New York Sports Betting Soars As Gambling Calls Rise

New Yorkers are pouring billions of dollars into mobile sports betting, generating a windfall for state government while raising concerns about problem gambling, according to a report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Mobile sports betting generated $1.3 billion in state tax revenue during the 2026 fiscal year, making it New York’s second-largest source of gaming revenue behind the lottery. That represents a 78.4% increase from the $727.4 million collected in 2023.

Since mobile sports betting launched in January 2022, New Yorkers have placed more than $91.2 billion in bets, generating $8.3 billion in gross gaming revenue. In 2025 alone, there were nearly 7.2 million unique mobile sports wagering accounts, with an average of approximately $3,500 wagered per account.

But DiNapoli warned the betting boom is carrying a social cost.

“While the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York has boosted state revenues, the rise in problem gambling, particularly among young people, is a major concern,” DiNapoli said.

Calls to New York’s problem gambling HOPEline reached 2,545 in 2025, an 8.5% increase from 2020. New York recently doubled annual funding for problem gambling services from $6 million to $12 million.

Young adults dominate the mobile betting market. Seventy-seven percent of wagering accounts in 2025 were held by people ages 21 to 44, including 40% belonging to those between 25 and 34.

Basketball attracted more than $9 billion in wagers during 2025, the largest amount of any sport, followed by baseball and football. The report found New Yorkers also wagered billions on parlays, hockey, tennis and other sporting events.

DiNapoli called for additional study of gambling trends and stronger consumer protections as New York’s betting industry continues expanding.

“We need to do much more to identify how mobile sports betting is impacting New Yorkers and ensure consumers are protected,” DiNapoli said.