Survey Data Shows Rising U.S. Online Sports Betting Account Ownership

The Siena Research Institute released findings from its American Sport Fanship Survey in partnership with St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication and those figures reveal steady increases in online sports betting account creation across the country. The April 2026 report tracks participation rates that climbed from 19 percent in 2024 to 22 percent in 2025 before reaching 27 percent this year among Americans who maintain active accounts on platforms such as DraftKings, FanDuel or BetMGM.

Researchers collected responses that also indicate 33 percent of Americans have opened an account at least once while 22 percent describe themselves as active bettors who place wagers regularly. The data arrives at a moment when states continue to refine regulatory frameworks and operators expand mobile offerings yet the survey focuses strictly on self-reported consumer behavior rather than revenue or handle totals.

Participation Trends Across Recent Years

Observers note the year-over-year climb reflects broader access after additional states legalized mobile betting and major operators invested in user acquisition campaigns. The jump from 19 percent active accounts in 2024 to the current 27 percent marks an eight-point gain over two years while the share of people who have ever opened an account sits at one-third of the adult population. Those numbers come directly from the Siena Research Institute polling conducted earlier this spring and released on April 13 2026.

Active bettors represent 22 percent of respondents which sits slightly below the active-account figure and suggests some account holders maintain profiles without frequent wagering. The survey distinguishes between account ownership and ongoing betting activity which allows analysts to separate registration trends from actual engagement levels.

Signs of Potential Problem Gambling Behaviors

The same dataset captures rising indicators of risk including reports that 60 percent of bettors have chased losses by placing additional wagers after setbacks. Fifteen percent of bettors stated they have sought help for problem gambling at some point and these percentages appear higher than previous Siena surveys on the same topic. Researchers presented the figures without attributing causation yet the increases coincide with expanded market access in multiple jurisdictions.

Survey administrators asked respondents about specific behaviors such as attempting to recover losses quickly or contacting support services and the responses produced the 60 percent and 15 percent marks respectively. The partnership between the Siena Research Institute and the Jandoli School allowed for consistent question wording across years which supports direct comparisons of the chasing and help-seeking statistics.

June 2026 brings continued attention to these risk indicators as state regulators review consumer protection measures and operators adjust responsible gaming tools. The Siena findings provide one data point that policymakers and industry stakeholders can reference when evaluating program effectiveness.

Survey Methodology and Scope

The American Sport Fanship Survey incorporates questions on online sports betting alongside broader sports media consumption habits and the sample covers a nationally representative group of American adults. St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication contributed to question design and data interpretation while the Siena Research Institute handled fieldwork and reporting. The resulting report was published on the institute’s website and remains available for public review at the source link.

Because the poll relies on self-reported answers the percentages reflect respondent recollections rather than verified account data from operators. Researchers typically note this distinction when presenting consumer surveys of this type and the current release follows that convention.

Context Within the Expanding Market

Multiple states added or expanded legal sports betting options between 2024 and 2026 which increased the number of adults living within jurisdictions that permit mobile accounts. The Siena data captures the cumulative effect of those changes on account ownership rates yet stops short of projecting future participation levels. Observers who track similar polls from other organizations have seen parallel upward movements although direct numerical comparisons require careful alignment of question phrasing.

The report highlights that 27 percent of Americans now hold active accounts while one-third have opened one at least once and these thresholds represent concrete milestones in consumer adoption. The 22 percent active-bettor figure supplies an additional reference point for understanding how many respondents translate account access into regular wagering.

Conclusion

The Siena Research Institute survey in partnership with St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication supplies a snapshot of rising online sports betting account ownership that reached 27 percent active accounts by April 2026 alongside steady growth from prior years. The data also records that 60 percent of bettors report chasing losses and 15 percent have sought help for problem gambling. These figures stand as documented outcomes from the most recent wave of the American Sport Fanship Survey and remain accessible through the institute’s published report for anyone seeking the original source material.