Gallup Survey Shows U.S. Gambling Participation Falls to New Low in Recent Tracking

The latest telephone survey conducted by Gallup polled 2,201 U.S. adults and recorded that just 45 percent took part in any form of gambling during the previous year, a figure that stands as the lowest point in recent tracking and marks a steep decline from the 64 percent who reported participation back in 2016.

Data from the same poll shows participation slipped across multiple categories, with state lottery ticket purchases falling to 31 percent from 49 percent in 2016 while in-person casino visits dropped to 14 percent from 26 percent over the same span.

Key Numbers from the 2026 Telephone Survey

Those who reviewed the results noted that the overall drop reflects reduced engagement across both lottery products and casino floor activity, and the survey methodology relied on random telephone sampling to capture responses from a broad cross-section of adults nationwide.

Figures reveal consistent patterns of lower involvement whether measured by lottery sales or casino foot traffic, and the 2026 poll places current rates well below levels observed during the mid-2010s when participation hovered near two-thirds of adults.

Changes Across Gambling Categories

State lottery participation, once the most common entry point for many adults, now sits at 31 percent after the earlier mark of 49 percent, while casino gambling in physical locations fell from 26 percent to 14 percent, indicating parallel reductions in both frequent and occasional player groups.

Additional categories tracked in the survey also registered declines, although lottery and casino figures received the most attention because they represent the largest share of reported activity in prior years, and the combined data set paints a picture of broad contraction rather than isolated shifts in one segment.

Context Within Recent Tracking Periods

Observers note that the 2026 results continue a downward trajectory first observed in earlier waves of the same Gallup series, and the current 45 percent participation rate sits noticeably below the 64 percent recorded during the 2016 cycle when economic conditions and state lottery promotions differed from present circumstances.

Researchers who examined year-over-year comparisons found that both lottery and casino segments experienced measurable contraction, and the survey captured responses during a period when several states maintained existing regulations without major expansions in new gaming options.

Survey Methodology and Sample Details

Gallup collected responses through telephone interviews with 2,201 adults selected to represent national demographics, and the resulting data set allows direct comparison with prior iterations of the same question wording used since at least 2016.

Those who conducted teh fieldwork applied standard weighting procedures to align the sample with U.S. Census benchmarks, which supports the reliability of the reported drops in lottery and casino engagement across the full adult population.

Implications for State Lottery and Casino Operators

State lottery organizations now operate against a backdrop where ticket purchases involve fewer adults than in 2016, and casino operators face similar patterns with reduced in-person attendance figures that align with the survey's 14 percent participation mark.

Data indicates these trends appear across multiple regions rather than concentrated in single markets, and the poll results provide operators with a national benchmark against which individual state performance can be measured during the current tracking period.

Conclusion

The 2026 Gallup telephone survey of 2,201 adults documents a clear reduction in overall gambling participation to 45 percent, with specific declines in state lottery and in-person casino activity compared with 2016 levels, and these figures establish a factual baseline for ongoing monitoring of adult engagement trends. Gallup poll on U.S. gambling participation (2026 telephone survey)