Poll Finds Most Americans Oppose Sports Betting

(AsiaGameHub) –   A new poll from Overton Insights—shared exclusively with The Center Square—finds that Americans are far more likely to oppose sports betting legalization than to support it. Merely 31% of respondents said they favor legal sports wagering, while 47% voiced opposition.

Poll Indicates Americans Are Against Sports Betting

The survey was conducted between May 16 and May 20 among 1,377 registered voters. It revealed that 16% strongly support legal sports betting and 15% somewhat support it. By contrast, 15% somewhat oppose legalization, and 32% strongly oppose it. Another 22% stated they were unsure or had no opinion.

Opposition to legal sports wagering cuts across the political spectrum. Among Republicans, support was the strongest but still lagged behind opposition: 32% in favor, 36% opposed, and 32% undecided. More Democrats and independents also opposed legalization than supported it. Support levels also varied by age: around 53% of respondents ages 45 to 54 backed legalization, compared with just 24% of those ages 30 to 44.

State-level polling also shows that a majority of people do not support sports betting legalization. For example, a recent Wisconsin poll on online sports betting found only 34% of those surveyed support it.

Opposition Persists Even As Progress Is Made On Sports Betting Legalization

Overton Insights poll director Mark Cunningham noted that sports betting has emerged as one of the most hotly debated issues at the state level in recent years. Discussions have intensified, especially as more states legalized it following the 2018 Supreme Court decision that paved the way for expansion. Despite this growth, he said voters remain skeptical of legalized sports wagering.

Cunningham pointed out that while opposition (at 47%) falls short of an outright majority, public sentiment remains negative overall, with support at just 32%. He also highlighted that many respondents are undecided, suggesting the issue is far from settled even as additional states consider legalization.

While the poll data doesn’t explain the reasoning behind respondents’ answers, there are speculations. A recent study by Baptist Health South Florida argues sports gambling could lead to serious health consequences—perhaps this is what many poll participants are worried about.

Whatever the case, the debate surrounding sports betting legalization appears set to continue.