In a recent survey, it’s revealed that the majority of U.S. adults are in favor of legalizing betting on professional sports, while a significant portion does not support the idea for college sports. Approximately six out of ten Americans believe professional sports betting should be permissible in their state. In contrast, only about four in ten are in favor of legalized betting on college sports, with more than half of respondents opposing it.
This divergence in opinion comes following a shift in professional sports leagues’ stance. After the 2018 Supreme Court ruling which permitted states to legalize sports betting, these leagues have actively formed profitable partnerships with gambling companies. Meanwhile, college sports conferences and teams have mostly kept their distance from such associations, a sentiment echoed in the poll results.
Colleen Plowman from Kansas expresses concern over legalizing college sports betting, due in part to younger athletes potentially not being equipped to handle the pressures it may bring. She believes that athletes out of school possess more maturity to deal with these pressures compared to college students. Plowman highlights the pressure on college athletes could be significantly more intense than on their professional counterparts.
Currently, sports betting is permitted in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri is making moves towards legalization following a narrow approval in a recent ballot. Each state with legalized sports betting has tailored regulations governing what and how gambling is conducted.
Despite these developments, American views on sports betting have not shifted significantly since 2019. The demand for both professional and college sports betting remains similar to prior years. About a quarter of U.S. adults report participating in sports betting activities such as office pools, a reduction from 36% in 2019. A similar percentage said they regularly wager in person, while 14% engage in online betting, figures that have stayed steady over the past six years.
The expansion of legal sports betting has raised alarms about increasing stress on athletes and risks of unethical behavior. Concerns are heightened by incidents like the recent federal investigation into a gambling ring linked to NBA and college basketball programs. In 2023, several college athletes faced legal action in Iowa over illicit sports wagers. Additionally, Alabama’s baseball coach was terminated during an inquiry into suspicious betting activities connected to a team game.
Jodie Campbell from California supports legalizing sports betting for professional events rather than college-level games. Though not a gambler herself, she voices reservations about legalized betting, fearing it may foster dishonesty and misconduct in sports, particularly amongst younger athletes.
Conversely, John Markley from Delaware believes gambling should be allowed for both professional and college sports, albeit with restrictions at the collegiate level. He opines that while betting on teams could be acceptable, individual athletes might be susceptible to manipulation, especially given their younger age and financial vulnerability.
This survey, conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, polled 1,112 adults from February 6-10. The participants were selected from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel to accurately reflect the U.S. population, featuring a margin of error of ±4.1 percentage points.
