American Gaming Association (AGA) leaders are expecting record-breaking NFL betting this season. They project that bettors ultimately will bet about $30 billion on the league. This figure is an 8.5% increase over last year’s $27.5 billion estimate. And indeed, the growth of sports betting—particularly on the NFL—has been nothing short of explosive. This increase comes on the heels of a rapid expansion of legal betting markets across the U.S.
The take, or betting activity, is booming! Today, thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia provide access to regulated, legal betting markets via in-person and online sportsbooks. In 2024, DraftKings experienced more wagers on the NFL than all other leagues combined. That’s remarkable, given that the NFL played far fewer games overall than either the NBA or Major League Baseball. Americans are increasingly staking money not only through traditional sportsbooks but via daily fantasy sites, sweepstakes operators, and prediction markets.
Prediction markets have become all the rage recently. Consumers can now speculate on the collective market’s understanding of sports outcomes in the same way they would purchase and sell shares of stock. A spokesperson for Kalshi, one of the most popular prediction market sites, recently trumpeted that 80% of the time. This year, $62.5 million has already been wagered on the NFL. As viewership evolves, fans are hungrier than ever for innovative ways to connect with the sport. This trend illustrates a higher demand for alternative betting formats.
The rapid expansion of sports betting has sparked worries about gambling-related harassment and other behaviors. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, “estimates of prevalence measurements for risky gambling behaviors are plateauing.” This is down after a marked rise between 2018 and 2021. Much of this growth can be accounted for by the explosion of legalized sports betting taking root across the United States at that time.
As more people participate in sports betting, the online harassment of bettors towards athletes, coaches, and officials is increasing. Unfortunately, this disturbing trend has become all too routine. Yet both sports leagues and players’ unions have acknowledged a recent rise in intimidating behavior. This increase has prompted debate and comment about the need for more extensive protections to be implemented across the industry.
It’s important to understand that $30 billion estimate includes all legal and illegal wagers. This covers futures bets, such as those made to predict Super Bowl winners, and individual game bets placed during the preseason in advance of Super Bowl LX. This comprehensive approach reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry as it adapts to the evolving landscape of sports wagering.
Leave a Reply