sports
Gambling has turned Americans against their own teams
March Madness is upon us, which means about a third of Americans — almost 100 million people — will be filling out brackets to compete at the office, among friends, or even just with family members.
TL;DR
- Around 100 million Americans participate in March Madness bracket pools.
- The internet has increased participation and viewership for March Madness.
- Legalized online gambling allows bets on individual game outcomes and player performances.
- A poll shows 53% of Americans have a somewhat positive perception of sports gambling.
- 54% believe sports gambling should be legalized nationwide.
- Concerns exist about negative societal effects, with 45% believing negative effects outweigh positive ones.
- 60% believe sports gambling compromises competitive integrity.
- 57% of respondents reported rooting against their favorite team because of a bet.
- The author expresses personal opposition to betting against favorite teams and a dislike for Duke University.