New Poll Shows Public Support for Sports Betting is Faltering

Americans aren’t as keen on sports betting as they once were.

A new report from the Pew Research Center polled members of the US public on their views of legal sports betting. The study, conducted in 2022, also sought to gather people's opinions on the impact of sports betting on society and the sports industry. 

When asked about the industry’s impact on society, 43% responded that it was “a bad thing.” That represents a significant increase compared to the 2022 study, in which only 34% of people chose this option. While people who said it was a “good thing” held firm, those believing it was “neither good nor bad” dropped by 7%.

The report also showed that people are growing increasingly concerned about the impact of sports betting on professional and college sports. Now 40% believe it is “a bad thing,” while only 42% believe it was “neither good nor bad.” That is a seven-point swing since 2022, showing a significant shift in opinion.

The Pew Research report also showed that there was little growth in adults who say they’ve personally spent money to bet on sports. Rising by around 3% from three years ago.

Industry Should Take Notice

The US sports betting industry should be alarmed by Pew Research’s report. While those who believe that sports betting is beneficial to society and sports have held strong, those who were initially neutral are trending towards a negative view of the industry. Those people are primarily responsible for helping to legalize sports betting in many states, but their indifference to the industry is waning. 

While the majority of those polled still believed sports betting was good or neutral for society, the numbers regarding its impact on sports are alarming. This shift can be attributed to the uptick in betting scandals in pro and college sports. Those scandals have become more complex by focusing on small prop bets that can lead to big wins without raising suspicion from fans and officials.

Sports fans comprise the vast majority of the US sports betting culture, making them key to the industry’s success. If they continue to see scandals pop up, it could lead to a significant push to either restrict or even ban sports betting in markets across the country.