AGA finds 85% of US residents believe sports events contracts equate to gambling

Within the public opinion research, the AGA also discovered 65% of Americans believe state and Tribal gaming organizations should maintain oversight of sports events contracts regulation.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has released its findings into the public opinion on sports events contracts, as 85% of Americans believe the gaming type should be classified as gambling, while 80% think sports events contracts should be regulated in similar fashion to online sports betting. 

“With sports betting operational in 38 states and Washington, D.C., consumers expect prediction markets to follow the same rules and safeguards as state-licensed sportsbooks,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said. 

“This research makes clear: Americans know a sports bet when they see one—and they expect regulators and policymakers to treat them accordingly.”

The AGA also discovered 84% of US residents believe sports events contracts should only be made available through state-regulated online sportsbooks and 65% of Americans support state and Tribal gaming organizations maintaining oversight of sports events contracts regulation.

Good to know: The AGA announced on August 28 that US residents are expected to place an estimated $30bn in wagers on the 2025-2026 NFL season, representing an 8.5% increase year-over-year

“Americans are clear: sports events contracts should be treated like other forms of sports betting and fall under state and Tribal regulatory authority, not federal commodities regulators,” the AGA said as part of the release. 

70% of Americans are also under the impression prediction market platforms offering sports events contracts exploit legal loopholes to act as unlicensed sportsbooks. An additional 69% believe each state should have the authority to decide whether sports events contracts can be permitted for bettors. 

Kirk Geller

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