Forecasts indicate that U.S. citizens will bet an unprecedented $1.76 billion on Super Bowl LX, as reported by the American Gaming Association (AGA).
This represents nearly a 27% increase over the previous year, with the estimate focusing solely on bets placed through legally sanctioned sportsbooks in the U.S. These legal sportsbooks are available in 39 states along with the District of Columbia. The AGA derived its estimation from public records sourced from state gaming regulatory bodies.
“No event unites sports fans quite like the Super Bowl, and this record projection reflects the significant enjoyment that Americans derive from sports wagering as part of the occasion,” stated Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO. “By opting for legally regulated sportsbooks, fans are not only having fun but also contributing to a safe and responsible betting ecosystem.”
Earlier this week, the Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), in collaboration with the gaming news outlet Legal Sports Report, presented a similar forecast, anticipating that approximately $1.71 billion will be wagered on the Super Bowl. The SBA represents major online sportsbook operators in the U.S., such as bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel.
Conversely, some analysts anticipate a decline in betting interest for this year’s Super Bowl. Jordan Bender, an equity research analyst at Citizens, predicts a 2% decrease in Super Bowl betting activity at U.S. sportsbooks due to a less compelling matchup and the growing influence of prediction markets, which is exerting pressure on the legal betting landscape.
Moreover, the AGA disclosed new research highlighting the potential confusion created by prediction markets, which characterize sports betting as a form of investment rather than mere entertainment, raising concerns about the marketing strategies of these products and the insufficient availability of responsible gaming tools.
According to the study, 78% of bettors involved with sports event contracts believe that state regulators could mediate disputes on their platforms, although prediction markets function outside the regulatory framework governing state sportsbooks.
The AGA’s findings reveal that users engaged with sports event contracts are significantly more inclined than traditional sportsbook clients to perceive their betting activities as investment opportunities. Approximately 28% of prediction-market participants view their involvement as investing, compared to only 9% of those using sportsbooks.
Further insights indicate that 31% of sports event contract bettors have stated that platform messaging aligns trading activities with investing, versus just 7% among sportsbook users, while 25% reported sourcing funds for wagers from their investment budgets, in contrast to 9% for sportsbook patrons. Despite these perspectives, 58% of sports event contract users still classify their actions as gambling, revealing lingering skepticism about investment-like marketing approaches.
Concerns about consumer protections were also noted, with only 28% of sports event contract bettors mentioning that responsible gaming tools were readily accessible, in comparison to 58% of sportsbook users.
“This research underscores the essential role of state- and tribal-regulated sportsbooks, which provide rigorous oversight and consumer protection mechanisms that prediction markets do not offer,” remarked Miller.