Recent Gallup Data Shows Record Low Participation in U.S. Gambling Activities

Telephone interviews conducted by Gallup with more than 2,200 U.S. adults between June and July 2026 captured participation levels in various gambling activities over the preceding twelve months, and the resulting figures indicate that just 45 percent of respondents engaged in at least one form of gambling during that period. This percentage represents the lowest point recorded in Gallup’s recent tracking series, down sharply from 64 percent in 2016 and from levels that hovered near two-thirds in both the 2003 and 2007 surveys. Researchers collected responses through standard telephone methodology that reached a nationally representative sample, allowing direct year-over-year comparisons on the same set of questions. The poll results, released in August 2026, therefore provide a clear snapshot of shifting habits rather than an estimate derived from other data sources.

Activity-Specific Declines Documented in the Survey

State lottery ticket purchases showed one of the steepest drops, falling to 31 percent of adults in the latest period compared with 49 percent in 2016. In-person casino visits likewise declined to 14 percent from 26 percent over the same interval, while participation in office pools slipped to 7 percent after registering higher shares in earlier waves of the series.

Other gambling formats followed similar patterns of reduced involvement, although the poll did not isolate every minor category with equal granularity. The broad nature of the downturn across multiple activities suggests the change extends beyond any single segment and instead reflects a wider contraction in overall engagement.

Historical Context and Year-over-Year Comparisons

Gallup has tracked these same consumption habits at intervals since the early 2000s, creating a consistent baseline against which the 2026 numbers stand out. Earlier surveys from 2003 and 2007 placed overall participation near two-thirds of adults, a level that held relatively steady until the 2016 reading of 64 percent. The drop to 45 percent therefore marks an acceleration of the downward trend that first became visible after 2016.

Because the questions remained unchanged across iterations, observers can attribute the differences primarily to changes in reported behavior rather than alterations in survey design. Data from the June–July 2026 interviews thus align with prior releases in structure while highlighting the extent of the recent contraction.

Methodology Details Behind the Findings

The telephone interviews covered a sample exceeding 2,200 adults and applied standard weighting procedures to match U.S. demographic benchmarks. Gallup’s approach relies on live interviewers who present identical prompts about each gambling activity, producing comparable topline percentages across survey waves. Full question wording and response distributions appear in the accompanying topline data released alongside the main report.

Results are reported at the national level without state-by-state breakdowns in the initial release, keeping the focus on aggregate trends that can be tracked over time. This methodology supports the direct comparisons cited throughout the findings, including the specific drops recorded for lottery tickets, casino visits, and office pools.

Conclusion

The Gallup Poll Social Series data from June–July 2026 establish a new low for adult participation in gambling activities, with the overall rate at 45 percent and measurable reductions across major categories such as state lotteries at 31 percent, in-person casinos at 14 percent, and office pools at 7 percent. These figures, drawn from more than 2,200 interviews, continue the series that previously recorded 64 percent participation in 2016 and levels near two-thirds in 2003 and 2007. The full report and topline data remain available through Gallup’s published materials, providing the detailed tables that underpin the headline percentages.