- A Pew Research Center survey found that 43% of U.S. adults now consider the legality of sports betting to be a “bad thing for society”, increasing 9% since 2022.
- The share of men under 30 who view sports betting negatively more than doubled between 2022 and 2025.
WASHINGTON – The American public opinion of sports betting is increasingly souring, with a growing number of U.S. adults viewing it negatively.
A recent survey by Pew Research found that 43% of Americans now consider legal sports betting bad for society, increasing sharply since 2022.
The change in sentiment is most pronounced among young men, with negative believers doubling in just three years. With a quarter of bettors surveyed admitting financial hardship due to excessive wagering, about a third claim they hide their debt from online sports betting from loved ones.
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Still, more people are betting than ever. Despite the uptrend in negative public opinion, 10% of adults (compared to 5% in 2022) say they’ve placed a sports bet in the past year.
By The Demographics
- Adults 65+ are more likely to view betting as bad for society compared to other age ranges.
- 50% of college graduates believe it is bad for society, at nearly 50% - the highest of any cohort.
- There is a sharp rise in negativity toward sports betting from 18-29 year olds: 23% (2022) to 41% (present).
- African Americans had the highest result for demographics who have wagered in the last 12 months but the lowest (31%) to claim it's bad for society.
Bryce began writing for USAOnlineSportsbooks in 2025 while studying English at Florida State. Her focus in entertainment and current events seeks to engage and inform readers of trends regarding sports betting.
