Despite being yet to fully regulate all forms of gambling statewide, compared to many other nations, the majority of Americans (70%) don't believe that there is a moral impediment to betting and other related activities, such as online casino.
The Pew Research Center surveyed attitudes across 25 countries, wth the US shown to be an outlier with a minority of adult respondents (29%) indicating that gambling is morally wrong.
As expected, the US position is close to the one taken by Canadians and many Europeans, including France and Germany, but a contrast was found in Asia.
Those nations indicating that gambling is morally wrong includes 89% in Indonesia, 83% in India, 71% in Italy and 61% in Brazil.
Stats indicating morality of gambling across the US
In the table of 25 nations, the United States was second-to-last (to Canada) when it came to "morally unacceptable" objections to gambling.
The data revealed that 30% of American respondents also shared this view, however 20% stating gambling was "morally acceptable", while a significant 50% conveying that gambling is "not a moral issue".
These were the three options given to people polled by the Pew Research Center.
It was interesting to note that demographic and religious differences were apparent within the US: Asian (45%), Hispanic (38%), and Black Americans (37%) were much more likely than White Americans (23%) to make moral objections toward gambling.
Similarly, US Christians (33%) were more likely than Jewish Americans and religiously unaffiliated adults (25% and 19%, respectively) to state that gambling is morally wrong.
Contrasting views on gambling across the world
The new data is interesting because it informs us of shifts in American attitudes, with support for gambling just below 50%, around 25 years ago, according to Pew.
Meanwhile, the global contrast can't just be put down to regions or nations that are more conservative or religious, as certain countries puncture this theory.
Key examples are Italy and South Korea, with cultural factors being very prominent.
Italy isn't a conservative nation in many ways, but the church and religion are massive cultural forces and that partly explains why 71% of Italian respondents find gambling morally unacceptable, with just 8% indication it is morally acceptable, and 19% stating that gambling is not a moral issue.
A similar response was made in South Korea, with figures of 78%, 7% and 13%, respectively.
Why is America different?
The American dream, capitalism, and a libertarian outlook are drivers for the response from Americans.
Another reason is the sprawling proliferation of the gambling market in the United States, with a recent report finding that Americans 'spent' a record $27.1bn on iGaming and online sports in 2025.
The US market was a dominant driver of the mammoth $643bn global gambling revenue (GGR) in 2025.
It is considered that there has been a 'normalization' of gambling in recent years, contributing to the increase in the activity in the States.
This is evident within sports, where betting is very prevalent, particularly in broadcasting and mobile apps.
USA gambling expansion
Individual states are all too aware of the importance of tax dollars and what can be derived from gambling. While there is a reluctance to open up too much in some quarters, lawmakers need to find a balance between losing spending (and taxes) to neighboring states and the increasing threat of the black market, which offers no protections for players or a return for the state purse.
The scale, scope, and strength of the US gambling market are well established, but opposition remains.
Despite the Pew Research Center indicating an acceptance and embrace of gambling from Americans, it also highlighted that gambling-related harm is on the rise.
There was a 25% year-on-year spike in calls to national problem gambling services.
In summary, the research indicates that the United States has fully embraced gambling, culturally and as an individual form of entertainment, even if the reality reflects increasing social costs.
The US market is increasing and expanding, influencing the views of Americans, in contrast to a more skeptical position taken by many other nations across the world.
