The NBC News Decision Desk poll shows 70% of U.S. adults believe sports gambling "lessens the integrity of the game," with 34% saying they strongly agree. Nearly 30% are very concerned that betting could lead to fixed games, and another 34% are somewhat concerned. The poll follows recent illegal gambling scandals affecting major leagues and comes as leagues and Congress consider tighter safeguards.
70% of U.S. Adults Say Sports Betting Damages Game Integrity, Poll Finds
A new NBC News Decision Desk poll finds a growing share of Americans worry that expanded sports betting is eroding trust in professional and college athletics.
Key Findings
Seventy percent of respondents said they believe sports gambling "lessens the integrity of the game," including 34% who "strongly agree" and 36% who "somewhat agree." Nearly 30% said they are "very concerned" that betting is leading to fixed games, while another 34% said they are "somewhat concerned."
Why It Matters
The survey comes as several illegal gambling scandals have recently shaken major leagues, including the NBA and MLB — one case investigators have linked to organized crime. Those incidents have heightened public anxiety that wagering could encourage match-fixing or other corrupt behavior.
League And Lawmaker Responses
League officials have pledged to tighten internal controls, improve monitoring for suspicious activity, and work with betting partners to limit wager sizes on certain performance-specific markets viewed as vulnerable to manipulation. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also called for stronger federal oversight to help protect the integrity of games.
Methodology
The NBC News Decision Desk poll was conducted from Nov. 20 to Dec. 8 among 20,000 U.S. adults. The reported margin of error is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
Bottom line: Public confidence in sports is under strain as betting options expand and scandals draw scrutiny from leagues and lawmakers.
