IGT PlaySports: Sportsbooks across US ready for super-sized prop menus

SBC Americas spoke with Tony DiTommaso of IGT PlaySports Trading Advisory Team to get his take on the role and popularity of prop bets in the Super Bowl.
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With the Super Bowl now just days away, sports betting professionals across the US are doing their part to prepare for the country’s highest-volume betting weekend. 

SBC Americas had the exclusive opportunity to catch up with Tony DiTommaso who heads up the IGT PlaySports Trading Advisory Team to get his take on the role and popularity of prop bets in the Big Game, and how his team’s efforts have helped IGT PlaySports become a top B2B sports betting technology and service provider in the US.

“There are many aspects of the Super Bowl that make it a hyper-engaging sports wagering event,” shared DiTommaso. “Yes, the public’s passion for football and the sheer volume of bets placed on the big game make it extraordinary, but the tradition of vast prop betting menus creates a very social betting experience unlike any other.”

DiTommaso, an industry veteran with more than three decades’ experience in oddsmaking, applies his expertise to help IGT PlaySports customers such as Oneida Casino in Wisconsin, Resorts World in Las Vegas, Snoqualmie Casino in Washington State and countless others maximize their revenues and enhance player acquisition and retention. In our chat, he identified several high-interest Super Bowl prop betting trends and shared some relevant historical data.

“What position will score the first touchdown? Which team will score first? In which half will more points be scored? How many passing yards will each quarterback get? These are some of the more traditional props that we see in the Super Bowl each year,” added DiTommaso.

“What’s great about these props is that they appeal to everyone, novice to experienced bettors. Additionally, should the game be a blowout, these props keep fans engaged until the final whistle. Many people would be shocked to learn how many wagers are placed each year on the coin toss alone.”

DiTommaso went on the share some insightful Super Bowl outcome trends from the recent past:

  • The favorite team has covered the spread three of the last five Super Bowls
  • The last three Super Bowls have gone under the points total (27-27 overall)
  • The second half of the game has produced more points than the first half in 17 of the last 22 Super Bowls
  • The team wearing white jerseys is 35-20, including 13-3 in the last 16 Super Bowls.
  • The team that scores first has gone on to win the Lombardi Trophy on 36 occasions, including seven of the last nine Super Bowls

As for those first touchdowns in recent Super Bowl history, here’s what DiTommaso had to share: 

  • 21 — Scored by wide receivers
  • 21 – Scored by running backs
  • 10- Scored by quarterbacks or tight ends
  • 3 – Scored by defense or special teams

He also noted that there is a history of Super Bowl favorites being overvalued in early days. He pointed out that over the years, the favorite team has a win/loss record of 36-19, but a record of 28-25-2 when it comes to covering the spread. Some players are savvy to this and wait for what industry insiders call “the fade,” when the spread is sometimes adjusted.

Despite all the fun and hype of prop betting’s prime time, DiTommaso was quick to remind that it’s the straight and future bets that will most significantly impact a sportsbook’s performance on Super Bowl weekend: “Props are the sizzle, straight and future bets are the steak. The books have been managing and accounting for the future bets all season, but we’ll all have our final win/loss ledger on Feb. 13.

“I know that the entire IGT PlaySports team, including our Trading Advisory Services team members, are really energized by the Rams and Bengals match-up on Sunday and are committed to helping our customers maximize this high-excitement, high-traffic sports betting weekend.”