If you’re a sports fan in any capacity, there’s a high likelihood that you either know someone who sports bets, or you sports bet yourself. According to the Pew Research Center, over 22% of American adults have placed a sports bet over the past 12 months, which totals to over 50 million people.
This number has been growing in recent years following the legalization of sports betting throughout the country. On the surface, sports betting, especially online, is a game-changer for fans, as it enables them to earn real money through sports knowledge, all from the comfort of their own couch. The sports books tell you that you can watch enough sports to outsmart the system, but let’s be honest: it is almost all luck and very little skill. No person can outsmart the intricate computer calculations done by these sportsbooks.
Although the majority of sportsbooks require users to be 21 or older, there are now some sports books that only require a minimum age of 18, meaning seniors in high school can legally place bets, which is evident at New Trier High School. As I walk through the halls, I hear people saying things along the lines of “If Lamar Jackson had eight more passing yards, I would’ve won hundreds of dollars,” or “I made a six-leg parlay. It’s going to hit.”
Don’t get me wrong, the allure of sports betting is strong and I agree that it can be a very fun thing to do with control. Especially for those who don’t enjoy sports as much, having a stake in the game can make it more exciting to watch. Although this argument can be made, what frustrates me the most is how it has begun to interfere with the game itself, from both a fan’s and a player’s standpoint.
Both the NBA and the MLB have been under fire recently, as both players and coaches are being investigated for alleged illegal sports betting schemes. As a fan, I shouldn’t have to wonder if a missed layup or turnover was a genuine mistake, or a calculated decision in favor of a player’s bet. But, it’s not as simple as preventing athletes from placing bets.
In the NBA’s circumstance, players were allegedly having their friends place bets for them, making it very difficult to deduce that the player was guilty. Ultimately, there is no effective way to prevent this from happening. Although there is a major market for sports books right now, these leagues should really consider whether sports betting is causing more harm than good.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a shift in the culture around watching sports and cheering on a team. Previously, I felt most fans were very loyal to a single team. But in this new era, I’m starting to see more people watch for the sole purpose of hoping their bet will hit. I even see fans rooting against their “favorite team,” since they bet on a player on the opposing team to perform well.
This is no longer true fandom, as people are cheering for their wallets rather than their teams. Back in the day, fans would only place sports bets when they traveled to Vegas, but now with online betting, watching sports is a completely different experience. Networks like NFL Redzone exist with the purpose of allowing fans to watch for single players and touchdowns across multiple games, rather than the ups and downs of a single game.
It feels as though people have lost the patience of watching a game unfold, and would rather just watch specific moments of numerous different games, which ruins the fun in watching the unpredictability of a single game. It’s difficult to watch sports with someone who couldn’t care less about the outcome of the game as long as their bet hits.
I don’t think sports betting itself is the entire problem, but it is playing a significant role in the deterioration of modern sports. There’s nothing wrong with placing a small sports bet here and there, but when it becomes too extreme or interferes with the overall fan experience, it is no longer fun. One of the most exciting plays in sports is a game winning Hail Mary, but it’s hard to watch when your friend on the couch next to you lost a bet because of it. Instead of bonding sports fans, betting divides us.
At the end of the day, sports should bring people together and create enjoyable memories with friends and family. While sports betting can add excitement, it should never overshadow the core passion and camaraderie that comes when fans fully support their favorite teams. Fans should focus on appreciating athletic competition and shared moments, using betting as a supplement, rather than the main reason to watch sports. Keeping this balance will preserve what makes sports truly special.