Survey says most Americans want sports betting, but not for college

Just in time for March Madness, a new survey tells us that most Americans don’t think college sports betting should be allowed. The March 2019 AP-NORC poll queried 1063 adults about sports betting, and provides a better picture of where Americans stand on the different potential regulations for the activity.

The survey suggests that, as a whole, Americans are okay with some sports betting, but not all of it. “60% of Americans endorse legalized gambling on professional sports in their state, but only 42% approve of betting legally on college sports,” they summarized.

It does matter if the person asked considered themselves to be a sports fan. Those not interested in sports we’re 50/50 on if professional sports should be a topic of wagers, but only 38% thought college betting should be permissible. For comparison, 69% of sports fans thought wagering on professional leagues was fine, and 52% felt college sports betting was acceptable.

Regardless of who was asked though, 80% felt gambling on professional sports was not a problem, and 62% felt the same about college sports.