American Gaming Association Study Shows Growing Acceptance of Legal Gambling

An American Gaming Association study released Wednesday highlighted what most already know: the acceptance and mainstreaming of legal gambling in the U.S, including the best sports betting sites, has grown throughout the years.

The "American Attitudes Toward Gaming” study surveyed 2,000 Americans over the age of 21 about their use of gambling establishments and best sports betting apps.

It showed a record number of American adults taking part in legal gambling. It's the first time ever recorded that more than 50% of respondents said they take part in some form of legal gambling, which include on-site and real money online casinos, lotteries, the best sportsbooks, iGaming, parimutuel-wagering, and video lottery terminals.

Joe Maloney, AGA senior vice president of strategic communications, said: "These latest survey results highlight a consistent trend over the years: as gaming expands to new audiences, Americans increasingly see the benefits of a legal, regulated gaming marketplace that contributes to communities, prioritizes responsibility, and provides unmatched entertainment."

Deeper dive into the findings

Of the 2,000 surveyed, 1,092 said they partook in some form of legal betting during the 12-month period, at a casino or racetrack, at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, a lottery location, a bar, tavern or truck stop, or through a site with the best sportsbook promos or mobile casino apps.  

Nearly half of those surveyed (986 of 2,000) report having visited a casino in the last 12 months to gamble or for some other reason such as a show, concert, or convention at the venue. The report identified 122 million U.S. adults visiting a casino in the 12-month period.

For the fifth year in a row, the average age of a casino visitor fell. The average age in 2019 was nearly 50 years old. In 2023, that number was just 42 years old.

Gambling acceptance stands out

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the report was the numbers surrounding the overall mainstreaming and acceptance among American citizens of the best live betting sites.

The survey found that nine in 10 Americans felt that casino gambling was acceptable for themselves or others, while 60% felt the practice is personally acceptable. About 12% felt gambling is “not acceptable for anyone.”

Meanwhile, 89% of casino visitors reported an overall excellent or good entertainment value compared to alternatives.

Overall, 76% of respondents felt that gaming offers an overall positive impact on the U.S. economy through:

• Increased entertainment and dining options for residents
• Increased tourism
• Job creation and investment in local areas
• Increased tax revenue for state and local governments
• Good paying jobs and the ability to climb the corporate ladder locally
• Revitalization of affected areas in participating jurisdictions

Industry ramifications

As of now, nearly 40 U.S. states boast an online sportsbook or casino presence. The industry has grown rapidly quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn its blanket ban on such gambling activities.

Growing favorability is certainly a positive sign from the study, as is the number of Americans taking part in legal sports betting and online casino opportunities.

New U.S. sportsbook apps are opening monthly, as is the presence of brick-and-mortar retail facilities around the country.

The U.S legal gambling industry is trending in the right direction for the best sportsbooks in the country, for the states that have welcomed them in and other possible jurisdictions that have yet to legalize their own platform.