Fifty million US adults are projected to engage in Super Bowl betting this year, placing a collective $16 billion in wagers.
This weekend's Super Bowl LVII is projected to be the most-gambled game in NFL history, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA), the national trade organization representing the US casino industry.
The AGA annually releases a Super Bowl betting forecast, and this year's projections are larger and more impressive than ever before. The organization predicts that approximately 50.4 million American adults, or 20% of the population, will place some kind of wager on the big game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
This forecast was determined through a survey of 2,199 US adults, conducted by the research agency Morning Consult.
Those 50.4 million Super Bowl bettors are expected to put down a staggering $16 billion - more than double last year's estimates and a new record high. These numbers include wagers placed through legal and illegal channels.
AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said, "Every year, the Super Bowl showcases the advantages of legal sports betting: bettors are switching to the safety of the regulated market, leagues and sports media are experiencing increased engagement, and legal operators are contributing significant tax revenue to states across the country."
Miller continued, "The ongoing growth of legal sports betting in the US is driving increased interest in the NFL. The AGA survey found that 34% of NFL fans believe the expansion of legal sports betting has made watching the NFL more exciting."
More than 50% of all bettors - an estimated 30 million US adults - plan to place a conventional sports bet on the Super Bowl at a legal sportsbook, online, or with a bookie. This represents a 66% increase from last year. The remaining 20.4 million Super Bowl bettors are expected to participate in informal wagers between friends or take part in office pools.
Promoting Legal Betting
The AGA's primary goal is to encourage bettors to use only regulated sportsbooks instead of offshore online sports betting platforms or local bookies. Miller said regulated sportsbooks offer consumer protection, generate new federal, state, and local taxes, and don't compromise the integrity of professional and college sports.
As legal sports betting becomes more popular, the gaming industry is dedicated to responsibly providing top-notch entertainment, educating consumers on responsible gambling, and combating illegal gambling as we work towards a secure, competitive, and sustainable legal market for all.
At present, there are 33 states and the District of Columbia with legal sports betting up and running. In addition, three other states have passed laws to govern sports gambling, but books have yet to accept their first legal wagers in those locations.
Approximately 52% of the country now resides in a legal sports betting state.
Sportsbook at Super Bowl
For the very first time, this year's Super Bowl is being played in a legal sports betting state. State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, also features an on-site sportsbook.
The 17,000-square-foot BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium is situated outside of the ticketed area on the stadium's Great Lawn. This sportsbook boasts a 265-square-foot video wall, a staffed sports betting cage, and 27 self-service wagering kiosks.
As for the game itself, the Eagles remain a narrow favorite over the Chiefs, with a 1.5-point advantage. The over/under sits at 50.5 points.
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