Gambling volumes fluctuate throughout the year, often in predictable seasonal patterns. While overall gambling participation trends upwards year-over-year, month-to-month totals routinely shift based on seasonal factors like weather and holidays as well as the sporting calendar. Understanding these seasonal fluctuations allows gambling operators to better predict volumes, allocate resources and capitalize on busier periods.
How Weather Drives Gambling Volumes
Inclement weather provides a reliable boost for many gambling formats, especially online options, like at Get Slots Australia. With people stuck indoors due to snow, heat, or storms, web-based casinos, poker and sportsbooks frequently see more traffic and higher revenues. This impact is clearly visible when comparing warmer versus colder months.
For example, New Jersey’s online gambling revenue totaled $993 million in 2021. Analysis shows a consistent ebb and flow correlated with weather:
| Month | 2021 Online Gambling Revenue | Average High Temperature |
| January | $113.7 million | 39°F |
| February | $103.9 million | 43°F |
| March | $113.6 million | 49°F |
| April | $109.2 million | 60°F |
| May | $112.1 million | 71°F |
| June | $115.6 million | 79°F |
| July | $120.7 million | 83°F |
| August | $126.4 million | 82°F |
| September | $117.5 million | 75°F |
| October | $113.2 million | 63°F |
| November | $105.1 million | 52°F |
| December | $111.3 million | 40°F |
The lowest revenue figures clearly align with the warmer spring and summer temperatures when people spend less time indoors. Meanwhile some of the highest monthly hauls occur during the cold winter season when few want to brave the elements.
While this example utilizes online gambling in New Jersey, the correlation applies similarly for retail gambling venues in cooler climates. Land-based casinos across the Northern U.S. routinely see more traffic and revenue during the winter months compared to warmer seasons. Various analyses peg the average seasonal fluctuation around 25% between peak winter and summer months.
Of course weather explains only part of the equation. But when combined with other annual cycles, it creates a pronounced seasonal ebb and flow for gambling volumes.
Holidays and Events Prompt Gambling Spikes
Beyond weather and seasons, the annual calendar brings various holidays, events and observances that impact gambling activity. These range from small niche celebrations to major public holidays.
For example, the Super Bowl stands out as the biggest single-day betting event in the U.S. The 2023 Super Bowl generated around $16 billion in total handles, over 20% more than the previous year. Similarly March Madness pool betting tops $8.5 billion annually.
Major public holidays also deliver major gambling volume spikes, especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Data from U.K. bookmakers shows gambling spikes by 47% on Christmas Day and 63% on New Year’s Eve compared to typical December days. This impact holds true broadly across retail and online gambling on holidays.
Beyond these huge cultural hallmarks, even smaller or niche occasions can drive targeted gambling engagement:
- Chinese New Year prompts spikes in Asian gambling hubs like Macau, Singapore and Manila.
- Melbourne Cup horse race betting tops AUD $100 million annually in Australia.
- The NFL’s Super Bowl weekend high point coincides with the league’s championship game.
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day prompt slight upticks across gambling verticals.
- The NCAA’s March Madness drives engagement with bracket pools and basketball betting.
Though less pronounced than major events, these second-tier holidays and events contribute to the seasonal ebb and flow of gambling volumes across the industry. Operators track calendars closely to pinpoint potential target dates.
Sports Seasons Dictate Gambling’s Ebbs and Flows
Lastly, the annual sports calendar largely dictates gambling’s overall seasonal trends. As major sports leagues follow annual cycles through playoffs, championships and offseasons, betting volumes shift accordingly.
American football clearly demonstrates this connection. The chart below compares monthly betting volumes for leading sportsbook DraftKings against the NFL calendar:
| Month | DraftKings’ Monthly Revenue | NFL Season Key Dates |
| January | $349 million | Playoffs, Super Bowl |
| February | $281 million | Super Bowl |
| March | $456 million | None |
| April | $504 million | NFL Draft |
| May | $482 million | Offseason |
| June | $494 million | Offseason |
| July | $632 million | Offseason, preseason |
| August | $695 million | Preseason |
| September | $1.22 billion | Season kickoff |
| October | $1.17 billion | In season |
| November | $1.25 billion | In season |
| December | $1.18 billion | In season, playoffs |
The surges in betting volume clearly follow the NFL calendar. With the league dominating U.S. betting interest, its schedule dictates much of the year’s ebb and flow.
Similarly the annual shifts between leagues’ seasons, playoffs, championships and offseasons impact overall volumes. The frenzy of March Madness gives way to the comparative doldrums of baseball’s regular season. Soccer takes center stage through major events like the World Cup and Euros while hockey and basketball enter their postseasons.
Across the matrix of major professional and college sports, as seasons progress and pass the baton, total betting volumes rise and fall in corresponding patterns. Sportsbooks track these shifts closely in revenue forecasting and operations planning.
Operations to Shifting Seasonal Volumes
While gambling volumes demonstrate clear seasonal ebbs and flows, the underlying growth trend points steadily higher. Sports betting and online gambling formats continue to expand as more states regulate and open markets. For example, total sports betting handle increased 159% from 2020 to 2021 in the U.S.
But rather than growing smoothly, the actual progression follows a seasonal rollercoaster. Understanding and predicting this annual cycle allows operators to tailor operations, staffing, marketing and resource allocation to match.
For land-based venues, planning around weather and holidays lets properties scale staff and amenities to meet customer demand. Online gambling outfits utilize seasonal variance projections to inform everything from server capacity to bonus offers and advertising budgets. Sportsbooks overlay sports calendars to ensure necessary capacity for key events like March Madness or the Super Bowl.
While gambling’s growth trajectory clearly points up and to the right, the actual month-to-month path follows a seasonal zig-zag. Tracking and projecting these swings lets operators build analytical models to turn these ebbs and flows of demand into opportunities. Combining weather trends, big events, holiday spikes and the sports calendar produces actionable forecasts to keep operations aligned with customer volumes all year long.
