Does Sports Betting Harm Games’ Integrity And More Questions

Editor’s note: The survey for this story is no longer accepting responses and has been removed; results will be published on Friday, Jan. 23.

States are among the biggest winners in the expansion of legal sports gambling, which pumps billions of dollars into state treasuries to help fund public services.

It is viewed as harmless entertainment in moderation and another way to enjoy the game by many sports fans. Yet some experts say wagering has jeopardized the integrity of sports and led to significant social upheaval, including an increase in problem gambling, bankruptcies, and even some types of crime.

Patch is surveying readers about their thoughts or concerns about legalized sports gambling and whether it enhances or detracts from sporting events.

But before you weigh in, here are some things to consider:

A Tax Windfall For States

Sports gambling was limited to Nevada until 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 law that barred state-authorized sports gambling in other states.

Since then, 40 states have adopted some form of legalized sports betting. Tax rates vary, ranging from a low of 6.75 percent in Iowa and Nevada to a high of 51 percent in New York and New Hampshire.

Along with New York and New Hampshire, other states where taxes on sports betting make up a significant share of tax revenue are Wyoming, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana, Maryland, Rhode Island and Nevada, according to data.

Sports betting taxes saw a significant rise, increasing from $1.8 billion in 2022 to nearly $3 billion in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. This upward trend continued into 2025, with almost $1.9 billion collected in just the first half of the year.

Players Indicted In Gambling Cases

With the increased availability of sports gambling come concerns that it is harming the integrity of sporting events and creating opportunities for games and matches to be rigged.

A spate of gambling scandals over the past couple of years have revealed vulnerabilities in the system. Most recently, federal authorities on Thursday announced charges have been filed against numerous people alleged to have orchestrated and participated in what they described as a massive, multi-million dollar basketball point shaving scheme.

The scheme involved CAA men's basketball programs and two Chinese Basketball Association teams, authorities said at a news conference in Philadelphia. Twenty-six people are charged in the unsealed indictment. Six of those defendants are “fixers,” and 20 are players.

Some other examples:

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and five others were indicted in October 2025 for allegedly conspiring with gamblers, providing inside information for bets on his performance, and even feigning injury to exit a game early to help bettors wagering on him failing statistical benchmarks, according to the Department of Justice.

In another Justice Department case, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted in November on charges they conspired with bettors who wagered on individual pitches they threw during games.

In 2024, Jontay Porter was banned for life from the NBA after an investigation found he disclosed confidential information to bettors and manipulated his own performance for betting purposes. He later pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge. Four co-conspirators were also indicted.

Also in 2024, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for betting on baseball games, including those involving his own team. Several other minor league players received one-year suspensions.

Also in 2024, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban for betting on baseball games, including those involving his own team.But Did Sportsbooks Catch Them?

Legal betting channels may contribute rather than detract from the integrity of the game, some experts suggest.

That’s because legal sportsbooks platforms are required to monitor betting patterns and flag anomalies, and that rigorous oversight helps expose athletes involved in game-fixing and other gambling activities.

In fact, sportsbooks uncovered the schemes involving Porter and Rozier and reported the suspicious activity to regulators and sports leagues, according to Jones Walker, a large nationally recognized full-service law firm whose practice areas include gaming.

“In contrast, illegal betting markets lack oversight, making them fertile ground for corruption,” the law firm said on its website. “The Porter and Rozier cases underscore how regulated sportsbooks, far from being a threat, are essential allies in maintaining the integrity of professional sports.”

Gambling Addiction Increases

Concerns about the growth of sports betting extend beyond what happens on the field or court. Compulsive sports betting is an emerging public health challenge that demands public attention, according to a study exploring gambling addiction published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study indicates that increased access to sports betting and related help-seeking for addiction has risen significantly. This emphasizes the need to address the health and societal implications of sportsbooks, including the recognition and treatment of gambling problems, according to the research.

Another recent study published in the journal Sage suggests that sports betting could worsen existing problems of fan aggression at sporting events.

The study also found links in sports betting to an increase in gun violence, higher alcohol consumption, and other criminal activities.

‘A Way Fans Consume Sports’

It’s not just the integrity of MLB, NFL, NBA and other leagues with official gambling partners at stake. In September, the NCAA banned three men’s college basketball players who share thousands of dollars in payouts after betting on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State.

The NCAA prohibits student athletes, coaches, and athletics staff from wagering on or providing information to influence a bet in any NCAA-sponsored sport. However, beginning Nov. 1, the NCAA allowed athletes and athletic department staff to bet on professional sports, acknowledging that sports gambling is a way fans consume sports, despite its historical concern that wagering threatens athlete well-being and competition integrity.

“This change recognizes the realities of today’s sports environment without compromising our commitment to protecting the integrity of college competition or the well-being of student-athletes,” Roberta Page, director of athletics at Slippery Rock and chair of the Division II Management Council, told ESPN.

Even Little League Isn’t Immune

Even youth sports aren’t immune. It’s illegal to bet on youth sports in the United States, but offshore sportsbooks saw a rapid rise in Little League World Series bets. None of the other jurisdictions where the organization operates permits wagering on youth sports.

Citing the ethical concerns of placing wagers on a game involving 12-year-olds, Little League International strongly condemned a rapid rise in Little League World Series bets. None of the other jurisdictions where the organization operates permits wagering on youth sports.

“While Little League International continues to monitor the complexity and ever-evolving world of sports betting, we feel strongly that there is no place for betting on Little League games or on any youth sports competition. Little League is a trusted place where children are learning the fundamentals of the games and all the important life lessons that come with having fun, celebrating teamwork, and playing with integrity, and no one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain,” the organization said in a statement earlier this year.

Related: Massive College Basketball Point-Shaving Scheme Uncovered By Philly Feds