Nevada sportsbooks celebrated a record-breaking win during Super Bowl LIX, despite experiencing a dip in the total amount wagered. In February 2023, bettors placed $151.6 million on the NFL championship game, marking the lowest figure since 2021. However, sportsbooks emerged victorious with a net gain of $22.1 million, the highest ever recorded by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. This win surpassed the previous record of $19.7 million set during Super Bowl XLVIII.
The Philadelphia Eagles' surprising 40-22 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs played a pivotal role in the sportsbooks' success. As 1.5-point underdogs, the Eagles' win contributed significantly to Nevada's record earnings. Although the total wagered did not exceed last year's all-time record, Super Bowl LIX still stood out as BetMGM's largest betting event in history.
"Super Bowl LIX was the single biggest betting event in the history of BetMGM," – Christian Cipollini.
Several factors influenced the lower wagering total this year. The absence of the game at Allegiant Stadium and the lack of participation from a neighboring California team were significant contributors.
"Obviously not having the game at Allegiant [Stadium] was a contributing factor in addition to not having a team from neighboring California play in the game like last year." – Michael Lawton.
The betting patterns were relatively balanced between fans of the Eagles and the Chiefs, yet sportsbooks capitalized on player prop bets. One notable example involved Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley, whose failure to score a touchdown proved advantageous for sportsbooks.
"Barkley was the most popular [same game parlay] leg and did not see the end zone," – Joey Feazel.
In contrast to Nevada's decrease in wagers, New Jersey sportsbooks reported $168.7 million in Super Bowl bets, reflecting a 19% increase from last year. This disparity highlights regional differences in betting behaviors and outcomes.
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