The biggest sporting event of the year in the US, the Super Bowl, is mere days away and research by the American Gaming Association (AGA) shows that Americans have never been more interested in betting on the game. Many plan to do so via legal sports betting operators, some for the very first time.
Super Bowl LVI, which is scheduled for February 14, will see the Los Angeles Rams play the Cincinnati Bengals. Public interest in the game is greater than ever, with a reported 31.4 million Americans expected to place bets on the event.
According to the AGA, this represents a 35% increase in the number of bettors compared to 2021. The amount projected to be wagered is up 78% year-over-year, to $7.61 billion in 2022, up from $3.33 billion in 2021.
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In many ways, the increased numbers have to do with the expansion of legal sports betting in the US, which is now available in 30 states and Washington, DC. Compared to last year, an additional 61 million Americans will have direct access to regulated retail or online sports betting in their state.
The study showed that 18.2 million Americans intend to make a traditional sports bet with an online or retail sportsbook, or with a local bookie, up 78% since last year. A similar number of Americans intend to make casual sports bets with their friends or as part of various pools or contests.
It is also interesting to note that 76% of all those who participated in the poll said they find it important to place their bets with regulated betting operators, a slight increase compared to last year.
“The results are clear: Americans have never been more interested in legal sports wagering,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “The growth of legal options across the country not only protects fans and the integrity of games and bets but also puts illegal operators on notice that their time is limited.”
This is an important statistic for the US sports betting market, which is still fledgling and having serious competition from illegal bookies who used to run the show up until a few years ago.
Currently, some 55% of all Americans say they will back the Rams in the Super Bowl, while the remaining 45% will support the Bengals.
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Betting Responsibly with Legal Bookmakers
With sports betting becoming an increasingly prevalent regulated activity in many states, AGA and other similar organizations have been at the forefront to make sports betting safe for customers.
A variety of responsible betting campaigns have been seen across America over the last year, including AGA’s massive “Have a Plan — Bet Responsibly” campaign, which brought together operators, regulators, and sports teams in promotion of responsible gambling.
AGA’s study on Super Bowl LVI showed that 106 million Americans can recall seeing responsible gambling ads over the last year, a 12% increase compared to 2020 and a clear indicator that the right things are being done to inform the public of the dangers of problem gambling.
With each passing year, the Super Bowl is attracting more and more legal sports bets, diminishing the illegal market and bringing millions of dollars of taxes into the state and federal coffers, while at the same time providing customers with a more professional and reliable service.
