Down Yet

A few forces are still fueling expansion:

• New state launches. States that legalized betting later are still ramping up their handle.
• Same-game parlays. These multi-leg bets carry a much higher house edge, which boosts sportsbook revenue per dollar wagered.
• Live, in-play betting. Betting during the game now makes up roughly 62% of online sports betting revenue, and it’s growing faster than pre-game betting.
• Prediction markets. Platforms like Kalshi, regulated federally instead of state-by-state, are pulling in sports-adjacent betting volume and adding competitive pressure on traditional sportsbooks.

US Sports Betting industry statistics Handle and Revenue by Year

“Handle” is the total amount of money wagered. “Revenue” (or GGR) is what sportsbooks keep after paying out winning bets. Handle is always much bigger than revenue, because most of the money wagered gets paid back out to winners.

Year	Total Handle	Sportsbook Revenue (GGR)	Hold Rate
2023	~$119.84 billion	~$10.92 billion	~9.1%
2024	~$150 billion (est.)	~$13.8 billion (est.)	~9.2%
2025	$166.94 billion	$16.96 billion	~10.15%
2026 (Q1 only)	$40.47 billion	$3.82 billion	~9.4%

Figures for 2024 are directional estimates based on year-over-year growth reported by the AGA; 2023, 2025, and Q1 2026 figures come from AGA and state regulator data.

What Is a “Hold Rate” and Why It Matters

The hold rate is the percentage of total handle that a sportsbook keeps as revenue. A higher hold rate usually means sportsbooks are pricing bets more efficiently think more parlays, more player props, and smarter odds-setting software. It doesn’t necessarily mean bettors are losing more often on any single bet; it means the total mix of bets favors the house slightly more than before.

Which States Allow Sports Betting industry statistics in 2026?

As of mid-2026, 39 states plus Washington, D.C. have legalized some form of sports betting, and 30 of those states allow online or mobile wagering.

States Still Without Legal Sports Betting

A handful of major markets remain holdouts, mostly due to political or constitutional barriers:

• California
• Texas
• Georgia (as of this writing)
• Missouri (recently approved, still launching in some cases)
• Several smaller states with restrictive gaming laws

California alone represents one of the largest untapped betting markets in the country, which is why industry analysts watch its ballot measures closely.

The Five Biggest State Markets

By annual handle, the largest individual state sports betting markets are consistently:

1. New York
2. Illinois
3. New Jersey
4. Ohio
5. Pennsylvania

New York’s dominance is partly a numbers game (it’s the most populous legal betting state) and partly a tax story New York applies a 51% tax on sportsbook revenue, one of the highest in the country, yet operators still compete hard to be there because of sheer market size.

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Sports Betting Tax Rates by State (Examples)

State	Approximate Tax Rate on GGR
Nevada	6.75%
Iowa	6.75%
New York	51%
New Hampshire	51%
Rhode Island	51%

Lower-tax states tend to attract more operators and more promotional spending, since sportsbooks keep a bigger share of what they win. Higher-tax states generate more public revenue per dollar of handle but can push operators to reduce bonuses and promotions.

Top Sportsbooks by Market Share

Two companies dominate the US market:

• FanDuel: roughly 37–44% of US online sports betting revenue
• DraftKings: roughly 34–36% of US online sports betting revenue

Together, FanDuel and DraftKings control close to three-quarters of the national market. The rest is split among:

• BetMGM (an estimated low-double-digit share)
• Caesars Sportsbook
• ESPN BET
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• Smaller regional and tribal-affiliated operators

Why the Market Is So Concentrated

Sports betting has strong network effects. Bettors gravitate toward apps with the best odds, the most markets, and the biggest sign-up bonuses and the two biggest players can afford to spend the most on marketing and promotions. DraftKings and FanDuel both spent well over $1 billion combined on marketing during their peak growth years, which helped cement their lead early and made it hard for competitors to catch up.

Online vs. Retail sports Betting industry Statistics

Mobile and online betting has almost completely taken over the industry. In 2025, online channels captured roughly 95% of total US sports betting handle, leaving retail (in-person) sportsbooks with a small fraction of the total.

• Online/mobile share of handle: ~95%
• Retail share of handle: ~5%
• Retail share in 2019 (for comparison): more than 40%

Retail betting has been shrinking every year since 2019. It’s still relevant in a few specific places:

• Nevada, where mobile accounts require in-person registration at a casino sportsbook
• Mississippi, where online wagering is restricted to casino property
• Casino-heavy markets where retail sportsbooks serve as a tourist draw

For most operators, this means the entire business is now a mobile-app business. Customer acquisition costs, app design, and retention offers matter far more than physical sportsbook locations.

Popular Bet Types and Sports Betting Trends

Live/In-Play Betting Is the Biggest Growth Driver

Live betting placing wagers while a game is happening now accounts for roughly 62% of online sports betting revenue, and it’s growing at a faster rate than pre-game betting. This shift matters because in-play bets typically carry a higher hold for sportsbooks, since odds change fast and bettors have less time to shop for the best price.

Same-Game Parlays and Player Props

Same-game parlays (combining multiple bets from one game into a single wager) and player prop bets (like “will this player score over 20 points”) have become two of the most popular bet types, especially among casual and mobile-first bettors. They’re also more profitable for sportsbooks per dollar wagered than traditional single-game bets, which partly explains why revenue is growing faster than handle.

The Super Bowl Remains the Single Biggest Betting Event

Roughly 60–68 million American adults have said they planned to bet on a recent Super Bowl, based on AGA survey data making it the single largest annual betting event in the country by participation, even though March Madness generates a comparable amount of total handle across its multi-week format.

Sports Betting Demographics

Who actually places these bets? A few consistent patterns show up across industry surveys:

• The typical legal sports bettor skews male and is most commonly between 21 and 44 years old.
• Mobile betting adoption is highest among bettors under 35.
• A large share of new bettors entered the market for the first time through mobile apps rather than physical sportsbooks a big shift from the pre-2018 betting culture, which was retail- and Nevada-centric.
• Multi-state bettors (people who hold accounts in more than one state) are becoming more common as operators expand and bettors travel.

Important context: most public bettor surveys are self-reported, meaning actual behavior can differ from what people say in polls. Treat participation percentages as directional estimates, not precise counts.

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Tax Revenue From Sports Betting

Legal sports betting generated $3.71 billion in state tax revenue in 2025, up 32.4% from the prior year. For 2026, total collections are expected to top $3 billion again, and possibly set a new record given the strong first-quarter pace.

This tax revenue typically funds:

• Problem gambling and addiction treatment programs
• General state budgets
• Education funding, in some states
• Infrastructure and public works, in others (state-dependent)

Tax rates vary enormously from under 7% in Nevada and Iowa to 51% in New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island which means two states with similar handle can generate very different tax revenue.

Global Sports Betting industry Statistics

The United States is the largest single-country regulated sports betting market in the world, but it’s part of a much bigger global picture.

• Global sports betting market size (2026): estimates range from about $88 billion (Statista) to $125 billion (other research firms), depending on what activities are included
• Projected global market by 2030–2035: figures range from roughly $106 billion to $325 billion depending on the forecast horizon and methodology
• US share of global sports betting revenue: the US alone is projected to generate close to $22 billion of the global total in 2026
• Online betting’s global share: close to 75% of global sports betting revenue now comes through online channels
• Highest user penetration: Canada currently has one of the highest rates of sports betting participation as a share of population, among countries tracked by Statista

Why the Global Numbers Vary So Much

Different research firms count different things. Some include only regulated, licensed betting. Others include gray-market and offshore betting activity. Some fold in esports betting or prediction markets, others don’t. That’s why you’ll see figures ranging from under $90 billion to well over $120 billion for “the global sports betting market” in the same year always check what’s actually being measured before comparing two sources.

Pros and Cons of Legal Sports Betting Growth

Pros

• Tax revenue funds public programs, including problem gambling treatment
• Consumer protections licensed operators must follow responsible gambling rules that offshore sites ignore
• Job creation in tech, customer support, marketing, and compliance
• Reduced black-market betting, since legal options are now widely available
• Better data and transparency, since regulated operators report handle and revenue publicly

Cons

• Rising problem gambling concerns, especially among young mobile-first bettors
• Heavy advertising has drawn criticism from lawmakers and public health groups
• Uneven state regulation tax rates, protections, and advertising rules vary a lot state to state
• Market concentration two operators controlling most of the market can limit competitive pricing for consumers
• Prediction markets operating outside state gaming law are creating regulatory gray areas that lawmakers are still sorting out

Common Mistakes When Reading Sports Betting industry Statistics

1. Confusing handle with revenue. Handle is total money wagered; revenue is what sportsbooks actually keep. A $166 billion handle number does not mean sportsbooks made $166 billion.
2. Comparing global market size figures without checking the source’s scope. As shown above, “global market size” can mean very different things depending on what’s included.
3. Treating self-reported survey data as exact counts. Numbers like “67 million Americans plan to bet on the Super Bowl” come from surveys, not verified transaction counts.
4. Ignoring the hold rate. Two years with similar handle can have very different revenue if the hold rate changes.
5. Assuming every state’s numbers are comparable. Tax rates, launch dates, and market maturity vary widely, so raw dollar comparisons between states can be misleading without adjusting for population or market age.

Expert Tips for Using Sports Betting industry Statistics

• Always check the reporting period. Monthly, quarterly, and annual figures get mixed up constantly in headlines make sure you’re comparing the same time frame.
• Use AGA data as your baseline. The American Gaming Association aggregates official state regulator filings, making it one of the most reliable sources for US-specific numbers.
• Watch hold rate trends, not just handle. A rising hold rate often signals more same-game parlays and prop bets in the mix, which says something about betting behavior, not just market size.
• Separate legal and offshore betting figures. Offshore and illegal betting volume is estimated, not measured, so treat any “total market including illegal betting” figure as a rough estimate.
• Cross-check global figures across at least two sources before citing them, since methodology differences can create wide swings in reported market size.

FAQs about Sports Betting Industry Statistics

What are the current sports betting industry statistics in the US?

In 2025, US sportsbooks processed $166.94 billion in handle and generated $16.96 billion in revenue. Early 2026 data shows the industry on pace to beat those numbers, with $40.47 billion in handle and $3.82 billion in revenue in the first quarter alone.

How big is the sports betting industry in 2026?

The US sports betting industry is on track for another record year, with Q1 2026 revenue already at $3.82 billion. Globally, estimates for the 2026 sports betting market range from about $88 billion to $125 billion, depending on the research firm’s methodology.

Which states have legal sports betting?

As of mid-2026, 39 states plus Washington, D.C. have legalized sports betting, and 30 of those states allow online or mobile wagering. California and Texas remain among the largest states without legal sports betting.

Which sportsbook has the biggest market share?

FanDuel and DraftKings lead the US market, together controlling roughly three-quarters of national sports betting revenue. BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, ESPN BET, and Fanatics Sportsbook make up most of the remaining share.

How much tax revenue does sports betting generate?

Legal sports betting generated $3.71 billion in state tax revenue in 2025, up 32.4% from the year before. Tax rates on sportsbook revenue range from under 7% in states like Nevada to 51% in states like New York.

What percentage of sports betting happens online?

Roughly 95% of all US sports betting handle now happens online or through mobile apps, up from about 60% in 2019. Retail sportsbooks make up a shrinking share of the total market.

What is the difference between betting handle and revenue?

Handle is the total amount of money wagered by bettors. Revenue (or gross gaming revenue) is what the sportsbook keeps after paying out winning bets. Revenue is always much smaller than handle.

Is sports betting legal in California or Texas?

No. As of mid-2026, sports betting is not legal in California or Texas. Both states have faced political and, in some cases, constitutional barriers to legalization, and neither has a clear timeline for a legal launch.

How much did Americans bet during the Super Bowl?

AGA survey data suggests roughly 60–68 million American adults planned to bet on a recent Super Bowl, making it the single largest annual betting event in the country by participation.

What is a hold rate in sports betting?

The hold rate is the percentage of total handle that a sportsbook keeps as revenue after paying out winners. US sportsbooks held around 10.15% of total handle in 2025, up from roughly 9% a few years earlier.

Are prediction markets like Kalshi considered sports betting?

Prediction markets operate under federal commodity trading rules (CFTC oversight) rather than state gaming law, so they exist in a regulatory gray area. They offer sports-outcome contracts that function similarly to bets, and they’re increasingly seen as competitors to traditional state-licensed sportsbooks.

How much has been legally wagered on sports since 2018?

Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in May 2018, American bettors have wagered more than $600 billion through licensed, legal sportsbooks.

Conclusion

Sports betting industry statistics tell a clear story: this is a market that’s still growing, still concentrating around a couple of major players, and still shifting almost entirely toward mobile. US sportsbooks pulled in nearly $17 billion in revenue in 2025, and 2026 is shaping up to be an even bigger year, with Q1 alone producing $3.82 billion in revenue on more than $40 billion in handle.

Whether you’re a bettor trying to understand the market, an investor watching operator earnings, or a researcher writing about gambling policy, the key numbers to track are handle, revenue, hold rate, and state tax collections and always check what time period and geography a statistic actually covers before you cite it.