
Super Bowl betting handle is on track to eclipse $1.5 billion for the first time in history, according to Legal Sports Report Data and Policy Analyst Eric Ramsey.
In addition to breaking the record for most handle bet on a Super Bowl, Ramsey predicts that Super Bowl 59 has a chance to see New York generate more handle than any other state, including Nevada.
Super Bowl 59 by the numbers
Thirty-eight states; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico allow legal sports betting, whether online, in-person, or both, representing more than 200 million people.
Las Vegas has been the perennial leader in Super Bowl handle, but Ramsey believes New York might unseat Las Vegas this year. He predicts that New York will lead the way this year with $193 million in handle, followed by Nevada ($170 million) and New Jersey ($147 million).
Here are his top 10 states for projected Super Bowl handle this year:
- New York: $183 million
- Nevada: $170 million
- New Jersey: $147 million
- Illinois: $104 million
- Florida: $100 million
- Ohio: $93.9 million
- Pennsylvania: $88.2 million
- Arizona: $67.5 million
- North Carolina: $59.2 million
- Massachusetts: $54.9 million
Ramsey believes that the popularity of players on both teams should help fuel this year’s projected betting totals:
“The broader popularity of the teams and players involved seems to have a bigger impact on the total betting interest than any localized increase from their respective home markets (albeit from a very small set of sample data). The Chiefs and the Eagles happen to be two of the most polarizing teams in the country, with rosters full of the league’s most popular players — Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Saquon Barkley among them.” — Eric Ramsey, Legal Sports Report
Sportsbooks will take whatever advantage they can get, as Ramsey noted that the Super Bowl accounts for as much as 1.25% of a state’s handle in the 12 months leading up to the big game.
Player props predicted to be casual bettors’ favorite type of wager
Ramsey believes that casual bettors will rely on prop bets as they wager on Super Bowl 59. Last year, Kelce anytime touchdown props were the most popular bet. He believes that trend will continue this year, with bettors setting their sights on a Barkley anytime touchdown.
Another favorite bet this year will be parlays, which Ramsey believes will make up at least 25% of Super Bowl betting handle.
Contract-based peer-to-peer trading through platforms such as Crypto.com and Kalshi should increase in popularity, too.