A record 26 million Americans will place a bet on Super Bowl LIV, an increase of approximately three million compared to last year, according to a report by the American Gaming Association.
The AGA is estimating that more than 10 percent of the American public will place a bet on Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, generating approximately $6.8 billion in total wagers.
According to the report, based on an online survey conducted by Morning Consult, there is a public shift toward placing bets in the regulated market. That includes an estimated four million Americans expected to place wagers on the game in a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, up 25 percent from last year.
That’s compared to the close to five million Americans who will place a bet through an online or mobile platform, either through a licensed, legal operator or an illegal offshore book. That’s up 19 percent from 2019.
Other forms of betting on the game include placing wagers with a bookie, in a pool or “squares” contest, or casually with family or friends.
“With 14 operational markets and another seven close behind, Americans have never before had so many opportunities to wager on the Super Bowl in a safe and legal manner, and clearly, they are getting in on the action,” AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said. “With increased visitation to legal sportsbooks, we are successfully drawing bettors away from the predatory illegal market.”
Previous AGA research found that 75 percent of NFL bettors are more likely to watch a game they have bet on, and that the NFL will earn approximately $2.3 billion annually due to increased fan engagement from sports betting.
“I have absolute confidence that Americans didn’t start betting on sports when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned,” Miller said. “What makes this year’s Super Bowl remarkable is that more fans than ever before will have the reassurance that the integrity of their bets on the big game will be preserved. The continued expansion of legal sports betting – to the detriment of the illegal market – truly benefits all stakeholders, from enhanced fan engagement for teams to added tax revenue for state and local economies.”
