HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - A new poll by Sacred Heart University, WFSB, and CT Insider shows some gamblers are losing trust in the integrity of the game as both the NBA and MLB are involved in massive gambling scandals. Players are accused of manipulating their performances for profit.
In the exclusive poll, 500 sports gamblers answered our questions. The majority believe the corruption is more widespread than just the current NBA scandal and think advertising for sports gambling leads to incredibly risky betting behavior, or even addiction.
Zach Seymour, a grad student at Sacred Heart University, has been betting on sports regularly for the last couple of years.
“I love touchdown props,” Seymour said. “I really like JSN to score this weekend.”
Seymour is placing a bet on Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith Njigba to catch a touchdown Sunday.
Gambling is fun for 22-year-old Seymour. He gets to bet with his friends. But he admits that sports gambling can be incredibly dangerous.
The Gambling Harm Research Institute reports more than 4 million Americans struggle with sports betting addiction.
“It gets to a point where you can’t even watch a game without having money on it or without that stress,” Seymour said.
Sacred Heart University grad student Cat Da Rocha knows this the hard way. She says that she has family members who can’t stop betting thousands of dollars on sports games.
“Gambling is an addiction that’s very hard to escape,” Rocha said. “I think it has a huge impact on how a family functions, or how a friendship or relationship goes about, in a negative way.”
Athletes are even susceptible to gambling. NBA veteran Terry Rozier was arrested in October, accused of helping gamblers win bets on his own poor performance.
The FBI points to one particular night in 2023 when Rozier left the game early, reportedly giving advance notice of his foot injury and exit to gamblers.
Last week, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were arrested. They have been charged with rigging pitches in baseball games, influencing betting outcomes.
They are accused of intentionally throwing pitches outside the strike zone to benefit people who placed bets on those pitches being called balls by the home plate umpires.
Sacred Heart University grad student Riley Souza believes the alleged corruption won’t stop there.
“Eventually, someone’s going to get caught next year for something they did this year,” she said.
Nearly 80% of people polled believe the NBA scandal impacts trust in the integrity of the game, with 75% believing sports gambling corruption is more widespread than what’s been uncovered.
“If the integrity of the game suffers, the value of the game goes down,” said Professor Andrew Miller, Sacred Heart University.
Professor Andrew Miller runs the sports communication and media program at Sacred Heart University. He’s concerned over aggressive advertising.
A big reason for the betting boom is the aggressive marketing by the sportsbooks, according to the National Institutes of Health. Sports leagues and major media networks have partnered with gambling companies, encouraging it with ads on TVs or even on the court and on uniforms.
According to the poll by Sacred Heart University, WFSB, and CT Insider, more than 68% believed advertising is encouraging unethical behavior, while 84% supported stricter gambling oversight.
“They could say, ‘If we partner with betting platforms, we’ll get more fan engagement,’ and that’s the case. The leagues are doing better. The leagues see gambling as something increasing their fan engagement,” Miller said. “It’s really disappointing and not surprising at the same time.”
Professor Miller is not surprised our poll shows an overwhelming majority of people believe sports gambling advertising encourages risky betting behavior.
“We know people should have personal responsibility. We all feel that way, but there is something about the system around this,” Miller said. “I’m concerned about the problems this raises with college aged students.”
However, our exclusive poll also reveals that the NBA scandal doesn’t have a major effect on gamblers’ betting patterns. 35% of those surveyed say it has no impact, while just under 15% say they’re much more likely to bet more on the NBA, with 14% much less likely.
“I want to have that trust. But at the end of the day, you never know what’s happening behind closed doors,” Rocha said.
If you or someone you know is addicted to gambling, the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling offers free support at 888-789-7777.
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