Shifting American Views on Gambling as March Madness Approaches

As the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, heats up, a modern Pew Research Center survey reveals a notable trend: Americans are less likely than their counterparts in many other countries to view gambling as morally wrong. The findings, released on March 16, 2026, highlight a growing acceptance of betting on sports and other forms of gambling within the United States.

American Attitudes Compared Globally

The 2025 Pew Research Center survey, encompassing 25 countries, found that only 29% of U.S. Adults consider gambling morally unacceptable. This contrasts sharply with nations like Indonesia (89%), India (83%), Italy (71%), and Brazil (61%), where a significantly larger proportion of the population holds negative moral views on gambling.

The survey presented respondents with three options: morally acceptable, morally unacceptable, or not a moral issue. Interestingly, half of Americans surveyed stated that gambling is not a moral issue, a perspective unique among the countries studied. Only 20% of U.S. Adults believe gambling is morally acceptable.

Evolving Perspectives Over Time

While still a minority view, opposition to gambling on moral grounds has seen a slight increase in the U.S. Over the past decade. In 2013, 24% of U.S. Adults considered gambling immoral, compared to the 29% recorded in the 2025 survey. This suggests a gradual shift in public opinion, though the overall trend remains one of relative acceptance.

Demographic and Religious Differences

The Pew Research Center’s analysis also revealed demographic and religious variations in attitudes toward gambling:

• Gender: Men are somewhat more likely than women to view gambling as morally acceptable (24% vs. 16% among those under 30, and 26% vs. 19% among those 65 and older).
• Race/Ethnicity: Asian Americans (45%), Hispanic Americans (38%), and Black Americans (37%) are more likely than White Americans (23%) to express moral objections to gambling.
• Income: Individuals with lower family incomes are more inclined to see gambling as morally wrong.
• Religion: U.S. Christians (33%) are more likely than Jewish Americans (25%) and religiously unaffiliated adults (19%) to consider gambling morally wrong. Those who pray daily are also more likely to object to gambling on moral grounds (37% vs. 23%).

Survey Methodology

The Pew Research Center conducted its analysis using data from nationally representative surveys. In the U.S., 3,605 adults were surveyed from March 24 to 30, 2025, through the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP). International data was collected from 28,333 adults across 24 countries between January 8 and April 26, 2025, using a variety of methods including phone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and mixed-mode online panels.

Looking Ahead

As sports betting continues to expand across the United States, and with events like March Madness drawing increased attention and wagers, understanding public perceptions of gambling is crucial. The Pew Research Center’s findings provide valuable insight into the evolving moral landscape surrounding this increasingly prevalent activity.