What Percentage of Americans Approve of Sports Betting?

Betting on sports is almost as old as sports itself. From the very first contest ever held there have been spectators wagering with one another on what the outcome would be. The ultimate goal is to make the event more interesting.

Sports betting has had a checkered past in the States. Even though the modern point spread was invented there, the country has looked at sports betting through a negative lens. While other countries like England and Australia have long embraced the activity, America has shunned it for the most part.

For whatever reason, America’s ice cold relationship with sports betting has thawed. And it has done so at a rapid pace. As recently as 2017 less than half of the participants in sports wagering polls agreed that sports betting should be legal. The most recent poll conducted in 2021 reflects that 4 out of 5 Americans now approve of legal sports betting.

Betting Options

Roughly half of the U.S. fifty states have some sort of legalized sports betting option. That number is expected to grow every year. Most offer state-approved online wagering websites whereas a few only allow on-site sports betting.

For the other half of the country, offshore sportsbook wagering is their best bet. In fact, in-state platforms still have some catching up to do with offshores in regards to deposit/withdrawal options and bonus schemes. For instance, offshore operations accept cryptocurrency while their in-state rivals are still stuck using traditional payment methods which can be expensive.

Conclusion

With so many Americans now accepting sports betting as a reality, you can expect more states to allow in-state wagering. For everyone else, offshore options will always exist.

Also SEE: What Percentage of Sports Bettors Actually End Up Ahead?