The 2020 Super Bowl is set to take the US by storm, with the American Gaming Association stressing that approximately 26 million punters across the country are set to place a wager on the NFL showpiece.
Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will contest the championship game, with the AGA estimating that in the region of $6.8bn will be wagered. PlayUSA has backed up these numbers, stressing that legal online and retain sportsbooks across the country will take in $400m in total bets for Super Bowl LIV.
Findings from the AGA survey, conducted by Morning Consult, suggests that more than one-in-ten American adults plan to bet on the event, with close to four million set to do so via a brick-and-mortar entity, a 25 per cent increase from the previous year.
Nearly five million will place a bet through an online or mobile platform, either through a licensed, legal operator or an illegal offshore book, a 19 percent increase from last year.
It was also noted that 52 per cent say they will bet on the Kansas City Chiefs, while 48 per cent will bet on the San Francisco 49ers.
“With 14 operational markets and another seven close behind, Americans have never before had so many opportunities to wager on the Super Bowl in a safe and legal manner, and clearly, they are getting in on the action,” stated Bill Miller, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. “With increased visitation to legal sportsbooks, we are successfully drawing bettors away from the predatory illegal market.”
As viewership continues to rise year-on-year, the NFL is set to earn in the region of $2.3bn annually thanks to increased fan engagement from sports betting.
Among its things to consider, PlayUSA stressed that thirteen states, namely Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Oregon, Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New York, represent a combined population of 70 million and will offer a means to place a legal bet on this year’s Super Bowl.
With eight of those, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Rhode Island, West Virginia and Oregon, offering both online and retail sports betting.
“With the proliferation of legal sports betting across the US, there is no doubt that this will be a record year for legal bets on the Super Bowl,” added Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayUSA.com.
“An interesting match-up that is nearly a pick ’em will help spur action, too. As a result, records in states such as Nevada and New Jersey, where both online and retail sports betting were legal for last year’s game, are also in jeopardy.”
