As prediction markets have stolen headlines in the gambling and adjacent industries, New Yorkers are still questioning the merits of legal sports betting.
A new study by the Siena Research Institute found that more New York residents classified sports gambling as “bad” than they did “good.”
Key Takeaways
- 84% of respondents who admitted to placing a bet said they did so at an online sportsbook.
- Individuals aged 50 and up were much more likely to be against sports betting.
- New York generated $1.3 billion from sports betting taxes last year.
Siena University’s poll was conducted from July 1-8. Answers reflected the input of 814 New York residents who were contacted via phone call, text-to-web, and an online platform.
A total of 39% of respondents told researchers they felt that sports wagering was a net-negative for the state. And 31% said they didn’t have a strong opinion, while 22% said they supported the pastime.
Although support was recorded at the lowest frequency, researchers noted that one-in-four individuals admitted to participating in sports betting within the last year. Of those individuals, 84% placed their bets online, 54% did so with friends or family, 41% utilized retail casinos, and 24% went through a bookie.
New York has an estimated population of 20 million in 2026. According to the findings, that would mean that approximately 5 million locals placed a sports bet within the last year. That includes about 2.1 million New York City residents.
Further analysis revealed that 53% of men aged 18-49 said they had submitted a wager during the period of interest. That was the largest of any demographic and nearly three times as high as women of the same age (18%).
These responses also illustrated a generational divide. Only 12% of respondents 50 or older said they had submitted a bet within the last year.
Half of residents over 50 years old also said that sportsbooks should not be allowed to advertise during live sports events, and 62% opined that sports betting ad reads and commentary during games weren’t in the best interest of sports.
“We are seeing a generational gap in those who participate in and support sports betting,” said Associate Director of Data Management Travis Brodbeck. “Not only are many young New Yorkers placing bets of their own, but they also view the issues surrounding sports betting through a different lens than older residents.”
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A clear divide
Unsurprisingly, an individual’s willingness to engage with sports betting influenced their perception of the industry.
Sports bettors were more open to gambling advertisements and commentary during live events. Nearly half of bettors (49%) suggested that gambling was good for New York, compared to just 14% for non-participants.
“Attitudes towards sports betting varies greatly based on one’s participation with online sports betting,” Brodbeck said. “The majority of bettors are unbothered by TV ads for online sportsbooks and express minimal concern over live-game betting commentary. Ultimately, bettors view sports betting as a net positive for New York.
“For the one in four New Yorkers who place bets on the outcome of a sporting event, online sportsbooks are used by nearly all bettors. Sports betting participation differs greatly by age and gender in New York. Young adults are more likely than older adults to place sports bets, and men are more likely than women to participate. Sports betting participation is especially concentrated among young men in New York.”
New York authorizes sports betting at licensed online sportsbooks and retail casinos. The state also recently approved three downstate operators, one of which opened in spring, and the other two of which are scheduled to be completed in 2030.
New York sports betting market
New York legalized online sports betting in 2021 and launched its state market in January 2022.
In the time since, New York sports betting has produced approximately $8.8 billion in gross revenue. The online market produced $1.3 billion in yearly tax contributions in 2025 alone, with expectations that the figure will continue to rise as the betting audience grows and sportsbooks refine their approach.
