Is legalized gambling ruining sports?
 

I don't have a strong opinion, but I'm curious if you do.

See poll.

What's the implication with the question? If it that the leagues are manipulating the games in coordination with Vegas than I'm out on that dumb conspiracy.

You can take the question however you choose to read into it.

It's been legal my whole life so kind of hard to tell.

I hate the fact that nearly all sports TV coverage and sports talk at large now devotes significant time to discussing gambling.

I don't think so.

Did it ruin sports somewhere else in the world? I imagine there have been scandals. Especially in smaller leagues where people aren't well paid

I follow the Premier League closely, and sports gambling has been legal in the UK for a long time. You see advertisements for gambling and specific bets on the sideline boards in real time. Many of the less wealthy clubs have gambling apps or outlets as sponsors. But gambling hasn't taken over so much of the media coverage like it has here, it's not so obtrusive, at least from what coverage I see in the US.

No. But apparently it's ruining the sex lives of Gen Z males.

In reality, no, but there seems to be a perception by some that it influences outcomes.

No. Carl Butt****ing Cheffers is ruining the game.

Where is there massive amounts of $$$ being exchanged in society without fraud, corruption, wrongdoing, etc? Greed >> everything else. And this doesn’t even factor the addictive nature of gambling being thrust upon the population, kids included.

Once you start wagering on games it changes the way you look at everything.

Until there’s proof it influences leagues it’s a net positive. More money improves the product. In leagues like the nba I also think they are pushing badly needed accountability for teams that rest starters for the hell of it or fudge injury reports.

That being said while I don’t buy into rigging widespread, I do wonder if the nfl can emphasize rules that create a system wide impact. A simple de-emphasis on defense penalties can wildly swing Vegas to where lots and lots bets on overs bust. I think Vegas has been mopping up $ on that and while I don’t want to believe it’s intentional, sometimes it makes you think.

ask yourself why a billion dollar industry doesnt replace him (or any other refs)..........and then you get to a red pill/blue pill place.

There were shitty officials in all sports before widespread legalization.