The recent round of sports betting-related scandals may be taking a toll on public perception of professional athletes and legalized wagering.
- A YouGov survey suggests that 65% of Americans suspect professional athletes sometimes alter their performance to benefit sports bettors.
- Sports bettors were far more skeptical than non-bettors, with over 80% believing somewhat that athletes may adjust their play because of gambling.
- The survey comes amid recent betting scandals in the NBA and UFC, which have heightened public doubts about sports integrity.
A recent survey conducted by YouGov suggests that a majority of Americans have had a concerning thought cross their mind: That professional athletes are adjusting their performance on the court or field for the benefit of bettors.
According to YouGov, the survey, “conducted in the immediate aftermath of the FBI’s match-fixing announcement, found that 65% of Americans believe that professional athletes alter how they play to help gamblers win sports bets."
More specifically, 13% of those surveyed by YouGov said they "often" think this, 32% said they "sometimes" think this, and 19% said they "rarely" think this. Another 29% of respondents said they were unsure, but just 6% said they "never" think such thoughts.
So, via @YouGov: "[A] survey, conducted in the immediate aftermath of the FBI’s match-fixing announcement, found that 65% of Americans believe that professional athletes alter how they play to help gamblers win sports bets." pic.twitter.com/pxP0j8fa9h
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) November 5, 2025
Furthermore, while 28% of those surveyed said they've bet money on a sporting event, sentiment among gamblers was more pessimistic.
Among bettors that were surveyed, 18% said they often think pro athletes are altering their performance to cash bets, 38% said they sometimes think it, and 25% said they rarely think along those lines.
“The data reveals a notable disparity in perceptions between the general US population and sports bettors regarding whether professional athletes alter their play to influence gambling outcomes, with sports bettors being more distrustful,” YouGov said.
“In total, combining respondents who said often, sometimes, or rarely, more than four-fifths of US sports bettors believe athletes alter how they play because of sports betting. This suggests that those more closely involved with sports betting have a higher level of skepticism about the integrity of professional sports.”
The findings from YouGov come in the wake of criminal charges announced by U.S. law enforcement in connection with the alleged use of non-public information to make bets on the NBA. Those charges and that investigation involve current and former NBA personnel.
Dana White is breaking his silence after suspicious betting activity was observed before Isaac Dulgarian, a heavy favorite, lost on Saturday.
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) November 4, 2025
The @UFC honcho walks us through everything that's gone down, from being alerted to potential irregularities before the event to meeting… pic.twitter.com/cVrp99W82Z
The NBA scandal was followed this past weekend by allegedly suspicious wagering detected on a UFC fight.
UFC CEO Dana White told TMZ on Tuesday that they were alerted to the betting activity and had already called in law enforcement to investigate. He also said any claims of more widespread problems were “clickbait B.S.”
“We take this very serious,” White said. “We’re watching every fight that happens in the UFC, from the first prelim to the main event.”
At any rate, YouGov’s survey suggests there is a good deal of skepticism among both bettors and everyday Americans.
The data, based on 19,000 "nationally representative interviews," also shows a noticeable divide between bettors and non-bettors about the impact of legalized sports betting on sports.
“While 24% of sports bettors view the impact as positive, only 9% of the general population share this sentiment,” YouGov said. “Conversely, 44% of the general population believes legalized gambling has a negative impact on sports, compared to 31% of sports bettors.”
