When do people gamble the most? Seasonal trends revealed

Did you know that gambling patterns change with the seasons? Whether it is the buzz of summer or cosy winter days, the time of the year influences how and why people place their bets. From sports analysis to online casino fun, seasonal behaviour reveals fascinating insights into human habits.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

SAD is a specific form of depression that is connected to changes in seasons. While most players develop SAD symptoms during fall or winter, others suffer from it exclusively in the spring or summer.

If you struggle with seasonal depression, you may notice that it impacts your urge to gamble. No matter where you fall on the SAD spectrum, understanding that the seasons influence your emotions is important. Knowing when you are most vulnerable will allow you to develop coping mechanisms to resist the urge to place wagers and focus on responsible gambling.

Winter: The peak of gambling activity

Cold weather and longer nights mean more time indoors, and for many, that may lead to increased online activity. Data from casinos, online betting platforms and lotteries consistently point to winter as the time when gambling activity spikes.

After the festive season, people turn to betting to break the post-holiday boredom. Most people are excited about the holiday season, which means more time off work and bonuses. With more disposable income, people often feel more inclined to spend it on entertainment and gamble away their winter blues and here's why:

• Casino bonuses and promotions filled with Christmas-themed slots, New Year’s giveaways and holiday jackpots.
• Gift cards, bonus credits and some free spins are commonly handed out.
• Social gambling and Sweepstakes casinos' popularity increases during the holidays.
• A couple of major events also heat the action, like the NFL, the Australian Open and European football.

Research showed that the highest player traffic and revenue occur in December and January. It is when the best online casinos bring out the big promotions and jackpots during this time, as casual players and high-rollers are most active.

Summer gambling

Summer is the travel season, and casinos in popular tourist destinations like Las Vegas, Monaco, and Macau experience an increase in players as people on holiday are often more relaxed, adventurous, and willing to try their luck. Of course, gambling laws worldwide also play a part in attracting tourists. The more lenient and liberal ones become more popular.

However, casinos offer live entertainment and festivals, and families may visit them for the experience, even if they do not normally gamble. Casinos also fill the online scene with these summer-themed events:

• Slot tournaments, themed nights and prize giveaways.
• Hotel packages that may include some free gaming credits.

Is gambling shaping tourism, or is it the other way around? Whatever the case, brick-and-mortar casinos thrive in summer. However, online platforms experience a slight decline in traffic, and that is because people spend more time outdoors and less time on devices.

But operators don't sit back. They take the time to launch summer-themed promotions like tropical slots, seasonal tournaments, and reload bonuses.

Spring: The steady season

Spring tends to be a moderate season for gambling as there are not as many natural incentives, but let's look at some of the events that keep the gambling activity steady.

Spring racing events:

• March Madness in the U.S. is a big event for basketball betting
• Online casinos may offer Easter promotions with spring-themed slots

Spring is often associated with new beginnings, and for gamblers, this means:

• More mindful play
• Strategy-based gambling
• Re-engagement from players who may have taken a break during the holidays

Spring gambling is characterised by consistent participation, and it’s a time when seasoned players change their methods and newbies try the casino scene without distraction. Online casinos also treat spring as a time to keep players engaged and to test new ideas.

Players will often see themed-slot releases, loyalty-based bonuses and some promotional activity that maintains engagement without the aggressive push like in winter.

Looking at the psychology of gambling, people tend to be more optimistic in spring, which can lead to more confident, goal-driven betting.

The fall gambling mood

As the days shorten and the temperature drops, autumn brings back structure. Everything normalises, but there is still room for risk and reward beneath the calm exterior. Unlike the distractions of summer, fall gambling is more intentional.

This season is also a prime time for sports bettors, especially those in the northern hemisphere. Some events fans can look forward to are:

• NFL and college football
• MLB and the World Series
• Horse racing

What does it mean for the industry?

Seasonal gambling is influenced by holidays, weather, sports calendars, travel habits and players' social behaviours. For the gambling industry, understanding and responding to these patterns is important for revenue planning, marketing, and keeping players engaged.

Each season brings different player mindsets:

• Winter – impulsive, high-spending
• Spring – balanced, reflective
• Summer – casual, experience-driven
• Autumn – focused, emotionally steady

These shifts in behaviour guide operators in game releases and the tone of advertisements.

Sportsbooks depend heavily on seasonal calendars of the top sports people wager on, as they build major campaigns around the NFL, FIFA, NBA, F1, etc. The betting markets fluctuate with event density, creating surges in specific months. The off-season period is when the creativity starts, as they will focus on promoting niche sports or even fantasy sports betting formats to retain players.