AGA Predicts Record Super Bowl Betting
Author:
Megan Butler
A record showing of 50.4 million Americans are expected to place bets worth up to an estimated $16 billion on the upcoming Super Bowl LVII on February 12th, 2023, according to the latest statistics coming in from the American Gaming Association (AGA). Roughly 20% of American adults will place at least one bet on the big game.
50.4 million Americans are expected to place bets worth upwards of $16 billion on the Super Bowl LVII on February 12th, 2023, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). ?KeithJJ/Pixabay
Widespread Legalization of Sports Betting Across the United States is Large Driving Factor, says AGA
As per the latest round of survey statistics from the American Gaming Association (AGA), a new all-time high record of 50.4 million Americans are expected to wager an astounding $16 billion on the upcoming Super Bowl LVII National Football League (NFL) game on Sunday, February 12th, 2023.
According to a national sample consisting of 2,199 adults, the AGA revealed that as much as 20% of American adults will put down at least one bet on the forthcoming game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
This number would stand as a 61% increase on the last all-time high record, which was set just last year in 2022. The American Gaming Association (AGA) also asserted that the amount wagered by players will likely more than double compared to last year’s amount.
Breaking down the adults expected to place bets on the game: 30 million will place a more traditional-style sports bet online, at a retail sportsbook, or with a bookie, which is an increase of 66% compared to last year, while 28 million will bet informally with friends or as part of a pool or squares contest, which in and of itself is still a 50% rise on 2022’s showing.
As is perhaps unsurprising, the AGA reminded observers that the widespread legalization of sports betting across the United States is also a large driving force behind increased fan interest in the NFL. 34% of fans said that the broadening of legal wagering has made watching the NFL a more engaging experience for them. As of writing, as many as 33 states, as well as Washington DC, currently offer legal betting options.
Majority of Super Bowl Bettors Have Been Exposed to Responsible Gambling Messaging This Year
Commenting on the impressive statistics of expected betting behavior during the upcoming Super Bowl 2023 game, American Gaming Association (AGA) president and chief executive Bill Miller explained that the big game is a good litmus test for judging the state of legal sports betting in the country:
“Every year, the Super Bowl serves to highlight the benefits of legal sports betting: bettors are transitioning to the protections of the regulated market, leagues and sports media are seeing increased engagement, and legal operators are driving needed tax revenue to states across the country.”– Bill Miller, President and Chief Executive, American Gaming Association (AGA), Press Release
Worth noting is that 71% of traditional Super Bowl bettors admitted they saw some sort of material promoting safe betting in the last year. The AGA also claimed that younger Americans under the age of 35 years old were more likely to remember being exposed to a responsible gaming message, as well as also considering it paramount to only place bets legally through licensed providers.
Miller went on to provide an encouraging outlook for the future of safe, legal and regulated sports betting in the United States:
“As interest in legal sports betting continues to expand, the gaming industry remains committed to responsibly delivering world class entertainment, educating consumers about how to bet responsibly, and combating illegal gambling as we work to build a safe, competitive and sustainable legal market for all.”
American Gaming Association (AGA) Also Predicted Record Wagers in 2021
Two years ago, at the tail end of 2021, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released findings which indicated that a record 45.2 million Americans planned to wager on the upcoming National Football League (NFL) season at the time.
This was a 36% year-on-year increase, which was also being driven by the still somewhat nascent sports betting legalization drive. Back then, only 26 states, along with Washington D.C., were offering legal sports betting solutions, though a further five states were hoping to join the crowd by the end of the NFL season.
Bill Miller, CEO of the AGA, once again cited the widespread legalization of sports betting as a big reason behind the growing numbers, emphasizing how more Americans already had safe and legal ways to wager on sports than ever:
“Sports betting is more popular than ever among Americans, and the enthusiasm of bettors for the upcoming NFL season highlights the remarkable growth of the industry over the past three years. Importantly, when the 2021 NFL season begins, more than 111m American adults will be able to wager safely with regulated sportsbooks in their home states rather than with the predatory illegal market.”
NBA Hopped On Board AGA’s Responsible Gambling Campaign in February 2023
In other recent American Gaming Association (AGA) news, the National Basketball Association (NBA) revealed in February 2023 that it would be putting its support behind the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly” public service awareness campaign.
Senior vice president and head of gaming and new business ventures at the NBA, Scott Kaufman-Ross, drove home the importance of safer gambling for the league:
“Responsible gaming is an integral component of the NBA’s approach to legal sports betting. Working with the AGA on this initiative is an important part of our multifaceted approach to this critical topic and will provide our teams with tools to make a true impact on responsible gaming education in NBA markets across the US and Canada.”
