Fact check
“The Siena Research Institute surveyed active sportsbook account holders and found that about a quarter said they’d lost enough on a bet that they’d have trouble meeting their financial obligations.”
Reasoning
The claim matches the Propublica excerpt that cites the Siena Research Institute survey reporting "about a quarter" of active sportsbook account holders losing enough to jeopardize financial obligations. The Siena Institute's own summary reports a 20% figure for the same outcome, which is slightly lower but still in the same range. The evidence collectively supports the claim that roughly a quarter of respondents experienced such losses.
On confidence: Two independent sources cite the Siena Research Institute survey; one directly states "about a quarter" and another reports a 20% figure, which is close to a quarter.
Important context
The Siena Research Institute survey results are reported by both a news outlet (Propublica) and the institute itself. The exact percentage varies (20% vs. ~25%), but both indicate a substantial minority of bettors face financial difficulty due to losses.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceI Posed as a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP. — ProPublica
people are betting on sports than ever before. That explosive growth has come with consequences: About a quarter of active sportsbook account holders surveyed by the Siena Research Institute this year said that they’d lost enough on a bet…
- Tier 1 — Primary source22% of All Americans, Half of Men 18-49, Have Active Online Sports Betting Account – Siena Research Institute
and that they think they can make money. But 52% have ‘chased’ a bet, that is, bet an increased amount in hopes of getting money back after a loss, 37% have felt ashamed after losing, and 20% have lost resulting in having trouble meeting…
Limitations
The excerpts do not provide the full survey methodology, sample size, or exact wording of the question, limiting precise verification of the exact percentage. The term "about a quarter" is an approximation.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:19 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
I Deliberately Bet Like a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP.ProPublica · Jake Pearson