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A new Pew Research Center study shows a shift in U.S. public opinion: more Americans now believe sports betting hurts both sports and society.
Good to Know
Between July and August, Pew surveyed 9,916 adults across demographics. The findings reveal that concerns about legal sports betting are growing, even as the industry continues to expand nationwide.
Almost half of respondents now see betting as harmful. Specifically, 43% said it is bad for society, while 40% feel it hurts sports. In 2022, those numbers stood at 34% and 33%, respectively.
At the same time, half of adults believe sports betting is neither good nor bad for society, and 42% felt the same about its impact on sports. Only 7% said it is a good thing for society, and just 17% viewed it positively for sports.
By December 1, Missouri will join 39 states and Washington, D.C. with legal sports betting. However, the number of people actually betting has not jumped much.
Pew found 22% of Americans wagered on sports in the past year, only slightly higher than the 19% recorded in 2022. The growth came almost entirely online—10% of adults now bet digitally, compared with 6% in 2022. Wagering at casinos, racetracks, and kiosks remained unchanged.
Awareness, though, has grown. In 2022, 56% of Americans said they had seen or read about sports betting legalization. That figure now sits at 63%, a sign of how deeply ads and campaigns have reached everyday life.
The study found that negative views rose across all demographics, regardless of gender, income, or politics. But the shift was strongest among younger groups.
Among men under 30, only 22% in 2022 thought betting was bad for society. By 2025, nearly half—47%—shared that view. Women under 30 showed a similar trend, with negative sentiment climbing from 25% to 35%.
Interestingly, this same age group is still the most active in placing bets. Nearly one in three Americans under 30 reported betting on sports last year. Participation dropped with age: 26% for those 30–49, 19% for 50–64, and just 12% for 65 and older.