The U.S. online sports betting industry is under further pressure following a July 2025 episode on the Tucker Carlson Network.
Carlson, the prominent conservative influencer and former Fox News host, took aim at the proliferation of state-sanctioned online sports betting. At the time, he was arguably the most influential political figure to publicly oppose the sector.
In 2024, state-sanctioned sportsbooks took $13.74 billion from Americans.
Why Tucker Carlson Doesn’t Like Gambling
“I’m hearing from young people who I amm related to or work for me, about people getting in trouble with sports gambling,” Carlson said in a conversation with podcaster Saagar Enjeti. Following Enjeti’s negative description of the industry, Carlson responded:
“This is so dark … Why not just say it’s disgusting and predatory? By the way, they’re preying, as the crypto people do—sorry—on the frustration and sadness of young men who know they are never going to be able to afford a wife, kids, and a house.”
After tying in online sports betting to a broader discussion of the political economy, Carlson said:
“Totally amoral predators took control of our society at every level … The real criminals are the ones who are loaning you money at 30% interest, or getting you to go bankrupt on a sports gambling app. Those are the villains. Why don’t we go after them?”
He also called Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey who successfully pushed for legalized sports betting, “the lowest [person], ever.”
Significance of Carlson’s Comments
The two-hour episode covered a wide range of topics, including the Jeffrey Epstein case, Iran, and Elon Musk, among others. Sports betting was only a brief segment.
Carlson’s attack on the sports betting industry didn’t receive widespread attention, and it’s unclear whether he will ever talk about sports betting again. Still, it’s further evidence of cracks in the public opinion of sports betting.
Carlson’s controversial political positions need no introduction.
For people who vehemently disagree with Carlson on other issues but align with him on sports betting, this could be considered a classic example of the popular internet meme: “The Worst Person You Know Just Made a Great Point.”
Carlson’s comments on sports betting were an example of how criticism of online sports betting spans the political spectrum.
Still, the SAFE Bet Act, federal legislation aimed at establishing nationwide regulation of sports betting, remains supported only by Democrats.
Carlson Follows Costas In Condemning Gambling
Over on NBC’s Meet the Press, retired sports broadcaster Bob Costas spoke against the sports betting industry.
Costas, a longtime critic of gambling, talked about his late father’s sports betting addiction. He said that sports betting can “ruin lives.”
Comments from Costas and Carlson came not long after the City of Baltimore, a Democratic stronghold, sued DraftKings and FanDuel over allegedly predatory advertising.
The sportsbooks were also fighting numerous lawsuits across the country from former users alleging gambling harm.
Laura Ingraham Calls for Sports Betting Ban
Months later, in December 2025, Fox News host Laura Ingraham called for state-sanctioned sports betting apps to be “banned.”
In 2025, legislatures in Vermont and Maryland considered bills to repeal existing sports betting legalization. Neither proposal passed.
However, she said nothing about so-called “prediction market” sports betting platforms that are flourishing under the federal government, in open disregard of state gambling laws and regulations.
Trump Media & Technology Group plans to launch a sports betting platform. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. has invested in leading prediction market Polymarket and is an advisor to Kalshi, another startup in the space.
Ahead of Polymarket’s December 2025 “60 Minutes” appearance, a slew of Trump-friendly social media influencers praised the platform.
It’s worth noting that Fox owns a significant stake in FanDuel, a leader in the traditional betting app sector.
At the time of Ingraham’s comments, FanDuel was preparing to launch its own prediction market sports betting product in states where it doesn’t currently offer legal online sports betting.
What’s Next for U.S. Sports Betting?
For the first time since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling opening the door to the betting industry, no new state legalized the activity in 2025.
However, in December, Missouri authorized the launch of online betting apps following a 2024 law.
Sports betting legalization has stalled at the state level, with the huge markets of California and Texas still on the betting industry sidelines. Meanwhile, unregulated sports betting websites, many of which are based out of Curaçao, run rampant in states with or without legalized sports gambling.
There’s also a fight brewing between the state-regulated betting industry and the federally-regulated prediction markets.
Kalshi, which calls Trump Jr. a “strategic advisor,” is available nationwide. In September 2025, Kalshi announced a plan for college betting influencers. However, court battles, such as Massachusetts versus Kalshi, could decide the platform’s fate.
Taken all together, it’s a volatile moment for the betting industry.
Related: Daily Fantasy Sports Illegal And Addictive, California AG Says
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