Eagles victory clinches high payout for bettors following Super Bowl LIX

Top sportsbook operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics had to watch on as the most popular bets for the big game continued to hit despite the lopsided final score.

Following the conclusion of Super Bowl LIX, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in a lopsided 40-22 victory, many of the top sportsbooks across the US took quite the hit after it was reported that the majority of wagers were placed on Philadelphia leading up to the big game. 

Each of DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics sportsbooks released data that revealed which team generated the most handle in the days prior to Super Bowl LIX, with FanDuel reporting a 19% increase in total wagers compared to February 2024. The American Gaming Association (AGA) predicted that nearly $1.4bn would be wagered on Super Bowl LIX, which exceeded the $1.25bn mark set during last year’s event. 

“No single event unites sports fans like the Super Bowl, and that excitement extends to sports betting, with this year’s record legal handle reflecting its widespread appeal,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said. 

“This figure underscores the positive impact of the legal market, from protecting consumers to generating tax revenue that benefits communities across the country, while enhancing the game experience for all.”

In the early stages of the matchup, it appeared as if the house was well on its way to a large payday from bettors, as Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, the most popular pick to win Super Bowl LIX Most Valuable Player (MVP), failed to generate major production against a stout Kansas City defensive line. To generate even more confidence from operators, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was held without a catch through the entire first half, as many bettors had belief Kelce would hit the over on his receiving props, which Fanatics reported was one of the most popular bets in same game parlays (SGPs). 

With Barkley and Kelce held under check, the likelihood of bettors gaining the upper hand on operators appeared nearly impossible, especially as Kansas City generated zero points prior to halftime, leading many to believe the under 48.5-point total was bound to hit as well. FanDuel stated that the majority of its over/under handle had bettors favoring a high-scoring affair, while DraftKings and Fanatics were also watching with the hopes of an uneventful second half. 

Unfortunately for operators, both franchises had other plans, as a whopping 38 points would be scored in the second half, which also led to a number of prop bets cashing for bettors. A last-minute 50-yard touchdown pass from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes not only cashed his over on passing yards, but also paid out a number of wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s props as well. 

FanDuel reported an eight-leg SGP that included Mahomes to throw two or more passing touchdowns, Worthy to record a 30-plus-yard reception and DeAndre Hopkins to score a touchdown, all of which hit in the final three minutes of the game. The SGP had odds of +76026, leading to a payout of over $7,600 and representing just one of the 16.6m bets placed on FanDuel for Super Bowl LIX. 

The over 48.5 points was also cashed in the final moments of Super Bowl LIX, as the touchdown to Hopkins shifted the point total from 46 to 52 with just 2:54 remaining on the game clock. Fanatics sportsbook reported that 77% of the total handle and 74% of bets were placed on the over 48.5-point total, with the final touchdown to Worthy also helping to eclipse Mahomes’ combined passing and rushing total. The line originally opened at 49.5 but dropped as operators seemed to believe bettors would favor the under given that both the Chiefs and Eagles were set to feature two of the strongest defensive units in football. 

Good to know: Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens stated exclusively to Gaming America that the majority of wagers placed on Circa Sports had also favored Philadelphia as of February 6

Despite Barkley failing to take home the MVP award for Super Bowl LIX, FanDuel reported that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was the second most popular bet for MVP and Fanatics stated that Hurts was the highest-wagered player by bet count. On a positive note for operators, Barkley also represented one of the highest, if not the most, bet players in SGPs and to score a touchdown at any time. DraftKings even saw two wagers of $100 or more for either Jalen Carter or AJ Brown to win MVP, but also reported that two bettors saw payouts of $85k and $198k following the Eagles victory. 

Fanatics would also go on to include that 53% of the moneyline and 54% of total bets were placed on the Eagles to defeat the Chiefs, while 56% of the handle and 43% of bets had Philadelphia covering the one-point spread. The spread had originally opened at -2 in favor of Kansas City, but was forced down to one-point after the amount of confidence placed in Philadelphia by bettors. Even with the majority of handle and moneyline supporting the Eagles, Fanatics reported that only New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, North Carolina and Louisiana favored the Eagles out of the 20-plus states where the operator is currently live. 

The three operators which reported data were not the only sportsbooks forced to watch as bettors cashed in on the big game, as BetMGM reported numerous wagers of $800k or more that had the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX, while Caesars had to pay out a Philadelphia wager of $250k. The matchup between Kansas City and Philadelphia was certainly not the entertaining slugfest many expected, but Super Bowl LIX resulted in not only a massive victory for the Eagles, but also quite the payday for bettors as many of the most popular wagers cashed in the final moments. 

With the 2024-2025 NFL season now completed, operators can begin shifting attention towards active sports such as the NBA and NHL, as well as the MLB season quickly approaching at the end of March. NFL futures were also made available at nearly the exact moment Super Bowl LIX hit triple zeroes on the game clock, meaning bettors can already start looking ahead towards next fall when players take the field once again. 

Kirk Geller

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