How much are U.S. consumers spending on sports betting? In 2025, the betting amounted to $166B<\/a>. AudienceSCAN<\/a> reports that nearly 23% of U.S. adults are online sports bettors. Here\u2019s how your accounts can reach these consumers through audience targeting, advertising and marketing.<\/p>\n Sports betting is now legal in 38 states. In addition, this activity is also legal in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.\u00a0Sports betting companies can market to consumers in these states. Part of the marketing initiative will be branding campaigns. And sports betting companies also educate their target audience about what to expect in their wagering experience.<\/p>\n These companies use promotions and advertisements to reach consumers who may be inclined to bet on their favorite teams or players. The marketing content may explain the availability of both online and in-\u200bperson betting options. To build their clientele, sports betting companies may also post content to explain how the process works, and they may offer risk-\u200bfree bets to encourage new players to start wagering.<\/p>\n Sports betting advertising is a\u00a0complex process that requires focusing on the potential customers, the event being sold and the media format that will deliver top results. These campaigns are designed to move prospects further down the purchase funnel. To entice consumers to spend more, sports betting ad campaigns may be performance-\u200bbased or based on promotional tools for sportsbook operators.<\/p>\n Some analysts<\/a> measure cost of acquisition to range from $250 to $750 per player. To better target high-\u200bvalue prospects, these businesses are focusing on more than age. Other prospect characteristics include income, employment and motivations for gambling when these businesses decide where to advertise. For example, individuals who wager for the thrill or to earn money will bet more often than casual players.<\/p>\n To grow market share, U.S. sports betting companies have invested heavily in advertising. They shelled out $3.9B for advertising<\/a> in 2025. The ad spending is dominated by industry leaders: DraftKings and FanDuel.<\/p>\n Sports betting companies use a\u00a0range of media formats to reach current and future clients. AudienceSCAN shows that 62% of online sporting event bettors have taken action within 30 days after seeing a\u00a0streaming TV ad. Compared to other U.S. adults, these consumers overindex for responding to radio and podcast ads. This audience particularly enjoys the comedy and sports talk formats.<\/p>\n While TV and radio ads can deliver results, these businesses can benefit from advertising in other media formats.<\/p>\n Sports betting companies engage in social media marketing to achieve multiple goals. Analysts report they can shape \u201cthe behavior of betting markets<\/a>.\u201d Posts about what\u2019s happening with a\u00a0specific player or team can tap into \u201cherd mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep in mind that casual players may check out social media to find advice. And platforms like X\u00a0can provide current information about who\u2019s ahead in an athletic contest. Your accounts can use this information to build interest and excitement by adding their own content.<\/p>\n Influencer marketing is increasingly popular in the sports betting market. Many sports betting companies partner with influencers with a\u00a0solid following among bettors. You’ll find that younger generations trust advice from social media personalities they admire. It’s almost like getting a\u00a0thumbs-\u200bup from a\u00a0close friend.<\/p>\n An online betting company marketing agency will often recommend partnering with influencers involved in sports, esports betting, and even horse racing. Follower loyalty surges when influencers hit the sweet spot \u2014 credible advice, engaging content, and a\u00a0genuine pulse on what drives the gaming community. Betting online or on mobile just got a\u00a0whole lot more appealing, thanks to marketing that effectively ropes in new customers while maintaining credibility with existing ones.<\/p>\n Through influencer marketing, brands can forge genuine, long-\u200bterm connections with the people who matter most \u2014 those who make the bets. Partnering with gaming influencers regularly allows betting companies to remain a\u00a0constant fixture in the gaming world, firmly etching their brand in the minds of gamers. Influencers pump up the excitement with lively content \u2014 think live-\u200bstreamed bets, behind-\u200bthe-\u200bscenes peeks, or juicy insider tips that magnify the thrill of betting.<\/p>\n As part of their social media activity, sports betting companies spend around $520M in ads <\/a>for celebrity influencers.<\/p>\n Television advertising<\/a> by sports betting operators amounted to $1.42B last year. These businesses also spent $980 million on digital performance campaigns.\u00a0<\/p>\n A significant percentage of online sportsbook marketing goes to paid search. In terms of spending money on paid search, operators improve results when they time campaigns with \u201cmatch days\u201d or other significant seasonal events.<\/p>\n What drives the sports betting industry forward? Paid marketing, which is constantly adapting to new trends and approaches. These days, getting your brand out there means allocating serious cash to digital platforms for paid ads as savvy companies realize the vast reach and influence of online marketing.<\/p>\n The aim is to reach the sports betting target market more effectively. Savvy consumers with disposable income are the ones these campaigns aim to impress, waving eye-\u200bcatching promotions and exclusives in their faces. Paid advertising enables betting companies to maintain a\u00a0steady flow of potential customers.<\/p>\n One of the most significant advantages of working with a\u00a0sports betting marketing agency is gaining access to advanced business intelligence tools and market intelligence tools<\/a>. Paid advertising can be a\u00a0profit vacuum if you’re not careful. But with the proper set of tools, you can target your best prospects and rake in a\u00a0higher return on investment (ROI). <\/p>\n Referral programs have been highly influential in the sports betting industry. Many companies offer incentives for customers who bring in their friends. This strategy leverages word-\u200bof-\u200bmouth marketing to tap into an audience that traditional advertising campaigns may not have reached. The benefits are twofold for sports betting businesses that take this route: a\u00a0loyal customer base develops, and the costs of attracting new customers shrink significantly.<\/p>\n Team up with an online betting marketing agency to calibrate your referral programs and hit your target audience bullseye. Boosting your referral program during high-\u200bstakes events like football championships or major horse races can greatly increase your user base. Betting companies looking to scale up revenue growth can benefit from expert guidance on program structure courtesy of a\u00a0seasoned marketing agency with industry expertise.<\/p>\n While online marketing has exploded, in-\u200bvenue marketing remains a\u00a0crucial part of sports betting marketing services. Sportsbooks in casinos, racetracks and other physical venues need to engage with bettors in real time. Venues can turbocharge in-\u200bhouse engagement by sending personalized promotions or insightful betting tips straight to patrons’ mobile devices while they’re on\u00a0site.<\/p>\n Setting up kiosks at a\u00a0stadium can convert customers. Sports betting companies can also use place-\u200bbased ads in locations, such as a\u00a0sports bar, where their target audience may be watching an\u00a0event.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sports betting operators know they can count on email marketing to bring results, and the numbers back it up. When businesses get smart about customer data and start organizing their crowd into smaller, like-\u200bminded groups, they can strategically email highly personalized messages \u2014 think ‘Don’t miss this game!’ or ‘Get ready for a\u00a0jackpot of a\u00a0deal!’ Driving user interest and pumping up online traffic isn’t just nice to have. The payoff is being able to see the impact right\u00a0away.<\/p>\n Companies can work with an online betting marketing agency to design effective email campaigns that cater to specific interests. For example, sending updates on football games or esports betting events ensures the content is relevant and timely. What really drives results for sports betting businesses is being able to pinpoint what’s working and what’s not in their marketing strategy and then making the necessary tweaks.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the sportsbook business, SEO can\u2019t be ignored. A\u00a0sharp SEO strategy is a\u00a0beacon of search engine optimization, guiding the engines straight to your website and landing you a\u00a0top spot in their results. One effective way to pump up traffic to your sportsbook is to put this strategy into action. Visibility is the prize in a\u00a0betting market where companies aggressively jostle for position.<\/p>\n An online betting marketing agency can assist with keyword research, content creation, and backlink strategies to improve your online presence. Sports betting marketing strategies that incorporate SEO will see increased user penetration and revenue.<\/p>\n Rather than being stuck in the shadows, forward-\u200bthinking sports betting businesses harness the insight-\u200bgenerating capabilities of business intelligence, market intelligence, and SEO to zero in on untapped opportunities and grow their customer base.<\/p>\n Research indicates that 60% of sports bettors \u201cwager on football<\/a>.\u201d The NBA and MLB also attract a\u00a0sizeable part of the betting market. As operators invest in advertising, they must be present in the channels noticed by their target audience. And to attract notice, their advertising content must be highly creative.<\/p>\n To get the most from their advertising investment, sports betting audience targeting is a\u00a0must. AudienceSCAN data contains a\u00a0complete profile for Online Sports Bettors. The demographics of sports bettors show they are predominantly male (64%). 53% of this audience is aged 25 to 44. Over 30% of these individuals identify as NFL or NBA\u00a0fans.<\/p>\n In terms of motivators, nearly 29% want to purchase services and items that make them feel successful. 22% are driven to purchase by the need to feel intelligent. Your clients should tap into these emotions in the creative aspect of their campaigns.<\/p>\n As industry growth slows, these companies will be looking for ways to connect with new clients and grow revenue. They may invest in a\u00a0sports betting audience acquisition platform. These platforms offer a\u00a0range of services, including real-\u200btime sports data. They may also reach out to a\u00a0dedicated sports betting marketing agency for assistance. \u00a0Be sure to pitch your services to them and be prepared to demonstrate your prior successes, if any, in the industry.<\/p>\n New competition from prediction markets<\/a> may negatively impact the future of the sports betting industry going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhat is sports betting marketing?<\/h2>\n
Sports betting advertising<\/h2>\n
Sports betting advertising statistics\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Social media marketing<\/h3>\n
Influencer marketing<\/h3>\n
Paid Marketing<\/h3>\n
Referral programs<\/h3>\n
In-\u200bVenue marketing<\/h3>\n
Email marketing<\/h3>\n
Upgrade Your Sportsbook SEO Strategy<\/h2>\n
Sports betting marketing strategies that convert<\/h2>\n
Online sports betting demographics<\/h2>\n
The future of the sports betting industry<\/h2>\n
Key Takeaways For Sports Betting Marketing in\u00a02026<\/h2>\n
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