Sports betting has become more accessible across the United States, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Americans are placing large wagers every day. New figures highlighted by FanDuel suggest most bettors prefer smaller stakes and only gamble occasionally. In an October 16 research summary, FanDuel brought together findings from academic studies and its own sportsbook data to examine betting habits of Americans. This comes as the operator faces questions about its marketing practices, particularly how it communicates with VIP users.
In the research summary, FanDuel cites a 2026 study published in the Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing, which states that 60% of surveyed sports bettors reported typically wagering $20 or less. Another 68% said their largest loss in a single day was $50 or less.
FanDuel’s internal data show similar results, with a median sportsbook wager of just $5, meaning half of the individual bets placed on its platform are $5 or less.
That figure offers some perspective on how customers use sportsbooks. However, it’s important to distinguish between individual wagers and total gambling activity. Someone placing several small bets throughout the week could still wager a substantial amount over time.
The report provides a glimpse of what bettor behavior looks like at one of the most popular platforms in the U.S. market.
Betting frequency is another area covered in FanDuel’s report. According to the findings, approximately 83% of sports bettors place wagers once a month or less. Half of surveyed bettors said they gambled on sports only a few times during the previous year. Another 21.9% reported placing just one bet.
More frequent betting was much less common. Around 10% reported wagering weekly, while 5% placed bets several times per week and approximately 2% gambled each day.
FanDuel also referenced Gallup research showing that reported participation in professional sports betting has remained relatively consistent since 2003.
FanDuel published its research summary shortly after facing questions about how it markets to some of its users who spend the most money on the platform.
The scrutiny followed allegations involving personalized messages from professional athletes. Earlier this year, a Bryce Harper video sent to a VIP user became part of a lawsuit involving the sportsbook operator.
FanDuel defended its VIP program, pointing to safeguards designed to identify potential problem gambling. These include customer monitoring, responsible gambling tools, and employee training. In the research report, FanDuel also highlighted the consumer protections available on the platform.
The recent player data report highlights broader betting trends drawn from several research sources, along with FanDuel’s own customer data. While the findings suggest that most bettors wager low-stakes amounts and don’t bet that often, this doesn’t show the cumulative losses of individual users.
