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Read Full BioA recent poll on sports betting in Utah shows residents largely mirror national sentiment when it comes to judging whether it is harmful or not. With the state being one of only two that completely prohibit gambling, it could pave the way for future legalization.
The Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics released survey data showing that younger residents in Utah are more open to sports betting. Nearly 20% of Gen Z and millennials said sports betting is good for sports, compared to just 4% of baby boomers.
Only about a quarter of Gen Z and millennials believe that sports betting is bad for society and sports, while older generations were overwhelmingly negative, with 60% stating that it is bad for both.
The difference in opinion between the generations is reflective of the changing culture in the country. Most baby boomers grew up in a time when sports betting was strictly prohibited; now, 38 states have legalized sports betting.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) released its own survey data this month, showing a cultural shift in public opinion of sports betting. It reported that more than three-quarters (78%) of Americans view sports betting as a form of entertainment, with 74% supporting the regulation of sports betting.
Politics & Income Indicate Split Among Utahns
In addition to the split among age groups, notable differences were also observed in terms of political affiliation and income. Nearly a quarter of Democrats said sports betting is good for sports, compared to one in 10 Republicans.
Nationally, the AGA survey did not reveal a gap based on political affiliation. It reported that participation in gambling has similar rates among Democrats (56%), Independents (60%), and Republicans (58%).
In Utah, higher earners were also more likely to have negative views. Nearly half of Utahns earning $100,000 a year or more said sports betting is bad for society, compared to just under a third of those earning less than $50,000 annually.
Utah Opinions Mirror Legal States
Overall, however, the opinions in Utah, where betting is strictly forbidden, were very similar to the national opinion. A total of 38% of the respondents said sports betting is bad for society, which is less than the 43% nationally from a Pew Research Center poll earlier this year.
Another similar trend was that most people, both in Utah and nationally, are neutral towards sports betting. In the recent survey in Utah, 54% of respondents stated that sports betting is neither good nor bad for society, or that they are unsure. According to the Pew Research survey, 50% of respondents said it is neither good nor bad.
The Pew Research data showed that legalization was leading to a more negative opinion. In 2022, 34% of respondents said sports betting is bad for society, compared to 43% this year.
In Utah, the emerging trend is a softening stance towards sports betting among younger generations, which could pave the way for future legalization.
Prediction Markets Could Push Utah Towards Legal Sports Betting
Residents now have more gambling options as prediction markets expand across all states. For the first time, Utahns can effectively wager on sports online through a growing number of platforms. The state has opposed sweepstakes casinos, but has yet to join any legal battles against prediction markets.
As DraftKings and FanDuel launch their own platforms, there is added momentum to push more states towards legalizing sports betting. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins stated, “As growth in Predictions continues, this may also motivate more states to legalize online sports betting and iGaming with reasonable regulation and taxation.”
The trend in Utah suggests this is the way things are progressing, although there are no immediate plans to relax the state’s strict gambling laws. For the time being, younger residents who do not view sports betting negatively may be drawn to prediction markets.
