The share of Americans who place wagers on live sporting events has risen sharply over the past two years, even as skepticism about the effects of betting on sports continues to build. New survey data shows that betting activity has expanded across online platforms, mobile apps, and physical locations, pushing participation to its highest recorded level.
By 2025, 17% of Americans reported placing a sports bet, more than double the 8% recorded in both 2022 and 2023. The growth followed a steady upward trend, climbing to 13% in 2024 before reaching last year’s peak. In-person betting also increased during that period, with participation moving from 4% in 2023 to 10% in 2025. Online wagering followed a similar path, rising from 8% to 15%.
Public concern about the consequences of sports betting has intensified alongside this expansion. Nearly half of Americans now believe betting weakens the integrity of athletic competition, reflecting a 12-point increase since 2023. Among sports fans, the concern is more pronounced, with a majority viewing betting as a threat to fair play.
Integrity Questions Gain Attention After High-Profile Cases
Awareness of betting-related scandals appears to have influenced public attitudes. About half of those surveyed said they had heard about the recent arrests of an NBA player and coach connected to an FBI gambling investigation. While the issue ranked below many major news topics in terms of public concern, it attracted more attention than most entertainment stories.
Perceptions that games may be manipulated vary by age, with older Americans showing greater unease about gambling-related rigging. Among sports fans, 51% said they worry that outcomes are influenced by betting activity. Similar allegations have emerged in other leagues, including accusations of spot-fixing in Major League Baseball and point-shaving in college basketball, with the same betting syndicate reportedly linked to multiple cases. Supporters of legalized wagering argue that these incidents reflect stronger detection rather than an increase in misconduct.
Advertising Backlash And Calls For Industry Leadership
Advertising has become another flashpoint as betting becomes more visible during broadcasts. Nearly half of Americans favor banning gambling advertisements during games, and support rises slightly among sports fans. Even so, enthusiasm drops when the idea is framed as a government mandate. Survey results indicate that viewers prefer sports leagues and broadcasters to take responsibility for limiting ads rather than relying on lawmakers.
That preference aligns with broader expectations for league oversight. Nearly half of respondents said sports organizations should play a larger role in regulating betting, while only a small minority disagreed. Following recent indictments involving Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, Major League Baseball moved to cap stakes on certain micro bets. The NCAA has also pressed states to restrict prop bets tied to college sports, citing athlete safety and integrity concerns.
Despite the growing debate, sports betting scandals do not dominate public attention. Slightly more Americans said they cared about the NBA investigation than about a drunk raccoon, underscoring that betting’s rapid growth continues even as questions about its impact remain unresolved.
Source:
“Ipsos Data Drops: Sports betting is booming. Here’s how Americans feel about it”, ipsos.com, January 14, 2026
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