Over 4 in 5 U.S. Adults Spend Money on at Least One of Six Financial Vices

More than 4 in 5 U.S. adults (84%) spend money on at least one of these six financial vices: alcohol, lottery tickets, casino games, tobacco/cigarettes/e-cigarettes, sports betting, and marijuana/recreational cannabis.

Additionally, 50% typically spend money on these financial vices at least once a month, while 32% tend to do so at least once a week.

Out of the six financial vices included in a survey carried out by YouGov and commissioned by financial information provider Bankrate, the most popular are buying alcohol (66%) and lottery tickets (64%).

These are followed by casino games (40%; e.g. blackjack, roulette, craps, etc.), tobacco/cigarettes/e-cigarettes (30%), sports betting (29%), and marijuana/recreational cannabis (28%).

Overall, 70% of U.S. adults say they participate in a type of gambling (lottery tickets, casino games, or sports betting), including 25% who do so monthly.

Most Americans who spend money on financial vices plan to spend the same or less in 2025, compared with 2024.

Cash is the most popular payment method for five out of the six financial vices, with alcohol being the only one where consumers prefer a different payment method (a debit card).

About 3 in 4 (76%) use cash to pay for lottery ticket purchases, while 62% use it for marijuana/recreational cannabis, 61% for casino games, 51% for tobacco/cigarettes/e-cigarettes, and 41% for sports betting.

Of those who buy alcohol, 44% typically pay with a debit card and 42% tend to use cash.

“It’s fine to have some fun and engage in the occasional splurge, but it’s important to do so within the constraints of a solid budget,” Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman said, “By all means, set aside some fun money, but make sure you’re also checking off other priorities such as saving for a rainy day and paying down high-cost debt.”