Basketball is one of the most commonly bet-on sports in the US, with 18% of Americans placing a wager on it in the past 12 months. That puts it second only to American football (24%), and ahead of baseball (14%), soccer (11%), and boxing (7%).

The popularity of basketball as a betting sport rises to near football levels among young Americans. Nearly a quarter of 18–34-year-olds (23%) say they have bet on basketball, well ahead of baseball. Engagement also remains strong among 35–54-year-olds, where 24% have wagered on basketball. Among those aged 55 and over, however, basketball betting drops sharply to just 9%, reinforcing its appeal as a younger-led betting category.

Income composition further distinguishes basketball bettors. Half fall into the middle-income bracket, broadly in line with football and baseball bettors.

Where basketball differs is at the lower end of the income scale: 34% of basketball bettors come from lower-income households, compared with 30% of football bettors and 31% of baseball bettors. Higher-income representation is more limited, at 11%, versus 13% for both football and baseball.

Spending habits tell a slightly different story. Basketball bettors are more likely than football fans to place higher-value wagers. Just under four in ten basketball bettors (37%) say they typically stake between above $500 — a higher proportion than among football bettors (26%). But they slightly trail baseball bettors in this regard (40%).

When choosing where to bet, basketball fans show particularly strong consideration for the leading digital-first sportsbooks. Nearly half (47%) would consider DraftKings, and four in ten (39%) say the same of FanDuel — both higher than among football bettors. Basketball bettors are also markedly more open to BetMGM and bet365, where consideration is roughly double that seen among football bettors.

As the market for sports betting continues to grow in the US, basketball’s combination of young bettors and relatively high spend could make it one of the most strategically important categories for operators.

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