As sports betting gains popularity in the U.S., particularly with the excitement surrounding March Madness, a modern study reveals a notable divergence in how Americans view gambling compared to their global counterparts. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey of 25 countries found that only 29% of U.S. Adults consider gambling morally wrong – a significantly lower percentage than in many other nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Americans believe gambling is morally wrong?
According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, 29% of U.S. Adults view gambling as morally wrong.
How do views on gambling morality differ across countries?
The U.S. Has a relatively low percentage of adults who view gambling as immoral compared to other countries surveyed. For example, 89% in Indonesia and 83% in India consider gambling morally wrong.
Are there demographic differences in views on gambling within the U.S.?
Yes, Asian (45%), Hispanic (38%) and Black Americans (37%) are more likely than White Americans (23%) to say gambling is morally wrong. Americans with lower family incomes are too more likely to view gambling negatively.
Although less than a third of Americans find gambling morally objectionable, half of U.S. Adults don’t consider it a moral issue at all – a position held by a far smaller proportion of people in the other 24 countries surveyed. This perspective is not new; in 2013, 24% of Americans viewed gambling as immoral, indicating a slight increase in acceptance over time.
The survey also revealed some demographic and religious nuances within the U.S. Men are slightly more likely than women to view gambling as morally acceptable, and Christians (33%) are more likely than Jewish Americans and those unaffiliated with religion (25% and 19%, respectively) to see it as morally wrong. Those who pray daily are also more likely to object to gambling on moral grounds (37% vs. 23% of those who pray less often).
Looking ahead, it’s possible that continued expansion of legal sports betting could further shift public opinion, potentially leading to even fewer Americans viewing gambling as a moral issue. Alternatively, increased awareness of potential harms associated with gambling could lead to a renewed debate about its societal impact.
