Study: Illegal Markets Expected to Dominate $6.4 Billion in Super Bowl Sports Betting

Just hours before kickoff, numerous studies and surveys highlight the massive scale of Super Bowl betting.

Record Betting Projected from Legal Sportsbooks

Gambling Capital, a leading provider of global sports betting market data, projects a record $1.6 billion in wagers from licensed sportsbooks across the U.S. New York is expected to surpass Nevada in handle, with an estimated $181 million compared to Nevada’s $177 million.

Yield Sec estimates that total online wagers by Americans will reach a staggering $6.4 billion, with a significant majority (75%, or $4.8 billion) flowing to illegal online sports betting operators. [Learn more about the impact of illegal betting on the sports industry]

Legal Betting on Super Bowl LIX

The American Gaming Association estimates that Americans will wager a record $1.39 billion legally on Super Bowl LIX.

BetMGM commented, “As Super Bowl bets continue to pour in, we’re keenly watching the game’s outcome while also anticipating exciting events like a red/pink Gatorade bath, Saquon Barkley’s performance, and strong defensive play.”

Organizations like the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) are using the Super Bowl as an opportunity to raise awareness about consumer protection in gambling. In a recent statement, CFG commissioned Yield Sec to analyze online betting trends for this year’s Super Bowl.

Dominance of Illegal Betting Operators

Yield Sec projects that $4.8 billion of the total $6.4 billion in online wagers will go to illegal operators, while legal operators will capture $1.6 billion. This equates to an estimated 429 million bets placed on the game.

Derek Webb, Founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, emphasized the importance of understanding the entire online gambling market. “Yield Sec‘s ability to estimate both legal and illegal participation is crucial. This report demonstrates the continued growth of the illegal industry and highlights potential misrepresentations about the benefits of legalization. This has significant implications for the American economy and consumers.”

Illegal operators gain an advantage by offering novelty bets – such as