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With an estimated $3.1 billion in legal bets on this year’s Men’s March Madness alone, sports betting’s prominence keeps rising. While events in May may not match the hype or volume of the NCAA Tournament, the PGA Championship, Roland Garros, the MLB season, and the NBA and NHL playoffs still make it a packed month for bettors. CivicScience has fresh data as another busy stretch in the sports world approaches.
With sports betting legal in 38 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, CivicScience data show momentum is building. So far this year, 30% of sports followers aged 21+ are at least ‘somewhat’ likely to bet on sports, up six points from 2023. Interest among men has climbed to 34%. But it’s not just a men’s game; women (aged 21+ who follow sports) are also showing a notable five-point increase since 2023, now standing at 25%.
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The prospect of mounting debt isn’t slowing bettors down either – those at least ‘somewhat’ likely to partake in sports betting this year are roughly twice as likely as non-bettors to expect they will have ‘more’ debt in the next 6 months.
Average Online Bet Spend Also Trends Up
Despite fledgling consumer economic sentiment and tariff-driven uncertainty impacting consumer spending in other areas, additional data show that the average bet size among online sports bettors is trending higher. Today, 50% say their typical bet falls between $10 and $50–up from 47% last year– driven by growth in the $25–$50 range (rising from 15% to 17%). Consequently, the share betting under $10 has dropped to 27%, down two points. The percentage of bettors wagering over $50 matches 2023 levels.
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NBA and NHL Postseasons Draw Interest As Sports Betting Drives Sports Fans to Expand Their Horizons
As the NBA and NHL playoffs are both underway, CivicScience data show NBA fans are slightly more likely to bet on NBA playoff games than NHL fans are to bet on NHL playoff games. Thirty-seven percent of NBA fans say they are at least ‘somewhat’ likely to bet on NBA postseason games, compared to 35% of NHL fans who say the same for NHL postseason games.
It’s not just limited to these two leagues. All of the big four pro sports leagues have leaned heavily into sports betting, and additional CivicScience data offer encouraging signs for those efforts. Nearly half (47%) of those who partake in sports betting agree that betting has led them to watch teams, games, or leagues they wouldn’t otherwise watch. This is more than double the percentage of people who say it hasn’t swayed them to watch events they don’t usually watch.
But Sports Betting Doesn’t Score With Everyone
Tune in to any sports broadcast, and you’ll see a wide range of promos, sponsorships, and features for sports betting — no surprise given the data above. But not all viewers are on board. CivicScience data show that a plurality of sports viewers (43%) are unfavorable toward sports betting integration, outpacing those who are neutral (34%) and favorable (23%).
Americans are also mixed when it comes to their level of concern for the rise of sports betting. When asked to rate their level of concern out of five, 37% of U.S. adults said they’re not at all concerned about the growth of sports betting (rating concerns at a 0), with another 20% falling between a 1 and 2. On the other end of the spectrum, 17% are ‘extremely’ concerned (rating concerns a 5), and another 8% land at a level of four.
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As sports betting weaves itself deeper into mainstream culture, its growth appears resilient even amid broader economic concerns. Looking ahead, sustained momentum — fueled by expanding legalization, growing female engagement, and higher per-bet spending — could push the industry to new highs, especially as major sporting events continue to fill the calendar.
