Public Perception of Sports Betting Worsens as Awareness Grows, Pew Research Finds
A new survey from the Pew Research Center reveals that Americans increasingly view legal sports betting as detrimental to both society and sports. The shift in opinion occurs as public awareness of the widespread legalization of wagering has grown.
Today, 43% of U.S. adults say the legalization of sports betting is a bad thing for society, up from 34% who held that view in 2022. Similarly, 40% of adults now say it is a bad thing for sports, an increase from 33% three years ago. Despite this, less than one-in-five Americans see any positive impact from the change.
Betting Participation and Demographic Trends
The overall share of Americans who placed a sports bet in the past year has slightly increased to 22% of adults, up from 19% in 2022. This increase is driven entirely by the growth of online wagering. Ten percent of adults now report betting online with an app, sportsbook, or casino, a jump from just 6% in 2022. Betting with friends or in person at a casino remained unchanged.
Who Bets on Sports?
Demographic analysis reveals clear distinctions in who participates in sports betting:
Young adults remain the most active group, with 31% of adults under 30 betting on sports in the last year. Within this group, 36% of men and 29% of women report wagering. Online betting participation has soared among young adults, rising from 7% in 2022 to 17% today.
Black adults are notably more likely to have participated in sports betting at 30%, compared to 19% of White adults. Furthermore, online wagering is highest among Black adults at 19%, a significant jump from 10% in 2022.
Negative Views Increase Across All Groups
The growing negative perception of legalized betting is not limited to specific political or economic lines. The survey found that attitudes about sports betting’s societal impact have worsened among men and women, college and non-college graduates, and people across all income levels. Both Democrats (24%) and Republicans (22%) show relatively equal rates of betting participation, but both groups have grown more critical of legalization.
Some of the most significant shifts in attitude occurred among young Americans. Today, 47% of men under 30 say legal sports betting harms society, a massive increase from 22% who said so in 2022. This concern reflects ongoing controversies, including increased reports of gambling addiction and compromised integrity in sports, leading to punishments for college and professional athletes.
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