An estimated 2.5 million US adults — about 1% — meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in a given year, and another 5 to 8 million (2-3%) have mild or moderate problems. Below are the national figures on problem gambling and its cost, each with its primary source and the date PMill Sports last verified it. Help is free and confidential.
About 1% of US adults are estimated to meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in a given year. Another 5 to 8 million adults (2-3%) have mild or moderate gambling problems.
Source: National Council on Problem Gambling, What is Problem Gambling?.
Verified 2026-10-12.
The estimated annual national social cost of problem gambling, covering gambling-related criminal justice and healthcare spending, job loss and bankruptcy.
Source: National Council on Problem Gambling, PGAM 2025 fact sheet.
Verified 2026-10-12.
Have gambled at least once in their lives, and 60% have gambled in the past year. Some form of legalized gambling is available in 48 states plus the District of Columbia; Hawaii and Utah are the exceptions.
Source: National Council on Problem Gambling, What is Problem Gambling?.
Verified 2026-10-12.
Help is free, confidential and available 24/7. Call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), or see the PMill responsible gaming resources.
PMill Sports is an analysis and paper-betting product, not a sportsbook. It does not accept real-money wagers.
PMill Sports, "Problem Gambling Statistics" (2026), pmill.ai/resources/problem-gambling-statistics/ — figures verified 2026-10-12; data: National Council on Problem Gambling.
Problem gambling is gambling behaviour that causes harm to the gambler or the people around them. The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that about 2.5 million US adults (roughly 1%) meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in a given year, and another 5 to 8 million (2-3%) have mild or moderate gambling problems. Source: National Council on Problem Gambling, verified 2026-10-12.
About 1% of US adults — around 2.5 million people — are estimated to have a severe gambling problem in a given year, and 2-3% (5 to 8 million) have mild or moderate problems. 85% of US adults have gambled at least once and 60% in the past year. Source: National Council on Problem Gambling, verified 2026-10-12.
The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates the annual national social cost of problem gambling at about $14 billion, covering gambling-related criminal justice and healthcare spending, job loss and bankruptcy. Source: National Council on Problem Gambling, PGAM 2025 fact sheet, verified 2026-10-12.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). PMill Sports lists additional resources on its responsible gaming page.
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