Gaming Online Trends: Do Gamblers Bet Differently on Holidays? Christmas and New Year, By the Numbers
Between the eggnog, the family drama and the countdown to midnight, there’s another holiday tradition quietly getting bigger every year: betting. Casino online activity doesn’t go on hiatus for the holidays. In fact, the time between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day has turned into one of the busiest stretches on the betting calendar, and the numbers back it up.
Looking at the data around casino gaming and sports betting exposes patterns, such as changes in playing times to shifts in how much people wager during the festive season. Sportsbooks see their handle spike and online casinos watch deposits climb as people trade quiet nights in for live dealer games or online slots.
Brands like Voltrush lean into the momentum with festive promotions. The VoltRush sign up page provides access to the platform and its available casino games, including titles featured in seasonal campaigns. The real question isn’t whether people gamble differently during the holidays; it’s how differently and why.
The Christmas Day money machine
Christmas is becoming a marquee day for American sports betting thanks to the NFL and NBA stacking marquee matchups on December 25. According to a New York Gaming Commission report, sportsbooks pulled in roughly $61.5 million in the week ending December 29 in 2024. This was an 80.9% jump from the previous week. Betting action was fueled by a full slate of NFL Week 17 action, two Christmas Day games and about 20 college bowl matchups in the same week.
The Christmas sports calendar turns the holiday into a betting event. With major games spread across the afternoon and evening, bettors have multiple reasons to check odds throughout the day instead of placing a single wager and walking away. That means the entertainment schedule surrounding Christmas is what enhances the gambling activities.
Casino online cash in on December
Sportsbooks aren’t the only ones that enjoy the holiday bump. Land-based casinos across U.S. gaming markets post their highest revenues during the festive season. Online casinos also experience a surge. For instance, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported a record revenue of $223 million in Dec 2024, up from $200 million in Nov 2024. Online slots accounted for $164 million of total revenue, a 40.54% increase from online pokies in December 2023.
New Jersey also showed a similar pattern. According to the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement, internet gaming reached $228 million in December 2024, which represents a 26.5% increase from December 2023. Whether you’re visiting Vegas or playing from your living room, the holidays seem to loosen your wallet and willingness to take a big swing. If you’re chasing holiday slot bonuses, festive jackpots or limited-time promotions, several platforms such as Voltrush provide exciting promotions to enjoy its selection of casino games.
New Year’s Eve: bigger bets and bigger risks
If Christmas is about volume, New Year’s Eve is about intensity. The night is famous on casino floors for higher average bet sizes and an urge to go big before the clock strikes midnight, fueled by the countdown.
Not every type of gambling sees the same kind of holiday surge. For instance, sports betting will spike during New Year’s Day, depending on the NFL, NBA and college bowl schedule. The Big News Network usually covers the sports and entertainment stories shaping the holiday season. For instance, in 2025, they had various new stories about NFL games between Christmas and New Year’s.
Online pokies have a steady increase in bets from Christmas Day, with longer sessions expected towards New Year’s. Live dealer games usually surge around New Year’s due to the celebratory mood that pushes players towards bigger and splashier bets.
While Christmas and New Year are treated as one long festive period, the psychology surrounding gambling is different.
This table shows factors that influence gaming behaviour on different days from Christmas to New Year.
| Holiday Period | What can influence gambling behaviour |
| Christmas | More time at home, family gatherings, seasonal promotions, and Christmas spending |
| Between Christmas and New Year | Fewer work commitments, more leisure time and increased online activity |
| New Year’s Eve | Parties, celebrations, sporting events and the ‘fresh start’ mentality |
| New Year’s Day | More downtime, sports betting and attempts to change holiday routines |
New Year’s also has a psychological advantage that Christmas doesn’t because it feels like a reset. Behavioural scientist Katy Milkman, who researched the phenomenon known as the ‘fresh start effect,’ explains: “They feel like new beginnings, so they give us a sense that anything that preceded them, that was the old me, this is the new me, and so we can wipe that slate clean.”
Are holiday gambling promotions part of the story?
Christmas is a good marketing season for online gambling brands. Promotions make online gaming platforms more visible at a time when people are spending more time online. Online casinos can build campaigns around:
- Christmas and New Year bonuses to keep players coming back to wager.
- Festive-themed games that use seasonal imagery and jackpots to attract gamers
- Sports betting promotions tied to the busy Christmas and New Year sports calendar.
- Time-limited promotions that create a feeling of urgency around the festive period.
If you are browsing a casino online, that extra visibility makes gambling feel like part of the holiday entertainment.
Play Responsibly: Online pokies and casino games are a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Set a budget before you start playing. Use the deposit and time-out limits that the online casino provides if you want to dial things back. When gaming stops feeling fun, that’s the signal to take a break.