For the fifth time in six years, the Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl. And for the second time, they are matched with a previous opponent. Two years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles played the Chiefs in the Jason and Travis Kelce Bowl, and it was one of the best Super Bowls in recent years. But for the casual football fan who doesn’t cheer for either the Chiefs or Eagles, this matchup was well down on the list of desirable games.
The casual football fan may need some work over the next two weeks to get properly excited for Super Bowl LIX, but that is not a worry for NFL bettors. More Americans have access to legal and regulated sports betting than for any previous Super Bowl, and more than $1.5 billion is expected to be wagered on Super Bowl Sunday.
That is an expected 15% increase over last year’s $1.3 billion legally wagered on Super Bowl LXIII. The overall handle, which includes all Super Bowl LIX wagers (legal and otherwise), is expected to pass $25 billion.
The money is increasing each year as more American adults get involved with sports wagering. In 2019, the first Super Bowl played after the United States Supreme Court struck down a law that prohibited sports betting, 22.7 million Americans placed a Super Bowl bet. Last year, a total of 67.8 million Americans placed at least one wager on Super Bowl LVIII.
Nevada Losing Sports Betting Crown
If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas for the NCAA Tournament, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, or the Super Bowl, there is nothing quite like it. Seat reservations at the more popular sportsbooks can run into the thousands, and high-end add-ons like all-day bottle service can make a day at a sportsbook feel like an evening at a top nightclub.
Last year’s Super Bowl was in Las Vegas, which enhanced the experience of being in the city that Sunday. But with the game in New Orleans this time around, and in a stadium sponsored by Caesars, the daily handle is likely to shift.
Considering the growth of the New York market over the past year, the Empire State is predicted to handle $192 million in legal Super Bowl bets. Last year, Nevada was the top Super Bowl market, surpassing $186 million. But without the game in town, that is expected to dip.
Nevada is predicted to come in second, with New Jersey handling the third-most wagers. The Garden State will be aided by the Eagles playing in the Super Bowl, as will sportsbooks in Pennsylvania. Online sports betting has been legal in Louisiana for three years, with nine online sportsbooks and another 19 brick-and-mortar sports betting facilities operating in the state. You can bet on Super Bowl LIX in 55 of the 64 parishes in the state.
The game kicks off at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, February 9, at 6:30 p.m. ET.
With over 25 years of experience as a distinguished sports writer for renowned platforms such as Fox Sports and ESPN, Kyle Garlett is a sports betting specialist who has been at the forefront of documenting the global surge in sports betting and online gaming. Based in Denver, Colorado, Kyle hosts an NFL betting YouTube show and podcast. Kyle also has two sports books published by HarperCollins.
Kyle graduated the Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a B.A. Degree in Communication and Journalism.
