International Gamblers in the United States Wager Significantly More Than the Global Standard in June
In a recent report by Optimove, the U.S. gambling market has shown significant outperformance compared to the global market, particularly in casino and sports betting. The study analysed over 3.2 million domestic consumers and more than 21 million consumers globally.
One of the key findings was that American players deposited far more money into betting accounts, with a year-over-year increase of 8%, while global players also increased deposits by 8%, but U.S. totals remained more than double. American bettors deposited an average of $589 in June, which is 2.6 times higher than the global average of $211.
Casino bettors in the U.S. were especially aggressive, placing an average of $8,114 in wagers during June, which is more than six times higher than the global average. Sports bettors in the U.S. wagered an average of $932 on sports betting platforms in June, even during the slowest part of the sports calendar.
Despite these higher wagers, casino growth in the global market lags behind the U.S., with a year-over-year growth of 14%, compared to 38% in the U.S. Sports betting volume saw a drop in June, but the U.S. still outperformed the rest of the world.
The report highlights several factors contributing to the U.S.'s strong performance. Easing governmental regulations and market expansion have enabled easier access and increased availability of online gambling platforms, encouraging more participants to engage in both sports betting and casino games online.
The digital segment of the gambling market is the key driver in the U.S., with revenue growth rates significantly higher than traditional land-based gaming. Online sports betting and iGaming revenue grew considerably, with online gaming revenues expanding 10.9% recently, driven by innovations and legalization across more states.
Technological advancements, such as virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), are spurring interest and improving user experience, fostering higher engagement. VR is also being explored as a solution for gambling addiction, which can help sustain the market by addressing social concerns.
The U.S. consumer base exhibits strong spending power, which supports higher bets and deposits. The market saw commercial gaming revenue across all sectors rise by 6.2% in early 2025 compared to the prior year, indicating robust demand.
The online gambling market in the U.S. increased by about 39% year-over-year in 2023, reaching $19.54 billion, with forecasts projecting growth to nearly $40 billion by 2029. This rapid expansion reflects the surge in legal market access and consumer adoption.
In conclusion, the U.S. gambling market’s outperformance relative to global trends stems from regulatory liberalization, technological innovation, significant shifts to digital platforms, increased consumer engagement, and strong economic fundamentals. These factors create an environment conducive to accelerated growth in deposits and wagers on casino and sports betting platforms.
- American bettors showed a higher interest in sports betting, averaging $932 in wagers on sports betting platforms in June.
- The U.S. online gambling market is experiencing rapid growth, increasing by about 39% year-over-year in 2023, and forecasted to reach nearly $40 billion by 2029, mainly due to regulatory liberalization, technological innovation, and shifts to digital platforms.
