Can You Enjoy Sports Without Gambling?

Can Gambling Enhance or Diminish the Enjoyment of Sports? A Best-Selling Author Weighs In In a recent short video, Jeff Pearlman, a New York Times best-selling author known for his insightful sports writing, posed a thought-provoking question to his audience: "If you gamble regularly on sports, can you still watch games without gambling and enjoy it?" Pearlman's query taps into a common experience among sports fans who also engage in sports betting. He uses a personal anecdote to illustrate his point, describing his enjoyment of an OKC-Indiana Pacers game where he had no financial stake in the outcome. "It was really fun," he recounts, "and part of the fun was that I didn't really care who won." He explains that he rooted for the underdog Pacers, experiencing the thrill of their victory without the added pressure of a bet. He leaves the question open-ended, inviting viewers to consider the balance between the excitement of gambling and the pure enjoyment of the sport itself. The video, uploaded on July 6th, 2025, has already generated considerable engagement, suggesting a widespread interest in this topic. Pearlman's established reputation as a sports author lends credibility to his observation, making this a compelling topic for further discussion and exploration.