The Seton Hall Sports Poll is the first university-based, ongoing polling service focused on the sports betting industry.
According to a report released by Seton Hall University on Thursday, American attitudes towards sports gambling are evolving. The main reason for that evolution is the simple fact that the younger generation has much different attitudes on gambling than the older generations.
The group which released the research was the Seton Hall Sports Poll. The Sharkey Institute sponsored the research. Researchers talked to 661 different adult Americans to see what their attitude on sports betting is.
What Is Your View on Sports Betting?
Those polled were asked a simple question: “It’s been said a lot of people bet on sporting events anyway, so government should allow it and tax it. It’s also been said legal betting on sporting events is a bad idea because it promotes too much gambling and damages the integrity of sports. Which comes closer to your view?”
People were asked whether they supported or opposed betting on sports betting. Of those polled, 46% said they supported wagering on sports events, while 42% said they were against such betting. The remaining 12% had no strong opinion on the matter. The Seton Hall Sports Poll has a margin of error of 4%.
2010 Fairleigh Dickenson Poll
The research was compared against a 2010 Fairleigh Dickinson poll conducted of adult Americans. In that study, FDU asked those polled whether they thought sports betting was “a good idea” or “a bad idea”.
In the 2010 poll, 39% of the respondents said they supported legal sports betting, while 54% said they opposed legal sportsbooks. Thus, the numbers of the past 7 years appeared to have changed significantly. Seven percent more Americans appear to support legal sports betting, while 12% less are against it.
Generational Attitudes Towards Betting
The pollsters at the Seton Hall Sports Poll stated the main reason for the statistical change was generational attitudes. Pointing to the statistical differences between the various generations, the pollsters speculated that the discrepency was because more of those with negative attitudes towards gambling had died in the past 7 years.
The poll showed that people in the 18-to-29 age group were over twice as likely to support legal sports betting as those over the age of 60. Each succeeding age group showed a higher propensity of support for sports betting, but those with the most criticial attitude towards gambling were over 60 years of age.
In the 18-to-29 group, the percentage which supports sports betting was 67%. That number decreased to 48% for the 30-to-44 age group, while it was 42% for the 45-to-59 age group. Those over 60 years of age only supported sports betting at a 30% percentage.
The Middle Generation
Though the numbers show gradiation, it should be noted that those from 30-to-44 showed a 19% drop-off of support, opposed to those in the under-30 category. That means support for sports betting likely will not reach a critical mass for several more decades.
It also should be noted that Americans tend to become more conservative as they grow older. While most people do not change their attitudes towards social issues, sin, and other moral concerns, enough do that the general population shows a tilt towards conservatism as a group of people grows older.
Rick Gentile’s Conclusions on Sports Betting
Rick Gentile, director of the Seton Hall Sports Poll, conceded as much in his summary of the report. Mr. Gentile included an “if” in his conclusion, saying, “If younger people carry those beliefs forward, and as they become lawmakers themselves, we could see a major shift in the legality of sports gambling.”
One other thing of note was the American electorate supports state-by-state regulations of sports betting, as opposed to federal regulations. That is in opposition to sports executives like NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and ex-NBA Commissioner David Stern, who both advocate a federal law legalizing and regulating sports betting.
Those polled supported state-by-state sports betting regulations at a 70% margin. Federal regulations received 21% support. If the American people has its way, then the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) will be repealed, but no new federal regulations will be passed. Instead, state governments will come up with their own regulations, or statewide bans — however it may be.
