Online gambling in Pennsylvania has tripled in a few years, while only a handful seek help

A recent annual report on the effects of legalized online gambling in Pennsylvania documents rapid growth in internet gambling and a troubling gap between the scale of harm and the number of people seeking support. Researchers from Penn State (Criminal Justice Research Center) and University of Kentucky (College of Social Work), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, surveyed more than 3,500 adult residents of the state. The 2025 report was published in January 2026, with data collected through online and telephone interviews.

In-person gambling still leads, but digital play is gaining ground rapidly

According to the latest measurements, between 61% and 74% of adults in Pennsylvania had gambled at least once in the past year. A similar trend has been observed across a wide range of states — from Washington in the West to Delaware in the East. In-person formats, whether slot machines at a casino or lottery tickets at a store, reach between 56% and 69% of the population. Online participation is estimated at between 17% and 30%, depending on the sampling method.

The trajectory is striking. In 2017, the state legalized online gambling and mandated annual impact assessments. In the first two reports (2021 and 2022), approximately 11% of adults reported gambling online. By 2025, that figure had jumped to 30%. Preferences have remained stable from year to year: in-person play is led by lotteries and raffles, while online play is dominated overwhelmingly by sports betting.

A blurred boundary and “mixed-mode” gamblers as a group of heightened concern

The distinction between “online gamblers” and “in-person gamblers” proves to be a fluid one. Among those who gamble online, more than three-quarters also participate in traditional formats. The audience breaks down as follows:

• Approximately 43% gamble exclusively in-person

• Around 4% limit themselves to online channels only

• Between 14% and 27% engage in both formats

“Mixed-mode gamblers” demonstrate the highest level of activity. They participate in nearly twice as many formats, play on average about once a week (compared to roughly once a month for purely in-person gamblers), and have median spending of $105 to $230 per month. By comparison, those who gamble exclusively in-person or exclusively online have median spending of $20 to $40. The “mixed-mode” group also recorded the largest single-day losses.

Nearly a third of gamblers show signs of harm

For the first time in five years of reporting, researchers assessed the prevalence of problem gambling in the general population. An evidence-based scale — the problem gambling measure — was used, which divides gamblers into recreational, at-risk, and problem categories. The at-risk category indicates notable signs of harm without reaching the threshold of a clinical problem; problem gambling indicates meeting the criteria for a current disorder.

The findings were substantial. Between 2.5% and 6.4% of adults may be classified as problem gamblers. Nearly 30% fell into the at-risk categories. Given the state’s large population, even such percentages represent hundreds of thousands of people in need of prevention and accessible support. Statistically, mixed-mode gambling is significantly more likely to be associated with placement in both problem categories.

The gap between the scale of harm and help-seeking remains vast

Only about 1.5% of state residents acknowledged having experienced a problem with gambling in the past year. Just 0.2% reported having sought help. Even among those who formally meet the criteria for problem gambling, approximately 6% had received support. Around 0.4% of residents had called a helpline due to a loved one’s gambling.

Young men and the digital appeal of gambling

Online formats possess a set of characteristics that are particularly attractive to young adults:

• The ability to play from a phone at any time of day

• Instant feedback and minimal barriers to entry

• Online payment options, including cryptocurrencies

Young men are disproportionately vulnerable to addictive behavior patterns, as decades of research on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis confirm. The growth of the online market risks concentrating harm in this group in particular, even as gambling remains ordinary leisure activity for the majority of the population.

The issue is further compounded by the fact that, within the online segment, live dealer games are growing fastest. According to data from several industry portals, this genre is outpacing classic slots and table games in terms of attracting new audiences. Among specific products, Lightning Storm by Evolution stands out — a live game show featuring a wheel of fortune and multipliers of up to 20,000x. According to statistics available to those who click here, this game ranks among the leaders in user base growth rate.

The high volatility of such formats, combined with round-the-clock availability and instant feedback, creates additional risks for precisely the category of gamblers that Penn State researchers identify as a vulnerable subgroup. All of this makes the task of early awareness about signs of problem behavior all the more pressing.

The accessibility and convenience of online gambling continue to increase engagement among a broad audience, while harm concentrates among a smaller but vulnerable subgroup. Against a backdrop of critically low help-seeking, prevention, awareness, and early detection are becoming key priorities for public health authorities and regulators.