Sports betting is one of the fastest-growing activities in the U.S. Bettors use a variety of apps, including DraftKings and FanDuel. Many people who participate think it should not be banned, while others believe it should be banned because it may have harmful effects to sports.
There have already been pushes to ban sports betting in recent years, using NCAA President Charlie Baker as an example. Baker pushed to eliminate prop bets to keep the integrity of the games and its players in the NCAA.
“I think people like to bet on sports because they can bet on their favorite players,” freshman Owen Siegel said. “People also have a fun time doing it and they can make money off of it.”
Betting on players is a major reason why some sports fans want platforms banned, as it raises concerns about player integrity. Separate leagues have their own policies on sports gambling, including the MLB and the NFL.
“I don’t think that sports betting can affect sports in the future because it is easy for leagues to figure out if a player is betting on themself,” Siegel said. “Basically, if a player is looking at their stats I think that they will get caught and they will be suspended.”
Many players across a variety of leagues have been banned for betting on themselves, which is one of the key reasons people argue it should be banned. But others argue that since those players have been brought to justice, others who act similarly will also be caught.
“I don’t think sports betting should be banned,” Siegel said. “People have a lot of fun doing it and there is a business part of it, where companies make money for themselves while the betters get to have fun and bet to make more and more money.”
The main reason people bet on sports is to make money, though many also enjoy the thrill of rooting for their favorite players with something on the line.
“People like to bet on sports because they have a better time watching important games when they are betting on it,” freshman Micah Norton said. “When people win their bet, it makes them want to do it more.”
Because bettors wager on players, those players may be influenced by the attention. This has contributed to a rise in players betting on themselves.
“I think that betting will affect how the sport is played and operated because players will want to bet on themselves,” Norton said. “Leagues will eventually have to start cracking down on placing restrictions on gambling.”
Negative opinions on sports betting have been given rise through most adults. Pew Research Organization has said that about 43% of adults have said that the legalization of sportsbetting is a bad thing for society, up from 34% in 2022.
“I think that sports betting should be banned,” Norton said. “Banning betting will improve the quality of the games people watch and sports leagues will benefit from a ban.”
Sports betting occupies a unique legal space. Unlike casino gambling where losses can be steep and immediate, sports betting apps are regulated differently, which is part of why they have expanded legally across many states in recent years.
“Even though I don’t think it should be banned, I think it will eventually be banned in the future.” Siegel said.
