Bob Costas, legendary voice of American sports and longtime NBC broadcaster, recently spoke out again about the dangers of legalized sports gambling.
Drawing from deeply personal roots tied to his father’s sports gambling addiction, Costas told Meet the Press in summer 2025 that sports betting can “ruin lives.”
His perspective is backed up by data. According to the most recent gambling addiction statistics, more than half of online sports bettors chase bets. About 10% of adult sports bettors could have a severe addiction, according to the medical journal The Lancet.
Costas, winner of 28 Emmy Awards over his storied career, has long been an opponent of the betting industry.
Let’s take a look at Costas’ history speaking out against gambling.
What Did Costas Say About His Dad’s Gambling Addiction?
Costas revealed his father, John Costas, made $500 bets on baseball games in the 1960s, when Bob was still a teenager.
In 2025 dollars, that’s over $5,000 per bet.
Costas recalled that “the mortgage was often riding on how his bets went,” and the volatility at home created severe emotional strain.
John Costas died suddenly at age 42 from a heart attack; Bob was only 18.
At his father’s funeral, he recalled that he received an envelope containing $6,000 in cash.
Read more: Is Sports Gambling Bad For Your Heart Health?
Costas Warnings on Legalized Sports Betting
Costas stressed that in gambling the house always wins in the long run.
He expressed concern that gambling apps, which use tactics such as push notifications, increase the risk of addiction among users.
“Some of those people are going to become addicted to it and it’s going to ruin some lives, that’s inevitable,” he told NBC.
Costas also proudly stated he refused to read betting odds on MLB Network and Turner broadcasts. However, someone else ended up reading the gambling information.
“I couldn’t in good conscience encourage people to do something … there is an insidious aspect to it that I didn’t want to be a part of,” Costas said.
Timeline: Bob Costas’ Gambling Opinions
Let’s take a deeper look into what Costas has said about gambling over the years.
1990s–2000s: Subtle Criticism During Broadcasts
During his time with NBC covering major sporting events like the Olympics and NFL, Costas was known for emphasizing the integrity and spirit of the sport.
While not overtly political at the time, he occasionally alluded to the risk gambling posed to fair play, especially in baseball.
Costas’ most recent comments came as Major League Baseball was investigating a pitcher on the Cleveland Guardians over gambling.
2010s: Emphasizes Baseball’s Integrity
On MLB Network and various interviews in the 2010s, Costas often framed gambling as a historic threat to baseball, referencing the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.
“If you look at baseball’s history, gambling—more than steroids or anything else—was considered the ultimate threat,” he said.
Time will tell whether Costas is more right than he knew back then.
2018: Supreme Court Legalizes Sports Betting
The landscape changed after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal prohibition on betting, opening the floodgates to legalization.
Costas began publicly voicing concern about how the growing industry might affect sports culture.
Since 2018, the vast majority of states have sanctioned sports betting.
2020s: Appears on CNN, MSNBC, HBO & Criticizes Gambling
Costas continued to warn people about the long-term consequences of leagues and media companies embracing betting partnerships:
“There is now a wall-to-wall saturation of gambling content,” he told CNN. “Leagues used to distance themselves from gambling, and now they’re in bed with it.”
In another interview, Costas reiterated: “It’s hard to imagine Pete Rose being banned now… when you consider how deeply entwined the leagues now are with gambling companies.”
In a long interview with Kristen Welker in mid-2025, Costas gave an update on his life after retirement.
With sports gambling addiction in the U.S. getting more attention, Costas reiterated many of the comments and stories from the past regarding betting.
Costas remains one of the most vocal critics of sports betting in American sports media.
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