New York Survey: 39% Say Online Sports Betting Bad for Empire State

• According to a new Siena Poll of New York State residents, 39% of respondents believe online sports betting is bad for the state
• One in four respondents reported they placed a bet in the last year
• 22% of respondents reported online sports betting is good for the state

According to a new Siena Poll of New York State residents, most respondents believe online sports betting is a negative for the Empire State, but those under the age of 50 tend to have a more positive view of the activity.

The Siena University Poll was conducted from July 1 to July 8, 2026, among 814 New York State residents. Among the respondents, 39% believe New York online sports betting is a bad thing for the state, 22% say online sports betting is good for the state, and 31% are in the middle.

Overall, one in four of respondents placed a bet within the last year, with 84% of those who did placing on through an online sportsbook.

Mixed Feelings on Sports Betting Advertising

Half of the respondents over the age of 50 say they agree online sports betting advertising should not be allowed during sporting events on television, compared with only 36% of respondents under the age of 50.

Additionally, newly 62% of respondents over the age of 50 believe live commentary on sports betting during a broadcast is bad for sports compared with 44% of respondents under the age of 50.

Most over the age of 50 believe sports betting is a negative for the state, with 46% responding it is bad for New York, 29% believe it has good and bad aspects, and just 16% believing it is good for the state. Respondents under 50 have a more positive view of sports betting, with 33% saying it is bad for the state, 34% in the middle, and 27% saying it is a good thing.

“We are seeing a generational gap in those who participate in and support sports betting,” Associate Director of Data Management Travis Brodbeck said in a press release. “Not only are many young New Yorkers placing bets of their own, but they also view the issues surrounding sports betting through a different lens than older residents.”

Sports Betting Trends Towards Men

While one in four respondents placed a bet in the last year, participation is higher in young men. According to poll results, 37% of men participated in sports betting compared with just 14% of women. Additionally, 53% of men between the ages of 18 to 49 said they placed a bet in the last year.

The most common method of placing a bet among all New York bettors was through an online sports betting platform, with 82% of sports bettors in the poll placing one with a company. 92% of males between the age of 18 to 49 who participated in sports betting within the last year placed at least one bet through an online sports betting platform.

“For the one in four New Yorkers who place bets on the outcome of a sporting event, online sportsbooks are used by nearly all bettors,” Brodbeck said. “Sports betting participation differs greatly by age and gender in New York. Young adults are more likely than older adults to place sports bets, and men are more likely than women to participate. Sports betting participation is especially concentrated among young men in New York.”