{"id":293697,"date":"2026-03-16T13:54:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:54:30","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-03-25T17:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:45:00","slug":"americans-are-less-likely-than-people-in-many-other-countries-to-see-gambling-as-morally-wrong","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/03\/16\/americans-are-less-likely-than-people-in-many-other-countries-to-see-gambling-as-morally-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans are less likely than people in many other countries to see gambling as morally wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Bets
Bets are placed on the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament at a viewing party in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Betting on college basketball and other sports has increased sharply in the United States<\/a> in recent years. With March Madness<\/a> upon us, how do Americans\u2019 views on gambling compare with those of people in other countries?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a 2025 Pew Research Center survey<\/a> of 25 countries, the U.S. stands out for having a relatively small share of adults (29%) who view gambling as morally wrong. <\/strong>In many other surveyed countries, about half of adults or more see gambling as immoral. This includes 89% in Indonesia, 83% in India, 71% in Italy and 61% in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People taking the survey were given three options. They could say that gambling is morally acceptable, that it\u2019s morally unacceptable or that it\u2019s not a moral issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the U.S., 20% of adults say gambling is morally acceptable. But half of Americans say gambling isn\u2019t a moral issue.<\/strong> No other surveyed country has such a large share of people who take that position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While relatively few Americans view gambling as immoral, the public has become slightly more likely to express that view over time. In 2013, when we first asked this question<\/a>, 24% of U.S. adults said gambling is immoral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This analysis explores Americans\u2019 views on the morality of gambling and compares their views with public opinion in 24 other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center conducts high-quality research to inform the public, journalists and leaders. Studying religion and related topics, such as morality, has long been part of the Center\u2019s research around the world. Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a> and our other research on religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For data outside the United States, this analysis draws on nationally representative surveys of 28,333 adults conducted from Jan. 8 to April 26, 2025. We conducted these surveys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n