The State of Gambling in 2025: Addiction Statistics, Trends & Recovery

A Growing National Issue

The U.S. gambling industry has reached historic highs, creating a landscape of unprecedented access and risk. This rapid commercial growth directly correlates with a rising need for awareness and treatment for problem gambling. 

The revenue generated often masks the significant societal costs that follow.

• U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached a record $72.04 billion in 2024, up 7.5% from the previous year.
• This activity generated a record $15.9 billion in direct gaming tax revenue for state and local governments in 2024.
• Approximately 85% of U.S. adults have gambled at least once in their lifetime, with 66% having gambled in the past year.
• Seniors are also active participants. 57% of baby boomers reported that they gambled in the last 12 months.

Data from the AGA's definitive "State of the States 2025" report reveals an American market in a state of sustained and aggressive expansion. 

The year 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking revenue for the industry, a trend that directly coincides with the period of rapid state-level legalization of sports betting following the 2018 Supreme Court decision. This proves that gambling is a mainstream and normalized activity in the United States. 

With more than half the adult population participating, gambling is not a fringe behavior but a deeply integrated part of American entertainment and culture. 
This widespread normalization creates a vast population base exposed to gambling products, from which the smaller but significant percentage of individuals who develop a disorder will emerge.

Who Is Most at Risk? A Look at the Demographics

While addiction can affect anyone, data reveals disproportionate impacts on specific communities. Age, gender, military service, and ethnicity are all critical factors in assessing risk.

• The overall prevalence of severe gambling disorder in the U.S. adult population is approximately 1% (2.5 million adults). Another 5-8 million (2-3%) would be considered to have mild or moderate gambling problems; in other words, they do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder but meet one or more of the criteria and are experiencing problems due to their gambling behavior.
• Problem gambling rates are significantly higher among men (4.2%) compared to women (2.9%).
• Among college students, problem gambling rates are estimated to be between 6-11%, a rate far exceeding the general adult population.
• U.S. military veterans are twice as likely as the general population to develop a gambling disorder.
• Prevalence rates of disordered gambling among blacks (2.2%) and Native/Asian Americans (2.3%) were higher than that of whites (1.2%).
  

The statistics reveal a troubling vulnerability among young adults, with college campuses emerging as high-risk environments for problem gambling.

We’ve seen these same patterns firsthand at Algamus. Many young men come into treatment saying their addiction began in college, often through fantasy football or sports betting with friends. What started as something social quickly grew into a daily habit once the season kicked off.

Several converging factors contribute to this trend:

• The "Perfect Storm" environment - The transition to college often combines academic and social stress with newfound financial independence. This creates an environment where risky behaviors like gambling can seem like an easy outlet or a quick solution to financial pressures.
• Aggressive marketing - Sports betting companies aggressively target this demographic, spending billions on advertising that normalizes gambling and integrates it directly into the college sports experience, making it seem like a harmless part of being a fan.
• Constant accessibility - The rise of sophisticated mobile betting apps makes gambling more accessible to tech-native young adults than at any point in history. The seamless integration with live sports viewership turns every game into a potential trigger, available 24/7 in the palm of their hand.
  

The Devastating Consequences: 
The Financial Ruin of Gambling Addiction

The chase for the next win often leads to a cycle of devastating financial loss, debt, and desperation that affects every aspect of a person's life.

• The average debt accumulated by individuals with a gambling disorder ranges from $55,000 to $90,000 for men and $15,000 for women.
• Approximately 20% of problem gamblers file for bankruptcy due to debts used to fund their gambling habits.
• Up to 50% of individuals with a severe gambling disorder engage in criminal activity like theft or fraud to support their habit.

These statistics serve as a critical reminder that for every dollar of tax revenue generated by gambling, there are associated costs that impact the entire community. 

These costs manifest in the need for publicly funded treatment programs, the expense of prosecuting and incarcerating individuals who commit crimes to support their addiction, and the social safety net costs associated with job loss and financial instability. The evidence also suggests that the financial consequences of the digital gambling era may be more acute and rapid than those of the traditional, brick-and-mortar era. 

Traditional casino gambling involved inherent "friction" - the need to physically travel to a venue, obtain cash, and place bets in person. 
These steps created natural pauses and barriers to rapid, catastrophic loss. In contrast, online platforms are designed to be frictionless, offering instant deposits via credit, 24/7 availability, and a constant stream of in-game betting opportunities. 

This accelerated environment, as suggested by the bankruptcy data appearing just two years post-legalization, appears to be shortening the timeline from initial engagement to financial devastation, particularly for younger and more financially precarious individuals who are the primary users of these new technologies.
When the financial fallout hits, it’s often overwhelming. Many of our clients arrive burdened by debt, uncertainty, and a sense that their finances are beyond repair. That’s why financial education is such an important part of treatment, especially for clients who come to us unsure where to even begin repairing the financial damage caused by their gambling.

Each of our clients has the opportunity to do individual work with GamFin, a financial consulting organization, at our expense while they’re in treatment. GamFin works with them on a three-step process: one, figure out what’s owed; two, determine what income is available; and three, set up a restitution plan to alleviate debt.

The Human Toll: Unseen Costs On Mental Health, Relationships, and Lives

The most profound damage caused by gambling addiction is not financial. It’s the erosion of mental health, the destruction of trust in relationships, and the immense harm caused to family members.

• Suicide accounts for as many as 25% of deaths among patients with gambling disorder.
• The lifetime divorce rate for pathological gamblers is 53.5% - almost three times higher than the 18.2% rate for non-problem gamblers
• For every one person with a gambling problem, an estimated 8 to 10 other people—including children, partners, and employers—are negatively affected.
• Children of individuals with a gambling disorder are more likely to experience depression, attempt suicide, and develop a gambling problem themselves.
  

These statistics provide a precise, powerful measure of the elevated suicide risk associated with gambling disorder. An odds ratio of this magnitude is clinically significant and places problem gambling among the most potent risk factors for suicidal behavior. This finding highlights the importance for all clinicians, families, and public health officials to treat gambling addiction with the utmost seriousness, recognizing its potential for fatal outcomes.  

Behind these statistics are real families coping with broken trust and emotional distance. These numbers represent real conversations we have every day with people trying to repair what gambling has damaged.

This is something we talk about often with our clients. We see the toll it takes on relationships. Many of them want to know, “When will I get that trust back?” We tell them, you earn it through verification—keep your word, bring home the receipt, stay transparent. That’s how trust is built. It’s important for them to know this is possible and to not give up hope.

There Is Hope: Treatment Works

Despite the severity of the statistics, recovery is an achievable reality. We’ve had clients arrive at our treatment center feeling completely hopeless. By the time they leave, you can see that inspiration in their eyes. They can envision a future for themselves and their families.

That’s why professional treatment is so important. It provides the tools, support, and therapeutic environment needed to overcome this disorder and rebuild a healthy, fulfilling life.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce the severity of a gambling disorder by 65% to 82% immediately following treatment.
• In one study, 90% of patients who completed a CBT-based program achieved total abstinence from gambling at a 6-month follow-up.
• Peer support is also vital, with studies showing that regular attendance at Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings is associated with higher rates of abstinence.
• Tragically, only about 8-10% of people who meet the criteria for a gambling disorder ever seek help, often due to barriers like shame, stigma, and lack of awareness of treatment options.

The CBT study provides a strong, quantifiable success rate for what is widely considered the gold-standard treatment for gambling disorder. CBT helps individuals identify and change the irrational thoughts and cognitive distortions that fuel gambling (e.g., "I'm due for a win"), while also developing practical behavioral skills for managing urges and avoiding high-risk situations.

A 70% abstinence rate at one year is a powerful testament to the effectiveness of structured, evidence-based care and offers a compelling message of hope to those struggling with the disorder.