Millions Expected To Bet On NFL
38 million Americans will place a wager on an NFL game this season, according to the American Gaming Association. The rapid expansion of legal sports betting allows for immensely more opportunities to put a little, or a lot of money on the line. While 7 million of those wagers are made at a casino, tens of millions of bets are made between friends, within pools or squares contests, or placed online.
“During this centennial NFL season, more Americans than ever before can wager on football in safe, well-regulated environments,” said Bill Miller, AGA’s president and chief executive officer. “It is clear that as jurisdictions enact policies to provide a legal alternative to the dangerous illegal market, consumers follow suit and seek the protections they deserve.”
The survey also found that nearly one-in-four (24%) American adults say they would place a bet on the NFL if it was legal in their state. As legal sports betting expands, fan engagement with NFL games will see an impact:
- 39 percent of avid NFL fans plan to place a bet on the NFL this season.
- 75 percent of NFL bettors say they are more likely to watch a game they bet on.
- 28 percent are more likely to attend a game they have bet on.
- 51 percent are more likely to watch pregame shows and commentary.
- 63 percent are more likely to gather with friends or family to watch a game.
“Sports betting clearly impacts fans’ enthusiasm for engaging with the NFL. As the legal market grows, it is imperative for gaming and adjacent industries to focus on implementing and promoting legal sports betting responsibly to protect consumers and ensure the viability of legal markets to the continued detriment of illegal operators,” Miller added.
Among NFL fans, the New England Patriots are the favorite to win the Super Bowl (23 percent), followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (8 percent), Dallas Cowboys (7 percent) and New Orleans Saints (6 percent).