Exclusive: Poll shows Americans opposed to legalized sports wagering

By Jon Styf
The Center Square

Sports betting legalization is supported by just 31% of Americans with 47% saying they are opposed, according to a new Overton Insights poll exclusively provided to The Center Square before the poll’s full release Thursday.

The poll asked 1,377 registered voters questions between May 16-20. The poll showed that, overall, 16% strongly support legalized sports wagering while 15% somewhat support it, 15% somewhat oppose, 32% strongly oppose and 22% are either not sure or don’t have an opinion.

Sports wagering first became legal in 2018 in the United States after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturned a federal ban on state-authorized sports betting.

Currently 39 states offer some form of legalized sports wagering with 30 offering mobile sports wagering and Wisconsin still in the process of reaching an agreement with the state’s 11 tribes before launching online.

The opposition to legalized sports wagering reached across party lines with more Republicans, Democrats and independents in opposition than supporting it. Republicans were the closest to showing support with 32% supporting legalized sports wagering, 36% against it and 32% not sure.

“Sports betting has become one of the most debated issues at the state level over the past several years, with more and more states legalizing it since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that opened the door,” said Overton Insights Poll Director Mark Cunningham. “Even with that rapid expansion, voters in our poll remain skeptical.

“Though opposition stops short of a majority at 47%, the issue is still underwater (-16%). Only 31% support it, while a striking 22% remain undecided. That level of uncertainty signals a debate that’s far from settled, even as more states weigh whether to legalize sports betting.”

The strongest age group supporting legalized sports wagering in the poll were the 53% of those ages 45 to 54 while just 24% of those ages 30 to 44 supporting it.