Study Ranks Gamers Ahead of Non-Gamers in Financial Literacy

Gamblers perform better in financial literacy than those who do not participate in gambling. That is one of the main conclusions of research commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA), published on September 25, which also analyzes the mathematical ability and responsible gambling behaviors of different profiles of American consumers.

In a financial literacy index with a maximum score of five, gamers scored an average of 3.93 points, compared to 3.72 for non-gamers, a difference that the researchers consider statistically significant. In addition, 41% of gamers had a high level of financial literacy, compared to 27% of non-gamers.

The work distinguishes between sports bettors, users of prediction markets, casino players, online gaming users and non-players. This separation allows identifying differences that would be hidden when analysing all participants as a single group.

One of the most prominent results affects prediction markets. Their users expressed confidence in their mathematical abilities close to that of sports bettors, but, when subjected to objective tests, their performance was closer to that of non-players. Sports bettors, on the other hand, showed both the highest confidence and the highest mathematical ability measured.

For David Forman, vice president of research at the AGA, this gap between perception and results poses a problem when platforms present sports betting as investments or suggest that it is enough to have analytical skills to win. The association warns that this discourse can lead consumers to underestimate risks.

The research also finds a positive relationship between financial literacy and responsible gambling. Participants with medium or high levels of financial literacy performed better on the Positive Play Scale, a scale that assesses beliefs and behaviors related to responsible gambling, than those with low knowledge.

Casino players recorded the highest scores on that scale, above the other segments of players analyzed. The statement raises as a possible explanation their prolonged exposure to responsible gaming resources in consolidated regulated environments, although it does not present that interpretation as a proven causal relationship.

For Spanish professionals, the study opens up an avenue of interest in terms of prevention and financial education: helping the user to understand risk could complement responsible gambling tools. Their results, however, come from a US sample and do not allow us to conclude that gambling improves financial knowledge or automatically transfer the figures to Spain.

The research was carried out through an online survey through Prolific, between July 15 and 21, 2026. After quality controls, the final sample was composed of 3,149 adults: 537 sports bettors, 574 users of prediction markets, 557 casino players, 495 online gambling users and 986 non-players. The statement declares a margin of error of ±2 percentage points, with a confidence level of 95%.

The analysis was developed by Colin Lopez and Jackson Sears, co-founders of the BETS Research Center and professors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, on behalf of the AGA. The employers' association situates its conclusions within a message that it considers essential for consumer protection: gambling should be promoted and understood as entertainment, not as a financial strategy.  Download "Playing the Numbers — Financial Literacy and Numeracy in Gamblers and Non-Gamblers"