The US sports betting industry was hit hard during the winter, as online sportsbooks’ handle unexpectedly declined for many months. Starting in December 2025 and for four months, the comparison of numbers between this and last year was discouraging.
Analysts tracked a 2.3% drop in January and February, with the initial March numbers looking equally bad, as the trend continued. At least partly, the decline is due to the rise of prediction markets. On these platforms, the players bet on yes/no outcomes across sports, politics, world news, and current events.
However, they began offering sports contracts at the end of 2025, exactly when sportsbook numbers began to decline. The timing lines up perfectly, although some operators have played down the extent of the damage.
How Do The NBA Playoffs Affect Betting Volume?
The reason for the bookmakers' positivity may be the start of the NBA Playoffs. The event is one of the biggest in the sports betting calendar every year, especially in the USA. It has been proven that during this postseason period, fans bet more and more often. But most importantly, they bet in real time as the action unfolds on basketball courts across the country.
The numbers justify the optimism. During the 2024 NBA Playoffs, live betting volume increased by 47% compared to 2023. More than half of all live bets were placed in just the first and second quarters of the games, according to Sportsrafar. This clarifies that the bettors are glued to the games when the stakes are high. And since they are also sports fans, they tend to follow the second part of the games for entertainment rather than for betting.
Why Is In-Play Betting So Important This Postseason?
Basketball is one of these sports where live betting is very important. The momentum shifts rapidly, and either team can take the lead or slip up at any time, especially when the opponents are equally strong. This creates a lot of betting opportunities, an area where the NBA Playoffs are perfect for.
As the lead changes, the stars foul out, and the games become more intense, the bettors and the fans are excited. In 2025, ESPN averaged more than 4 million viewers per playoff game, a 13% increase from the year before.
Can The Playoffs Reverse The Decline?
Bookmakers believe things will improve, as they did in the years before. However, in the previous seasons, they didn’t have to compete with the prediction markets. So, the question remains.
The operators are already spending more to attract and keep customers, with BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel all flagging higher costs in recent months. A strong playoff run, both on the court and at the betting counter, is needed because it will give the industry a huge boost ahead of the upcoming summer betting events.
