Gallup Survey Highlights Decade-Long Decline in U.S. Gambling Participation

A Gallup survey released in August 2026 shows American adults reporting lower involvement in several established gambling activities than they did in 2016, even as gambling apps and prediction markets expanded their reach. The findings cover lottery ticket purchases, in-person casino visits, sports betting, and newer prediction market platforms, with participation rates measured through direct respondent reports.

Key Participation Shifts Documented

Lottery ticket purchases fell from 49 percent of adults in 2016 to 31 percent in the 2026 survey period, while in-person casino visits dropped from 26 percent to 14 percent over the same span. Sports betting participation declined from 10 percent to 7 percent, and usage of prediction markets such as Polymarket or Kalshi stood at 2 percent without offsetting the broader reductions. These figures come directly from the Gallup data released in August 2026 and reflect self-reported behavior across a nationally representative sample.

The survey period in 2026 captured responses during a time when mobile gambling applications and event-contract platforms had grown in availability, yet reported engagement in the tracked activities still showed net decreases. Observers note that the 2026 results provide a direct comparison point to the 2016 baseline, allowing researchers to track changes in frequency and format of participation.

Comparison Across Activity Types

Data on lottery participation reveals the largest percentage-point decline among the categories measured, with nearly one-fifth fewer adults indicating they had purchased tickets in the recent survey wave. Casino visits, which occur in physical locations, showed a similar pattern of reduced reporting, dropping by half from the earlier measurement. Sports betting, already at a lower base in 2016, continued its downward trend in reported adult involvement despite regulatory expansions in multiple states.

Prediction market usage, measured separately, remained limited at 2 percent and did not produce measurable increases that balanced the reductions seen elsewhere. The survey instrument asked respondents about specific activities without combining categories, which allowed the data to isolate trends for each type of gambling behavior.

Context of Expanded Access and Reported Behavior

Although gambling applications and prediction-market platforms increased options for participation between the two survey years, the Gallup results indicate that overall reported involvement in the listed activities moved lower. The August 2026 release presents these outcomes as straightforward percentage comparisons rather than attributing causation to any single factor such as technology adoption or regulatory changes.

Researchers who examined the data noted that the declines appear across multiple formats, including both traditional in-person options and certain online-adjacent activities like sports betting. The low figure for prediction markets suggests limited substitution effects within the population sampled, though the survey did not ask respondents to rank preferences among platforms.

Survey Methodology and Scope

Gallup conducted the 2026 survey using methods consistent with the 2016 wave to support direct year-over-year comparison. Respondents answered questions about whether they had participated in each activity within a defined recall period, producing the reported percentages. The sample included American adults across demographic groups, with results aggregated to national estimates.

The published findings focus on the four activity categories mentioned and do not include breakdowns by state or by demographic subgroup in the initial release. This approach keeps the primary comparison centered on the national-level shifts between 2016 and 2026.

Conclusion

The August 2026 Gallup survey provides updated national figures showing reduced reported participation in lottery purchases, casino visits, and sports betting compared with 2016 levels, while prediction-market engagement registered at 2 percent. The data offer a factual snapshot of self-reported behavior during a period of expanded digital options, with all statistics drawn from the single referenced source. Further releases may supply additional detail on demographic patterns or longer-term trends.