More than half of U.S. adults gamble monthly as mobile betting surges

The study of 2,548 adults highlights a generational shift in motivation. While older gamblers generally view betting as entertainment, 53% of those aged 18 to 29 cite financial gain as their primary driver. This demographic is also significantly more active in mobile sports wagering, with 67% of young men reporting participation over the past year. Despite the high frequency of engagement, researchers noted a profound disconnect between collective knowledge and individual expectations: while 80% of respondents correctly agree that gambling leads to long-term losses, half of active gamblers remain convinced they can turn a profit or break even within a single hour.

The societal ripple effects are substantial. Approximately 21% of adults report being personally harmed by someone else’s gambling, and 39% know an individual struggling with an addiction. Paul Lambert, director of the institute's Religion Initiative, warns that the normalization of these apps undermines social trust and familial stability. The findings also suggest that moral objections provide little deterrent; 71% of those who believe gambling is ethically wrong still participated in at least one wagering activity during the past year. As frequent gambling correlates with higher rates of depression and anxiety, experts are calling for better public education on the mathematical realities of odds and increased support systems within communities.