Since states began legalizing sports betting in 2018, betting has assumed a larger role during sports broadcasts.
Viewers are now more likely to see odds and betting tips prior to games. Sportsbooks are also prominent advertisers and sponsors of sports, and more recently, prediction markets have become major sponsors as well. Yet the American Gaming Association found that sports advertising spending has leveled off since its 2021 peak.
Given the current landscape, Sports Poll asked fans in May how they felt about the amount of betting content included on broadcasts.
American fans generally believe there is too much betting content on sports broadcasts today.
Among all fans, 46% say there is too much, 3% too little, and 20% about the right amount. Another 31% of fans said they weren’t sure.
Opinions are tied closely to how often fans bet on sports.
The more often fans bet, the more likely they are to have a favorable view about betting content. The biggest surprise may be frequent sports bettors (Americans who bet monthly or more often). While most of these bettors say the amount of content is “about right”, more than 1/3 believe there is too much today. At the other end, fans who never bet on sports have a more negative view: 48% say there is too much content and only 12% say it’s the right amount.
Negative publicity around betting has grown in recent months, including controversies with insider trading in prediction markets, the NCAA disqualifying quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and an indictment of two former NBA players in a betting scheme just this week. Incidents like these could also be coloring fans’ overall views on sports betting. We’ll be watching closely to see how sentiment toward sports betting begins to impact fans’ interest and engagement in sports.
For more information on sports betting and other issues in sports, reach out to us.
Sports Poll by SSRS is conducted continuously throughout the year and includes a nationally representative sample of more than 24,000 Americans each year.
