Key Takeaways:
- U.S. sports betting handle exceeded $165 billion in 2025, up 11% from $149.6 billion
- Washington D.C. nearly doubled handle after opening mobile access
- Early legalizers like New Jersey saw declines as market becomes more competitive
The U.S. sports betting industry continues its explosive growth, with the total handle exceeding $165 billion in 2025, representing an 11% increase from the previous year $149.6 billion.
With December results now in from regulators in all but Illinois and Arizona, the projections show a significant uptick in betting activity across the country.
State-by-State Growth:
The biggest gain came in Washington D.C., which nearly doubled its handle after opening mobile access to all leading U.S. operators.
Seven states posted gains of 15% or better:
- New York: 16%
- Ohio: 16%
- Arizona: 16%
- Massachusetts: 15%
- Arkansas: 17%
- Delaware: 17%
- Vermont: 18%
The only four states to see handle drop were among the earliest to legalize: New Jersey, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Mississippi.
The continued growth reflects the expanding legalization of sports betting across the U.S. and the increasing mainstream acceptance of wagering on sports.
Off the Record: The fact that D.C. nearly doubled its handle while early legalizers like New Jersey saw declines tells an interesting story. As more states legalize and launch mobile betting, the market becomes more saturated. Early movers are now facing competition they did not have before. Expect this trend to continue as more states legalize — the pie is growing, but competition is getting fiercer.
