The NFL is a monster for sports betting operators, and while that’s no surprise, there are rising numbers to help show it.
The first month of the 2024 season showed strong growth in the sports betting industry. Active accounts grew 23% compared to the first four weeks of last season, according to data released by technology company GeoComply. GeoComply logged 2.6 million account registrations during that time.
More people are also placing bets at live NFL games, as average number of accounts inside stadiums rose by more than 1,100. The Chicago Bears’ Soldier Field led all venues with 13.5% of attendees betting on sportsbook apps. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the Giants and Jets, went from 6,700 in 2023 to 9,500, the largest increase in the NFL.
Big boon
There are currently 39 jurisdictions offering sports betting in the U.S. Since last season ended, North Carolina has been the largest and most notable market to legalize online sportsbooks.
That’s helped boost those account numbers, but GeoComply also reported that 64% of accounts that were active during February’s Super Bowl, before the Tar Heel State went live, were engaged at some point in the first four weeks of the NFL season.
Adding a Friday night game to Week 1, when the Philadelphia Eagles played the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, was also a boon for sports betting operators. GeoComply said that the game drove “significant” year-over-year growth as geolocation volumes jumped nearly 60% compared to the previous Friday.
Getting the job done
GeoComply provides sports betting partners like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM with geofencing at state borders, “player-centric compliance, and a shared commitment to integrity and security.”
The company said that the first four weeks of the NFL season hit near-perfect pass rates, exceeding 99% of success in allowing “seamless and reliable experience, even in the most challenging border regions.”
GeoComply says precision is critical during the incredibly busy NFL season, and it strives to minimize disruptions for customers attempting to place bets near borders.
“By maximizing geolocation accuracy, our customers are able to capture every opportunity for engagement,” GeoComply said in the released data.
GeoComply also offered lightning-fast checks and low latency as well as a 94% conversion rate on KYC solutions and uptime consistently above 99.99% on customer reliability.
GeoComply also touted its ability to prevent “bonus abuse” and save sportsbooks millions as it flagged thousands of devices for multi-accounting and sign-up fraud during the early portion of the NFL season.
