More Americans will bet on this week’s Super Bowl than any other in history, a survey projects.
The American Gaming Association released findings Tuesday that expect a record 68 million U.S. adults, or 26%, to wager more than $23.1 billion on Super Bowl LVIII.
That handle represents a 35% increase in estimates from the 2023 Big Game and $16 billion more than last year.
Research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimates that $1.25 billion will be wagered legally.
This growth isn’t likely to stop any time soon for America’s premier single sporting event. Five new legalized sports betting U.S. markets – Vermont, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, and Florida – launched since last year’s Super Bowl.
North Carolina goes live with sports betting on March 11, bringing the total to 38 legal states. More and more wagering is likely a trend that will continue in each of the next several Super Bowls.
“As the Super Bowl comes to Las Vegas for the first time, this year’s record interest in wagering marks a full circle moment for the U.S. gaming industry,” AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said. “Our priority remains getting this opportunity right by providing the consumer protections only a regulated market can guarantee and investing in responsible gambling tools, safeguards and education.”
Plans to bet
For the Feb. 11 game, the AGA study - conducted by Morning Consult from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 and surveying 2,204 adults - projects 42.7 million American adults, up 41% year-over-year, will place a traditional bet on the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Also, 36.5 million plan to bet casually with friends or with a pool or squares contest, up 32% from 2023.
The AGA expects 28.7 million American adults to place online wagers at a legal sportsbook.
Responsible gaming
The AGA found that 75% of Super Bowl bettors saw a responsible gambling message in the last year, up 71% from last year.
Also, 47% of American adults surveyed saw a responsible gambling message over the last year, 71% more than in 2023.
AGA says this shows the industry’s investments into responsible gambling resonating with legal sports betting markets.
