Super Bowl LX on Sunday is poised to prompt an abundance of wagering in North America, and payments company Paysafe is providing data on what we should expect.
Paysafe published its All the Ways Players Pay: Super Bowl report, providing an outlook on how Super Bowl LX will be received by football fans and bettors across the country. The company surveyed roughly 3,000 people who were aged 21 or older in both the U.S. and Canada to provide an outlook on expected engagement and wagering activity during Sunday’s matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
Paysafe’s report found an increase in expected television engagement, as well as a surge in projected wagering activity in regulated online sports betting markets in the U.S. The Big Game is expected to garner roughly $1.5 billion in wagers in the U.S., Citizens Equity Research analyst Jordan Bender estimates in a report obtained by SBC Americas.
Out of the 3,000 people Paysafe surveyed for its report, approximately 50% of respondents plan to wager on Super Bowl LX. New Yorkers lead the group with 65% of the state’s respondents planning to place an online bet with a state-licensed operator.
First-time bettors expected for Super Bowl LX
Super Bowl LX obviously will draw strong wagering interest from existing sports bettors, but first-time bettors are also showcasing a desire to get in on the action this weekend. Paysafe’s report found that 51% of fans in regulated markets plan to place bets online or via an app, including 31% who will bet for the very first time.
The desire for novice bettors to bet on the game presents new opportunities for operators.
“For sportsbooks, this influx of first-time bettors represents more than short-term volume; it is an opportunity to establish trust and build long-term relationships through seamless onboarding and reliable payment experiences,” reads Paysafe’s report.
Florida, which became a regulated online sports wagering market in 2023, is expected to draw the most first-time bettors in the U.S. at 31%, while Ontario’s projection sits at 33%. Florida is home to only one online sports wagering operator, Hard Rock Bet.
People in non-regulated markets want to bet
Paysafe also surveyed North American sports fans in non-regulated sports betting markets, including California, Texas and Alberta, the latter of which has legalized online sports wagering and is preparing to launch its market later this year. More than half (52%) expressed interest in betting on the Big Game despite not having access to regulated sportsbooks.
Out of the respondents in non-regulated states, 91% said betting would make watching Super Bowl LX a better experience. California, a state with a population of roughly 39.3 million, reported the highest rate of betting interest at 60%, followed by Alberta at 49% and Texas not far behind at 48%.
“Legalization would do more than unlock betting; it would transform the Super Bowl experience for millions of fans,” continued the report. “The Super Bowl may be a single day, but for prospective markets, it signals a long-term shift; one in which payments, trust, and user experience will define success from the outset.”
Paysafe’s report is an indicator of the viability of the Super Bowl for not only media and TV companies but also key stakeholders who have solidified a footprint in the gaming industry.
Paysafe joins online gaming trade group
As Paysafe continues to share the latest data on engagement in the payment space, it also provides solutions for brands that offer sweepstakes and social gaming. Last month, Paysafe joined the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) as its newest member.
Paysafe is the second payments provider to join the SGLA, following Canadian firm Nuvei. Paysafe, which provides services to bet365, Jackpocket and Betfair, joins an SGLA membership that also includes Virtual Gaming Worlds, Playstudios and ARB Interactive.
