Americans are growing more wary of US sports betting as its legal footprint expands, according to a poll form the Washington Post and University of Maryland.
The survey of 1,032 adults, conducted Dec. 4–7, found that more than a third now view the growing number of states allowing sports betting as a bad thing, up from less than a quarter of respondents in 2022. Just 14% said the expansion is positive, while nearly half described it as neither good nor bad.
The poll reflects a shift in public sentiment as legal wagering has expanded since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. While most Americans remain neutral, negative views of sports betting expansion have increased, even as participation remains relatively modest.
Key US sports betting poll results
Public sentiment
- 36% say more states allowing sports betting is a bad thing, up from 23% in 2022
- 14% view the expansion as a good thing
- 49% say it is neither good nor bad
- 70% worry increased availability will lead to more gambling addiction
- 66% are concerned about rigged or fixed games
- 64% are concerned about children gambling
- 56% say they are confident gambling does not influence outcomes in professional sports
Viewing experience and bet types
- 46% of regular sports viewers say betting discussion makes no difference
- 19% say it makes sports more interesting
- 20% say it makes sports less interesting
- 41% think straight wagers should be allowed
- 23% support prop bets, while 27% percent oppose them
Addiction, integrity still chief concerns
Worries about gambling-related harm continue to dominate public perception. Seven in 10 respondents said they are concerned that expanded access to sports betting will lead to more addiction, while concerns about game integrity and underage gambling also remain elevated.
Those concerns have remained largely unchanged since 2022, even as the legal market has matured and states have implemented responsible gambling programs and integrity monitoring frameworks.
While a majority expressed confidence that gambling does not influence professional sports outcomes, support drops significantly when respondents are asked about specific wager types. Traditional bets on game outcomes draw substantially more support than prop bets, which remain unfamiliar to a large share of the public. The findings come as prop wagering has become one of the fastest-growing segments for sportsbooks, fueling parlay and live betting growth.
Reactions to betting content in sports coverage are similarly divided. Nearly half of regular viewers said betting discussion does not affect their experience, while 19% said it enhances the experience while 20% said it detracts from their enjoyment.
US sports betting transforms
The poll comes as legal sports betting is now available in 39 states and Washington, D.C., and as the industry faces renewed scrutiny tied to integrity concerns across major professional leagues.
The NBA and MLB have both faced betting-related integrity cases over the past year involving players accused of gambling violations and suspicious wagering activity tied to in-game performance. The incidents prompted congressional scrutiny and the MLB to restrict certain microbet types.
At the same time, US sports betting is expanding even faster, beyond state law. Federally regulated prediction markets such as Kalshi rapidly scaled sports-related event contracts in 2025, triggering legal challenges from state regulators who argue the offerings amount to illegal gambling. While it has not formally approved sports-related event contracts, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has allowed exchanges to self-certify, igniting scrutiny from lawmakers, leagues, and regulators concerned with oversight, integrity and player protection.
Meanwhile, traditional sportsbooks continue to push deeper into live betting, prop wagers, and broadcast integrations. While those products have driven growth, they have also intensified debates around consumer protection, advertising saturation, and exposure to younger audiences.
