A new national survey from the American Gaming Association (AGA) reports record engagement in 2025. 57% of U.S. adults say they gambled in the past 12 months, and an estimated 134 million people visited a casino at least once.

The increase in participation is reflected in attitudes towards gambling. Public acceptance remains steady, and Americans embrace the positive impact the gaming industry has on the broader U.S. economy.

Americans increasingly rate casino gaming as an innovative form of entertainment that offers good value for money. These results suggest that gaming has become a mainstream leisure activity and is likely to continue gaining popularity. As the regulated gaming industry strives to expand, public support is growing alongside it.

Record Participation and Engagement

The American Attitudes Towards Gaming 2025 report indicates a new peak in gambling participation. More than half of American adults (57%) participated in some form of gambling over the previous 12 months.

Casino gaming led the way, with 30% having gambled at a land-based casino. Meanwhile, 21% placed a sports bet.

The growth in U.S. gambling participation is notably bipartisan. Comparable rates were seen across major political affiliations. 60% of Independents, 58% of Republicans, and 56% of Democrats reported gambling in the last year, demonstrating that participation in gambling bridges the political divide.

Meanwhile, casino visitation reached new heights. 53%, or 134 million American adults visited a casino property for gambling or other entertainment purposes in the past 12 months. This marks the first time past-year casino visitors have surpassed 50%.

Widespread Acceptance of Casino Gaming

The public perception of casino gambling remains highly favorable and consistent, reinforcing its role as an accepted leisure activity. The survey asked, “What are your own personal views of gambling?”, with three possible options. Here is a breakdown of the responses:

In 2025, 9-in-10 Americans consider gambling acceptable for themselves or others, with 62% finding it personally acceptable.

This broad social acceptance is reflected in consumers’ positive assessment of casino entertainment. 90% of past-year casino visitors reported that spending a night at a casino provides good or excellent value for money compared to alternative entertainment options. Meanwhile, 89% said casino entertainment is innovative.

Strong Support for Sports Betting

It’s not only casino gaming that saw favorable results in the report. Overall, 74% of Americans showed support for legal sports betting in their state. This reflects the growing availability and popularity of sports betting in the U.S.

To date, 39 states and the District of Columbia have legalized some form of betting. Missouri is the latest addition to the list, with online and retail sports betting due to go live on December 1.

The results demonstrated widespread, bipartisan support for legal and regulated betting. By party, support totals:

• 78% among Democrats
• 72% among Republicans
• 70% among Independents

Positive Economic Impact

The AGA report highlights strong public confidence in the gaming industry’s positive economic impact. In 2025, 77% of Americans believe the casino gaming industry has a positive impact on the U.S. economy. In addition, 86% agreed that it is a growing sector.

Survey respondents were asked how well certain phrases describe the U.S. casino gaming industry. The responses indicate a widespread belief that casinos create good jobs, expand the tax base, and stimulate tourism:

• Drives economic growth: 73% agree that the industry helps generate growth in areas that are underdeveloped or struggling economically.
• Expands tax base: 82% say the industry generates revenue for governments at the state and local level.
• Boosts tourism: 86% think casinos increase tourism, bringing meetings and conventions to an area.
• Entertainment options: 85% say casinos offer entertainment and dining options in an area.
• Employment opportunities: 82% agree that the industry produces jobs and investments in the U.S. that cannot be outsourced.
• Remuneration: 82% think casinos create jobs that pay well.

Responsible Gaming

As engagement grows, so does the perception of the industry’s commitment to responsible gaming. 76% of American adults say that industry responsible gaming programs are effective.

The belief in the effectiveness of industry RG programs, such as Problem Gambling Awareness Month, is even higher among active players. 77% of physical casino players, 88% of sports bettors, and 87% of iGamers view the programs as effective.

The report also found that the number of Americans exposed to responsible gaming information has significantly increased in recent years. 72% say they have encountered RG messaging in the past 12 months, compared to just 56% in 2022.

About the Study

The AGA fielded an online survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,001 registered voters aged 21 and over from July 22 to August 8, 2025. The margin of error is ± 2% for the full sample, with higher margins for subgroups.

The subgroups consist of 1,055 past-year casino visitors, 1,146 past-year gamblers, 602 physical casino players, 430 sports bettors, and 461 iGamers. People could belong to multiple groups. This is a respectable sample size for a study of this kind.

Final Thoughts on Gaming Attitudes in the U.S.

The American Attitudes Towards Gaming 2025 report paints a clear picture of an industry achieving widespread acceptance and record engagement. The data establishes that Americans gamble more. Moreover, they increasingly view legal gaming as a positive economic contributor and a valued form of innovative entertainment.

Strong consumer confidence and political neutrality provide a solid foundation for the continued expansion of the legal, regulated U.S. gambling market.