Study: 5% of Gamblers Generate 86% of Revenue

This is part of our Research Series where we break down key gambling addiction studies in plain English.

The Numbers

Problem gamblers make up roughly 2 to 5 percent of all people who bet. But according to research compiled by GamblingHarm.org and the World Health Organization, this small group generates a wildly disproportionate share of the industry's revenue:

• In sports betting, 86% of revenue comes from just 5% of players
• 51% of all sports betting revenue comes from people with severe gambling addiction
• The WHO reports that people gambling at harmful levels generate approximately 60% of global gambling losses
• In live casinos and slots, 5% of players account for 70-74% of all revenue

What This Actually Means

The gambling industry is not a business that happens to have some addicted customers. It is a business that structurally depends on addiction to exist. Without problem gamblers, most operators could not be profitable.

Think about that. FanDuel made $5.8 billion in 2024. DraftKings made $4.67 billion. A majority of that money came from people who could not stop. People who were betting their rent, their kids' college fund, their retirement. The industry's record-breaking revenue is built on the backs of people in crisis.

Why They Will Never Fix This

The industry talks about “responsible gambling” constantly. They put small print at the bottom of ads. They have helpline numbers buried in their apps. But meaningful intervention — actually stopping heavy losers from betting — would destroy their business model.

It is like a cigarette company running anti-smoking campaigns. The gesture exists because it has to. The business depends on the opposite outcome.

What This Means for You

If you are struggling to stop gambling, you are not weak. You are a profitable customer. The entire system is designed to keep you playing. The apps, the ads, the promotions, the VIP programs — they exist because people like you are the business model.

The most powerful thing you can do is stop being their customer. Block the apps, self-exclude, take back the money they were counting on. Every dollar you keep is a dollar they lose.

Read More Research

• Study: How Betting Apps Are Designed to Manipulate You
• The $72 Billion Machine Profiting From Your Pain
• All Research →