AGA Study Examines Financial Literacy Patterns Among Gamblers and Non-Gamblers in Recent U.S. Survey

The American Gaming Association released findings from a commissioned survey in September 2026 that examined financial literacy levels across a sample of 3,149 U.S. adults interviewed during July 2026, and the results pointed to measurable differences between those who participate in gambling activities and those who do not. Researchers collected responses through a structured questionnaire that assessed numerical reasoning, basic financial concepts, and self-reported behaviors, then compared average scores while also tracking subgroups such as sports bettors and prediction market participants. The data showed gamblers achieving an average score of 3.93 out of 5 on the financial literacy scale, whereas non-gamblers recorded 3.72 out of 5, with 41 percent of gamblers classified as highly literate compared to 27 percent of non-gamblers.

Survey Methodology and Scope

Conducted on behalf of the American Gaming Association, the project gathered responses from a nationally representative pool that included both active gamblers and individuals who reported no participation in gambling during the preceding year, allowing direct comparisons without external variables skewing the outcomes. Analysts applied standardized financial literacy questions drawn from established assessment tools, then cross-referenced results against the Positive Play Scale to evaluate responsible gambling tendencies, and the design ensured that demographic factors such as age, income, and education received balanced representation across the respondent groups.

Participants answered queries covering compound interest calculations, inflation effects, risk diversification, and basic budgeting principles, while additional items probed self-perception of mathematical ability, particularly among those engaged in prediction markets. The July 2026 timing captured responses during a period when several states had recently expanded legal betting options, yet the study focused solely on literacy metrics rather than participation rates or revenue figures.

Breakdown of Key Performance Differences

Sports bettors within the gambler cohort posted the strongest results on several subsections of the assessment, demonstrating higher accuracy in probability estimation and bankroll management questions compared with other gambling categories. Prediction market users, by contrast, showed a tendency to overestimate their mathematical abilities even when objective scores placed them in middle ranges, a pattern that appeared consistently across the subset and suggested potential gaps between confidence and actual numeracy. Overall, the higher financial literacy scores among gamblers correlated with elevated marks on the Positive Play Scale, which measures behaviors such as setting limits, tracking expenditures, and recognizing when to pause activity.

Connections to Responsible Gambling Indicators

Analysis of the Positive Play Scale data revealed that respondents with scores above 4.0 on the financial literacy measure tended to endorse statements about pre-committing to loss limits at higher rates than lower-scoring peers, and this pattern held across both gambler and non-gambler samples. The linkage appeared strongest among sports bettors, who combined elevated literacy averages with frequent mentions of reviewing past wagers to inform future decisions. Prediction market participants showed more variability, with some high-literacy individuals still exhibiting overconfidence in self-assessments, a nuance highlighted in the cross-tabulated findings.

Researchers noted that the 14-percentage-point gap in the share of highly literate individuals between gamblers and non-gamblers persisted even after controlling for education level, suggesting the difference is not solely attributable to formal schooling. The survey instrument included validated scales from prior financial education research, which allowed comparison against national benchmarks collected in earlier years, although the current project remained limited to the single July 2026 wave.

Implications for Industry Stakeholders

Industry observers reviewing the AGA report have pointed to the data as a reference point when discussing player education initiatives, since the correlations between literacy scores and Positive Play Scale outcomes offer a quantitative basis for program design. Operators may examine these patterns when developing materials that emphasize numerical concepts, while regulators could reference the subgroup differences when evaluating responsible gambling frameworks. The study itself stops short of recommending specific interventions, instead presenting the figures as a snapshot of current literacy distributions.

Further segmentation showed that individuals who engaged in multiple gambling formats simultaneously posted literacy averages between the sports bettor peak and the overall gambler mean, indicating no uniform advantage across all activity combinations. The report supplies confidence intervals around the main averages, confirming that the observed gap between 3.93 and 3.72 falls outside sampling error margins for the sample size employed.

Conclusion

The July 2026 survey commissioned by the American Gaming Association supplies concrete metrics on financial literacy differences between U.S. gamblers and non-gamblers, with particular detail on sports bettors and prediction market users alongside ties to responsible play indicators. Stakeholders now have access to these segmented results for reference in ongoing discussions about player knowledge and behavior patterns.