Nearly 68M Americans expected to bet on Super Bowl

A record number of nearly 68 million Americans are expected to bet on the Super Bowl this coming Sunday, according to a new estimate.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimated that 67.8 million American adults are planning on placing bets on the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, according to a new survey. The Super Bowl will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, which is the first time the venue has hosted the big game.

The number of Americans planning on betting on next week’s game is up 35 percent from 2023, the AGA predicted. Overall, those placing bets are expected to wager an estimated $23.1 billion, which is up from $16 billion last year, according to AGA.

This jump in likely Super Bowl wagers comes as legal sports betting has become more widespread throughout the United States after a 2018 Supreme Court ruling struck down a law banning the practice. According to the AGA, 38 states and the District of Columbia have allowed some form of sports betting, with 29 of those states allowing online wagering.

“As the Super Bowl comes to Las Vegas for the first time, this year’s record interest in wagering marks a full circle moment for the U.S. gaming industry,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement.

“Our priority remains getting this opportunity right by providing the consumer protections only a regulated market can guarantee and investing in responsible gambling tools, safeguards and education,” he continued.

The AGA estimated 42.7 million Americans plan to place a “traditional sports wager online, at a retail sportsbook or with a bookie.” AGA also predicted 36.5 million are planning to bet casually with friends or in a pool contest.

AGA noted Americans are planning to shift to the legal market of sports betting, estimating about 28.7 million adults are planning to place online bets using a legal U.S. sportsbook.

Respondents were split on which team to back for the Super Bowl, with 47 percent likely going to bet on the Chiefs and 44 percent likely backing the 49ers.

The survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the AGA. It was conducted between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 among 2,204 adults and has a margin of error of 2 percentage points.