Super Bowl LVIII Breaks Betting Records in Nevada
Super Bowl LVIII was not only a thrilling game on the field, but it also made history in terms of betting. The Nevada Gaming Control Board revealed that a staggering $185.6 million was wagered across 182 legal sportsbooks in the state, breaking the previous record of $179.8 million set in Super Bowl LVI. This news comes as no surprise considering the immense popularity of the annual championship game.
The enormity of this year’s Super Bowl was further highlighted by CBS Sports’ estimation that a record-breaking 123.4 million people tuned in to watch the game across their family of networks and streaming services. This makes it the most-watched program in television history, surpassing last year’s record of 115.1 million views. While Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated halftime show may have contributed to the ratings success, there were several factors that played a role in the record-breaking betting figures.
According to NGCB senior economic analyst Michael Lawton, there were multiple elements that worked in favor of the high betting numbers. Firstly, the San Francisco 49ers being from the “No. 2 feeder market for Las Vegas” attracted a significant number of wagers. Additionally, the defending champions, Kansas City Chiefs, generated considerable interest from bettors. Lastly, the fact that the game was played in Las Vegas itself drew people to the city to be part of the Super Bowl experience.
It is important to note that these figures solely represent bets placed in Nevada. With sports betting legalized in 38 states and Washington D.C., it is expected that we will see record-breaking numbers nationwide for both the Super Bowl and the entire month of February.
States like New Jersey and New York consistently set records every month for their sports betting handle. Although these two states are far ahead in terms of yearly intake, the other top 10 states also oversee billions of dollars in wagering.
One notable company that experienced record-breaking success during the Super Bowl was FanDuel. The popular sports betting platform reported a whopping 14 million Super Bowl bets, amounting to $307 million. This set a new record for FanDuel and marked a significant 40 percent increase compared to the previous year.
It is evident that Super Bowl LVIII left a lasting impact not only on the field but also in the world of sports betting. With the popularity of legal wagering growing across the country, it is safe to say that future Super Bowls will continue to shatter records as fans eagerly participate in the excitement both on and off the field.