A new survey commissioned by BonusFinder has asked over 1,000 Americans and Canadians about their gambling habits during the Christmas period, including whether they choose to gamble more in December, and even if gambling plays a role in their festive traditions.
Almost half of Americans and Canadians plan to gamble at Christmas
When asked if they plan to gamble over the Christmas period (December 24th-26th), 23% of respondents said ‘yes’, while 25% claimed that they ‘might’ do so.
For some, gambling even plays a part in their Christmas traditions. Almost one in ten of respondents said that it does play a part in their traditions, whilst a vast 63% claimed that they’ve received a betting-related gift (scratchcards, etc) as a Christmas gift at least once.
A fifth of respondents even claimed that they would rather receive cash to gamble than a traditional Christmas gift.
Are Americans gambling to earn money for Christmas gifts?
Despite many planning to gamble over the Christmas period, only 11% of respondents claim that they gamble in the run-up to December, with the intention of earning more money for Christmas presents.
The joy of Christmastime also affects how Americans feel about their luck, with over 34% feeling more optimistic about their chances of winning a bet over the festive season.
Over a fifth of Americans and Canadians say their Gambling spending increases during December
22% of respondents said that their gambling spend increases during December, whilst 70% say it stays the same.
If they do gamble during Christmas, 65% claim it’s more ‘spontaneous’ whilst 11% say it’s because of festive promotions offered, and 12% claim that it’s because they have more free time over the holidays.
Finally, it’s known that sports don’t take Christmas off, with the likes of the NBA and NFL having multiple games on Christmas Day itself, and the NHL having games in the run-up to Christmas. For many, sports games are a big part of their Christmas traditions, which is why it’s surprising to see that 58% of respondents prefer to bet on in-person and online casino games, rather than sports, over the festive period.
Methodology
Survey conducted by BonusFinder, December 2–5, 2025, among 1,063 respondents across North America, aged 18+, via online questionnaire.
