US Trust in Pro Athletes Declines Amid Betting Scandals, Survey Finds

Overall, 65% of Americans believe that professional athletes alter how they play to influence sports betting outcomes. Of that group, 13% said this happens “often,” 32% believe it happens “sometimes,” and 19% think it occurs “rarely.”Only 6% of Americans trust that athletes “never” change their performance for betting purposes.

Sports Bettors Show Higher Skepticism

There is a clear difference in perception between the general US population and active sports bettors. Those who place bets are notably more distrustful of athletes.

Among Americans who actively wager on sports, more than four-fifths believe that athletes alter their play due to sports betting. A higher percentage of bettors feel this occurs frequently:

• 18% of bettors believe it happens “often” (compared to 13% of the general population).
• 38% of bettors believe it happens “sometimes” (compared to 32% of the general population).

This increased skepticism among the wagering population suggests that those most engaged with the industry are the most concerned about potential manipulation.

Negative View on Legalized Gambling

The survey also measured the perception of legal sports gambling’s impact on sports overall. A larger portion of the general US public believes that legalized wagering has a negative impact on sports (44%) compared to those who view the impact as positive (9%).

Even among sports bettors, who might be expected to hold a more favorable view, skepticism prevails. 31% of bettorsbelieve the effect of legalized gambling is negative, while only 24% believe it is positive.

This broad lack of confidence has already impacted the industry’s public image. The survey noted that the reputation scores of major sportsbooks are declining among American adults. FanDuel and DraftKings recorded the most substantial year-over-year drops, resulting in negative net reputation scores. This reflects the shifting consumer perception regarding the honesty of the games.