Optimove’s U.S. Gaming Pulse Report for November reveals a significant pullback in U.S. online casino activity.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. online casino activity dropped over the past 12 months.
- Global online casino activity showed high single-digit growth in the past year.
- Online sports betting trends showed a similar divergence between the U.S. and global markets.
The online casino sector had been a fast-growing sector for the United States, but the study shows online casino metrics contracted over the past year. The study, which covers the period between November 2024 and November '25, saw degradation in U.S. active players and average betting amounts. Meanwhile, global online casino activity continued to show modest growth.
Optimove, a leading iGaming and sports betting customer relationship management platform, noted the U.S. online casino decline appeared to worsen going into the final quarter.
For instance, the average bet size dropped to $6,121 in November 2025 compared to the 12-month trailing average bet size of $7,638. The U.S. also had fewer active casino players by the end of the period, with just 86% of last year’s base.
Global online casino bettors, however, grew over the 12-month timeframe. Optimove reported an 8% annual increase from last year’s base. Meanwhile, the global average bet size remained relatively resilient at $1,343 in 2025 compared to the 12-month average bet size of $1,359.
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Sports betting demonstrates similar trends
The U.S. online sports betting market also contracted toward the end of November. The average bet size was $846 in November 2025, down from the 12-month trailing average bet size of $960. The number of active U.S. sports bettors in November '25 was just 88% of last year’s base.
Again, the global online sports betting market proved more resilient. The average global bet size was $396 in November 2025, up slightly from the $392 12-month trailing average. Meanwhile, the number of global active sports bettors grew by 3%.
The report didn’t speculate about the reasons behind the divergence between the U.S. and global markets. However, starting in April of this year, the U.S. started imposing tariffs on a host of imported goods. As a result, prices on goods in the U.S. have been steadily rising. The U.S. unemployment rate has also risen over the past few months. These economic changes may be impacting discretionary spending in the U.S., effectively tightening the belts of would-be bettors.
