Analysts have projected bettors could place $1bn in wagers at legal online and online retail sportsbooks during Super Bowl LVI. This means wagers could double last year’s Super Bowl handle of more than $500m if sportsbooks reach the projected estimates.
It has also been projected that Nevada will produce the largest Super Bowl handle with $175m. Nevada was the second-largest market in 2021 and historically has been the top Super Bowl market. As a close second, New York could generate $160m. That could generate more betting volume than every legal sportsbook in the US combined to tally for the 2019 game if the estimates come to fruition.
More wagers are placed on the Super Bowl than any other single sporting event in the country. The American Gaming Association estimated that Americans bet $4.3bn on Super Bowl LV, both legally and illegally during 2021.
Sports betting in some form will be legal in 30 states and Washington DC by the time the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals meet for the Super Bowl on February 13.
Those jurisdictions represent more than 166.9 million people, according to the US Census Bureau estimates for 2021. This contrasts with the 120 million people living in 21 legal sports betting jurisdictions during last year’s Super Bowl.
No team from a state with legal sportsbooks has ever played in the Super Bowl. That trend will continue for Super Bowl LVI as Ohio awaits launch sometime over the next year and California lawmakers debate legalization.
