Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society
6 hours ago
- #sports-betting
- #gambling
- #public-opinion
- Public awareness of legal sports betting has grown, but so has the perception that it is bad for society and sports.
- 43% of U.S. adults now say legal sports betting is bad for society, up from 34% in 2022; 40% say it's bad for sports, up from 33%.
- Despite critical views, many Americans still see sports betting as neither good nor bad for society or sports.
- 22% of adults have bet on sports in the past year, a slight increase from 19% in 2022, with online betting driving the rise.
- Online sports betting has increased from 6% in 2022 to 10% in 2025, while other forms of betting remain stable.
- Legal sports betting has expanded to at least 38 states since a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.
- 63% of adults are aware of the legalization of sports betting, up from 56% in 2022.
- Young adults, especially men under 30, show significant shifts in viewing sports betting as bad for society.
- Concerns include gambling addiction, societal harms, and potential compromises to sports integrity.
- Young adults, Black, and Hispanic Americans are more likely to have bet on sports recently.