Americans are preparing to stake unprecedented sums on Super Bowl LX, with legal wagers projected to surge by nearly 30% compared to last year's figures. The upcoming championship clash between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8 is expected to generate a record-breaking betting handle exceeding $1.7 billion.
Record Forecasts from Industry Analysts
The American Gaming Association announced its official forecast on Friday, predicting that $1.76 billion will be legally wagered through state and tribal-regulated sportsbooks, both in physical casinos and online platforms. This substantial figure represents a significant 26.6 percent increase over last year's $1.39 billion legal handle, highlighting the rapid expansion of regulated sports betting across the United States.
Other industry analysts have released slightly varying projections. A joint analysis conducted by the Sports Betting Alliance and Legal Sports Report earlier this week estimated the Super Bowl betting handle at $1.71 billion, while market research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming provided a more conservative estimate of $1.6 billion. Despite these minor discrepancies, all forecasts point toward a new record for legal sports betting on America's premier sporting event.
Expanding Legal Framework Fuels Growth
Legal sports betting has now expanded to 39 states and Washington D.C., creating a robust framework that continues to drive market growth. The AGA's comprehensive estimate specifically includes wagers placed through state and tribal-regulated sportsbooks, but notably excludes bets placed on prediction-market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, which operate under federal rather than state regulation.
Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO, emphasised the cultural significance of this development: "No single event brings fans together like the Super Bowl, and this record figure shows just how much Americans enjoy sports betting as part of the experience. By choosing legal, regulated sportsbooks, fans are having fun while supporting a safe and responsible market."
Diverging Perspectives Between Betting Platforms
Research conducted by the AGA reveals significant differences in how users perceive various betting platforms. The study found that 28 percent of prediction market users view their activity as investing rather than gambling, compared with just 9 percent of traditional sportsbook bettors. This distinction is further emphasised by the finding that 31 percent of prediction market users report exposure to trading-as-investing messaging, versus only 7 percent of sportsbook users.
Additionally, the research indicates that 25 percent of prediction market users fund their wagers from investment budgets, compared with 9 percent of sportsbook users. Perhaps most concerning is the disparity in access to responsible gaming tools, with only 28 percent of prediction market users reporting that such tools were easy to find, compared with 58 percent of sportsbook users.
Beyond Traditional Wagering: The Rise of Proposition Bets
Modern Super Bowl betting extends far beyond traditional wagers on scores and player statistics. While most unconventional proposition bets remain unavailable on regulated U.S. sportsbooks, bettors can find them in Ontario or on offshore, unregulated platforms.
This year's unusual wagers include:
- Which Bay Area landmark appears first on television - the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz Island
- Whether famous songs like "Sweet Caroline" will play during the telecast
- The precise length of the national anthem performance
- Whether any player or coach cries during the anthem
- The colour of the Gatorade poured on the winning coach after the game
Even more unconventional bets, sometimes only available in online markets, cover quirky on-field scenarios including whether there will be a safety, if there's a two-point conversion attempt, or bizarre combinations like an "octopus" - which involves a player scoring both a touchdown and the subsequent two-point conversion.
As legal sports betting continues its expansion across American states, Super Bowl LX represents both a cultural milestone and a financial phenomenon, with millions of Americans integrating sports wagering into their championship viewing traditions while regulatory frameworks evolve to accommodate this growing industry.
