1 in 3 fans say NBA players, coaches often involved in illegal activities to influence betting: Poll

A third of fans who watch the NBA think players or coaches are involved in illegal activity by influencing the outcome of games or individual performance to affect sports gambling results, according to a new survey.

The latest Quinnipiac University poll found that 33 percent of Americans think NBA coaches and players are either very often, at 12 percent, or somewhat often, at 21 percent, involved in illegal activities to influence betting on NBA games.

More than half of the respondents, at 68 percent, have views on either end of the spectrum when it comes to illegal sports betting. Around 32 percent said it is a major problem while 36 percent said it is not a major issue. Another 30 percent said it is a minor problem, while 10 percent said it is not a problem at all, according to the survey.

And fans of the league are evenly split on whether NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is equipped to do anything about point-shaving or illegal sports gambling.

Roughly 50 percent of respondents are either very confident or somewhat confident in Silver’s ability, while 47 percent are either not so confident or not confident at all in his ability to do so, the poll found.

The survey was conducted Oct. 31-Nov. 2 among 1,000 fans of the league and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

The findings come just weeks after the FBI announced indictments against a number of people, including current players and coaches, who authorities say were allegedly involved in point-shaving or connected to a series of illegal poker games run by organized crime rings.

The scandal has sparked widespread concern about the risks of sports gambling and the integrity of the league’s games, while lawmakers on Capitol Hill have vowed to investigate the NBA over the incident.