Posted on: December 24, 2024, 10:22h.
Last updated on: December 24, 2024, 10:36h.
Although not a typical fight in terms of pure combat, the bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson in November proved lucrative for sportsbooks like BetMGM.
Top Performers Shine
Paul, 27, defeated the 58-year-old Tyson in an eight-round unanimous decision, resulting in record betting figures and high television ratings.
The fight between Paul and Tyson marked the most-bet combat sports event in the history of BetMGM.
Don Forbes, BetMGM’s senior director of sports trading, stated, “Enthusiasm from bettors and new markets led to a record-breaking year at BetMGM — one we will not forget. The NFL continues to dominate, but standout athletes like Jake Paul and Caitlin Clark captured fans’ and bettors’ attention in 2024.”
Super Bowl Attracts Wagers
The BetMGM 2024 Year End report revealed that the showdown between Paul and Tyson was just one highlight in a year of record-breaking performances.
Additionally, Super Bowl LVIII, where the Kansas City Chiefs overcame the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 25-22, attracted the most bets in the history of the sportsbook.
Founded in 2018, BetMGM is a sports betting and iGaming operator based in New Jersey, with operations extending to Ontario as well. The sportsbook launched in Ontario in April 2022, coinciding with the province’s introduction of open, regulated iGaming.
WNBA Popularity Surges
The 2024 MLB World Series champions, the LA Dodgers, faced the New York Yankees in a series that generated the most bets in World Series history. The most-bet WNBA game occurred on July 17 between the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings in a season that brought a surge in WNBA betting.
In college sports, the NCAAW National Championship game on April 7 between Iowa and South Carolina set a new record for the most bets in NCAAW history, highlighting the popularity of the 2023-2024 NCAAW season.
In 2024, the most profitable event for customers was the Detroit Lions’ 52-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 17.
Top Players for Bettors
Wide receiver Allen Lazard of the New York Jets emerged as the most profitable player for customers, followed by Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Mixon of the Bengals and Houston Texans. The top earner for BetMGM was tight end Travis Kelce of the Chiefs, trailed by Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks.
While the NFL season initially had some surprising outcomes benefiting sportsbooks, the balance eventually shifted, leading to a tough Week 6 for bookmakers.
Sportsbook executives anticipated this adjustment, which was demonstrated as six of BetMGM’s top-10 single-game results for bettors occurred during NFL Week 6.
Hockey fans showed their interest as well, with Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers receiving the most bets (both in terms of ticket sales and handle).