The American Gambling Association (AGA) announced Tuesday it expects $35 billion to be bet on the NFL through legal sportsbooks during the 2024 season, which would easily surpass 2023’s total of $26.7 billion.
The U.S. gambling industry trade group cites the expansion of legal sports betting to North Carolina, Vermont, and Maine and continued market maturation as the driving forces behind its projection, which would make this the most wagered NFL season since PASPA was overturned in 2018.
This is the first time the AGA has listed an NFL betting projection before a season, which gets underway Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Kansas City Chiefs.
Big business
Nothing moves the needle among U.S. sports bettors like the NFL.
The 2024 estimate comes about six months after the AGA projected 68 million Americans would wager $23.1 billion on Super Bowl LVIII.
Advertisements will be up. So will promotions and bonus bet offers.
North Carolina, which launched online sports betting in March, is expected to be the biggest boon among new markets for operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, and Caesars. The Tar Heel State wagered over $600 million in each of the first two months and wasn’t active in time for the last Super Bowl.
Staying responsible
The AGA also released a report that showed responsible gaming is important to the industry as sports betting grows.
According to the data, 90% of sports bettors want their sportsbook to be legal and regulated while 85% agree that responsible gaming programs are effective, up 7% year-over-year.
The AGA, which kicked off Responsible Gaming Education Month this week, also said 75% of adults support regulated sports betting in their state. That’s up from 73% in 2023.
“With the excitement of another NFL season upon us, Americans are placing their bets with the confidence that the legal sports betting market is prioritizing consumer protection and responsibility,” AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement. “As the season unfolds, the AGA and our members remain dedicated to working with leagues, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure fans have the knowledge and tools to keep sports betting a safe, fun part of the gameday experience.”
