Majority Of Americans Say Sports Betting Threatens Game Integrity

A new NBC News Decision Desk poll reveals 70 percent of U.S. adults believe sports gambling “lessens the integrity of the game.” The survey found 34 percent “strongly agree” while 36 percent “somewhat agree” with this concern. Nearly 30 percent expressed being “very concerned” about betting leading to fixed games, with another 34 percent “somewhat concerned” about rigging. The poll follows recent illegal gambling scandals affecting the NBA and MLB, including one scheme connected to organized crime. Sports leagues have pledged stricter internal monitoring for suspicious activity and partnered with gambling companies to limit certain performance-specific wagers. Congressional lawmakers have raised concerns about expanding sports gambling and suggest federal regulation improvements to protect game integrity. (Story URL)