As goes the NFL, so does sports betting in the U.S.
However, a look at DraftKings' wagering insights for 2024 reveals a change at the top.
The NFL was once again the most-bet league at DraftKings, but MLB’s New York Yankees knocked the Kansas City Chiefs out of the most-bet team spot in 2024. However, the AL champions also cost bettors more than any other team in baseball this year.
The reigning NFL champs were second in handle among all sports teams after finishing first in 2023. The World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers garnered the second-most wagers of any team at DraftKings.
The NBA’s Boston Celtics and MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies rounded out the top five in terms of highest team handles in 2024.
The NFL still dominated the most-bet events of the year, racking up all of the top five spots. The Super Bowl between the Chiefs and 49ers was No. 1 in handle and tickets.
The NFC Championship Game was the second most-bet game by handle while the event with the second highest number of tickets went to a Monday night regular-season game between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks was the most-bet NBA game of 2024. DraftKings listed the other two as occurring during the league’s Finals.
The most-bet NHL game went to Game 7 of a first-round playoff series in which the Boston Bruins advanced past the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Names of the year
Scottie Scheffler, winner of two Majors in 2024, was unsurprisingly the most-bet golfer and a headache for the sportsbook. Surprisingly, he was also the most-bet individual by handle at DraftKings this year. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry received the most tickets.
The NFL’s Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Henry, Saquon Barkley, Lamar Jackson, CeeDee Lamb, and Patrick Mahomes all finished in the top 10 most-bet athletes.
Dodgers star Teoscar Hernandez was the top moneymaker in MLB while teammate and NL MVP Shohei Ohtani was the biggest bankroll breaker.
Mike Tyson led the boxing world in bets and handle while Alex Pereira dominated MMA wagering this year.
Winners and losers
The team that made NFL bettors the most money in 2024 was the Chiefs while Kelce, one of Kansas City’s stars, lost more money for bettors out of any player in the league.
Travis Kelce lost more money for DK bettors than any other player in 2024 😭 pic.twitter.com/KRRL6JVMbP
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) December 30, 2024
The 49ers cost bettors the most among NFL squads in 2024 with running back Christian McCaffrey ranking behind only Kelce and Lamb as the biggest bankroll breakers.
The NFL’s biggest moneyline upset at DraftKings was when the Dallas Cowboys upended the Washington Commanders as a +455 favorite. However, Washington’s Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears qualified for the league’s largest live-betting upset at +3,500.
The San Antonio Spurs led the NBA in teams that made bettors money while LeBron James was the leading player to land them in the positive. The Sacramento Kings and Dallas’ Luka Doncic cost NBA bettors the most money this year.
The biggest upset in the league was an Atlanta Hawks victory as a +900 underdog against the Boston Celtics in November.
The Tampa Bay Rays won bettors the most money in MLB this year.
The Minnesota Lynx were the biggest moneymaker in the WNBA while the NHL was led by the champion Florida Panthers.
Spain led all soccer clubs in bettor profitability, but Man City, one of the most popular teams in the world, was the biggest bankroll breaker in that sport.
College sports
College football’s national championship game between Michigan and Washington was the most-bet event in that sport. UConn beating Purdue in the national title game was tops in men’s basketball, while the South Carolina women’s victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa led that sport.
The biggest moneymaker in football was Notre Dame, while bettors lost the most on LSU this year. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe made bettors the most money. Former Washington receiver Rome Odunze was the costliest college player.
College football’s biggest upset was Northern Illinois’ wild win over Notre Dame on Sept. 7 as a +2,200 underdog. Charleston Southern shocking a down Miami in men’s basketball as a +3,500 and Villanova women upsetting Butler as a +1,700 underdog led those sports, respectively.
Props and parlays
Tennessee Titans tight end Nick Vannett being the first player to score in the 1 p.m. games on Nov. 3 with odds of +30,000 was the NFL’s biggest prop winner in 2024.
The Cleveland Cavaliers to beat the Celtics by 21-25 points during an NBA playoff game in May hit with odds of +20,000. Indiana to make the College Football Playoff at +20,000 was the largest college prop winner.
MLB’s biggest came during a game on May 11 when the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs both scored seven-plus runs in the first five innings with odds of +16,000.
The biggest parlay winner reported by DraftKings was a 7-leg MLB home run prop bet that turned a bettor’s $5 into $263,591.
