A record 31.4 million Americans are expected to wager on Super Bowl LVI, according to American Gaming Association (AGA) research, a 35% increase from 2021. The AGA has also estimated that $7.61bn will be wagered on the Big Game, up 78% ($3.33bn) year-over-year.
Sports betting is currently live and legal in 30 states and Washington DC, with three additional legal markets awaiting launch. Since Super Bowl LV, 45 million more Americans can now legally wager in their home state.
States that have launched their sports betting markets since last year’s Big Game include Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
AGA’s research revealed that 18.2 million Americans are expected to place a Super Bowl wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie, up 78% YoY, while 18.5 million plan to bet casually with friends or as part of a pool or squares contest, up 23% YoY.
The research also noted that 76% say it is important for themselves to bet through a legal operator, up 11% YoY, while 55% of bettors plan to wager on the Los Angeles Rams compared to 45% on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO, commented: “The results are clear: Americans have never been more interested in legal sports wagering. The growth of legal options across the country not only protects fans and the integrity of games and bets but also puts illegal operators on notice that their time is limited.”
AGA’s research also discovered that 106 million Americans (41%) remember seeing advertising related to responsible gaming in 2021, an increase of 32 million people (12%) YoY, and a reflection of the industry’s investment in responsible gaming resources.
AGA’s Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly campaign aims to bring sports betting stakeholders together to promote responsible gaming, and its NFL team partners include the Washington Commanders and the New York Jets.
