Public Concern Rises Over Legal Sports Betting

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, the public is growing increasingly concerned about the legal sports betting industry, with 43% of Americans believing it’s causing harm to society. The number is up from 34% in 2022. Similarly, 40% of participants think it harms sports, up 7% from three years ago.

Americans Keep Betting

Still, a relatively stable number of Americans (22%) continue to bet on sports, marking a 4% increase since 2022. 

The figure includes any form of betting, ranging from private betting pools and fantasy leagues to casual bets with friends or family, the use of betting apps, online sportsbooks or casinos, or in-person betting at casinos, racetracks, or kiosks. 

Online betting, however, is clearly on the rise, with approximately 10% of adults reporting that they placed a sports bet online in the past year, nearly double the 6% reported in 2022.

In February, we reported on the findings of a Siena College Research Institute study, in collaboration with St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication, which revealed that 35% of Americans wager on sports. Of that number, 19% owned online accounts, and 93% considered gambling a fun activity.

The new shift in perception is particularly pronounced among younger adults, with nearly half of men under 30 now viewing legal sports betting as harmful, up sharply from 22% in 2022. 

The study also showed that around 63% of adults had never heard or read a lot or a little about the fact that sports betting is currently legal in many states, up from 56% in 2022. The increased public awareness can be attributed to the rise in betting ads during sports-related broadcasts.

Youngsters, Most Active

Young adults are the most active sports bettors, with 31% saying they’ve placed a bet in the past year, including 36% of men and 29% of women under 30. Betting is less common among older adults. 

Black and Hispanic adults are more likely than White or Asian adults to place bets, while college education and political affiliation make little difference.

Online sports betting is also increasing among young adults and Black Americans, with approximately 17% of individuals under 30 betting online, up from 7% three years ago. Black adults are the most active online, with 19% placing bets in the past year, compared with smaller shares of Hispanic, Asian, and White adults.

Despite the industry generating substantial revenue, critics continue to issue warnings regarding the increasing rates of gambling addiction and the potential threats to the integrity of sports. The most recent incident in Ohio, when two Guardian pitchers were suspended over betting-related matters, prompted Governor Mike DeWine to ask for a ban on prop bets.