FAIRFIELD — A new national poll from Sacred Heart University and GreatBlue Research finds that public trust in professional sports leagues varies widely, with the NFL viewed as the most trusted league to protect the integrity of its games.
Meanwhile, the poll found that the NBA draws the most skepticism.
According to the 2026 Sacred Heart University Nationwide Sports Gambling Poll:
- The NFL ranks first as the most trusted league with 31.7% of Americans saying it protects game integrity
- The NBA ranks second in trust (10.6%), but also appears most frequently as the least trusted league, with 19.1% of respondents selecting it
- The NFL is also cited by 15.6% as least trusted, highlighting polarized views around the nation’s most prominent leagues
- MLB was third with 7.5% as most trusted and 7% as least trusted
- The NHL was fourth with 5.1% as most trusted and 3.8% as least trusted
These findings point to a complex and divided public perception of professional sports, emerging at a time when legalized sports betting and league partnerships have become far more visible.
“The NFL clearly stands apart in terms of trust, but it’s not without skepticism,” said Andrew Miller, director of Sacred Heart’s sports communication & media graduate program. “At the same time, the NBA’s position on both ends of the spectrum suggests Americans are more conflicted about its ability to safeguard competitive integrity.”
Trust gap emerges as betting expands
The data come amid broader concerns about the influence of sports gambling on professional leagues:
- 59.3% of Americans believe sports gambling creates incentives that could compromise competitive integrity
- 48% say gambling has changed how leagues make decisions around rules, scheduling or officiating
- 38.9% report feeling skeptical of injury reports or officiating due to gambling partnerships
Together, these perceptions help explain why public trust varies so sharply across leagues, particularly as betting becomes more embedded in the sports experience.
With the NFL draft and NBA playoffs drawing intense national attention, the poll suggests fans are watching not just the games, but the systems behind them.
“Moments like the NFL drafts and the NBA playoffs put leagues under a microscope,” said Josh Shuart, director and professor of SHU’s sport management program. “As betting becomes more integrated into the fan experience, so too does public scrutiny around fairness, transparency and decision-making.”
About the Poll
The Sacred Heart University 2026 Nationwide Sports Gambling Poll was conducted Feb. 2–5, 2026, among 1,500 U.S. adults. The survey carries a margin of error of +/- 2.43% at a 95% confidence level. The sample was weighted according to age, gender and U.S. Census region.
