Men’s Digital Vices: Betting Apps vs. OnlyFans – Where’s the Money Going?

In the era of mobile indulgences, men are pouring billions into apps that promise thrills, but are they wagering more on FanDuel’s odds or OnlyFans’ allure? Recent data paints a stark picture of divided loyalties. Sports betting has exploded since U.S. legalization in 2018 with Americans wagering a cumulative figure of over $519 billion by the end of 2024. Men dominate this arena: 39% of American men aged 18-49 hold online betting accounts. Per bettor, annual spending averages $1,100 on platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings, driven by NFL seasons and Super Bowl frenzies.

This surge reflects easy app access and promotions luring users with “free” bets. OnlyFans, by contrast, thrives on erotic escapism. With 305 million registered users (mostly men), the platform generated $5 billion for creators in 2024. Yet, spending is modest: Only 4.2% of subscribers pay, averaging $48.52 per creator—or about $55.58 per user overall. Top earners like Sophie Rain rake in millions, but the average fan’s outlay pales against sportsbook’s high-stakes bets.

So, where’s the money going? Men spend far more on betting apps—nearly 20 times the per-user OnlyFans figure—thanks to gambling’s scalable wagers and cultural tie to sports fandom. OnlyFans offers predictable subscriptions, capping indulgence at $10-20 monthly. Paying for a few OF subscriptions and tendering an occasional tip to a fan site content creator doesn’t compare to the feverish spending in play at the sports betting apps.

What drives the thrill? Dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical. Both actions – gambling and sexual arousal – trigger surges in one of the brain’s pathways, promoting addiction akin to drugs. Betting’s intermittent wins create “incentive sensitization,” where anticipation of victory heightens dopamine spikes, leading to compulsive chasing of losses. OnlyFans delivers arousal-fueled rushes from novelty to immediacy, but without the financial risk of placing bets. This mimics natural sex rewards—yet escalates to tolerance, demanding more explicit content. Ultimately, betting apps exploit men’s thrill-seeking brains. And women will always be a weakness. Of course, the women on OnlyFans and other adult sites wish that men would spend more on this weakness vs. gambling, and men should!