US News Survey: 51% of Bettors Bet to Pay Bills

A recent survey by US News has shed light on the financial struggles of sports bettors in the US. The survey, conducted between August 31 and September 3, interviewed 1,200 respondents and revealed that 51% of sports bettors have placed a bet to try to pay their bills. Additionally, 21% of bettors have gambled to pay for rent or a mortgage.

The survey also found that 57% of sports gamblers bet at least once every week, with 17% placing bets daily. The average loss for around 50% of respondents sits at below $25. However, 19% of respondents confirmed that they have a debt related to their sports betting habit, and 17% are being affected negatively financially because of their sports betting habit.

Despite the financial struggles, 34% of respondents said that sports betting has affected their gambling habits positively. However, 22% of respondents also shared that they were worried they could hardly control their gambling habits. The survey also looked into income backgrounds and found out that two-thirds of respondents with six-figure household incomes, or 68%, were also likely to wager weekly and spend at least $25 or more on every single bet.