Public Opinion on Sports Betting Shifts, According to New Poll

The sports betting industry has been under fire in 2025 and received more bad news this week.

A new poll was conducted by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland on several opinions on the state of sports betting. It found that the public is growing concerned over legal sports betting and its impact on society. 

Concerns over issues like spot-fixing, gambling addiction, and expansion of gambling were cited as reasons for the shift.

More People Against Industry Expansion

The new poll covered the same questions the public was asked back in 2022. Among the most significant changes since the first poll was the expansion of sports betting to more states. Only 23% of respondents said expansion was a bad thing in 2022, but that number jumped to 36% in 2025. 

By comparison, 14% of respondents said expansion was positive, while 49% did not have an opinion. 

The decisive shift sends a strong message to the sports betting industry. The 13% increase puts those opposed just 13% shy of being the majority. Coming close to that would certainly spur action from lawmakers, resulting in a crackdown on the entire industry.

Missouri was the last state to launch a new sports betting market, making it the first since North Carolina in November 2024. 

Strong Concerns Over Spot-Fixing, Prop Bets

Another key shift in opinion involves the legality of prop bets. Only 23% of people polled support the offered bet type, while 27% oppose it. While the majority remain undecided, the opposition outnumbering the supporters is hardly a surprise.

Prop bets, especially those involving players or micro-wagers, have been involved in several prominent cases of spot-fixing. That’s because one athlete can affect the outcome, making the bets easy to manipulate.

Given that 66% of respondents said they are concerned about spot-fixing and betting scandals, it's easy to understand why opinions on prop betting are changing. 

Problem Gambling Helps Drive Shift

Of all the data collected, the topic that garnered the most support concerned problem gambling. The poll found 70% of people worried that the increased availability of sports betting will further fuel the spike in gambling addiction. 

More public attention has been put on problem gambling as stories of athletes and bettors struggling with addiction continue to emerge. That has led to concerns about how sportsbooks advertise themselves and the regulations governing their interactions with bettors.

The regulated sports betting industry isn’t the only reason for this growing concern. Sports prediction markets continue to spread, forgoing problem gambling protocols while operating in all 50 states. The controversial industry is considered a form of commodity trading, meaning it is not subject to federal and state gambling laws.