1 in 5 Americans thinks sports betting is an ‘investment’ — but the data says something different

Sophie Park/ Getty Images Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. In the second quarter of 2026, bettors wagered $38.84 billion on sports, while total revenue from sports betting was $3.91 billion (1). The total amount wagered by bettors on sports represents a growth of 7.8% from 12 months earlier. The numbers are clear: Americans are betting a lot more on sports. And although some of those gamblers may just be having fun, others see their bets as serious business.