A new American Gaming Association survey says that 67.8 million American adults are expected to bet on Super Bowl LVIII, a projected 35% increase from a year ago. Bettors are likely to wager $23.1 billion on this year’s Super Bowl, which is the first to ever take place in Las Vegas.
The survey was conducted by Morning Consult, which surveyed 2,204 adults between Jan. 30-Feb. 1. The survey deems a bettor as anyone who expects to wager using a betting app, bookie, brick-and-mortar sportsbook, pools or squares contest, or casually with family and friends.
The AGA’s survey predicts that 28.7 million Americans will place a bet on the big game using a legal online sportsbook platform. The San Francisco 49ers are currently short favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs on most betting apps, including FanDuel (-2.5). Survey respondents were reasonably split in their betting leans, with 47% saying they expect to wager on the Chiefs and 44% likely to bet on the 49ers.
“As the Super Bowl comes to Las Vegas for the first time, this year’s record interest in wagering marks a full circle moment for the U.S. gaming industry,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement. “Our priority remains getting this opportunity right by providing the consumer protections only a regulated market can guarantee and investing in responsible gambling tools, safeguards and education.”
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With the Super Bowl in Las Vegas for the first time, there’s an increased spotlight on the sports betting industry.
CBS’s 60 Minutes four-part series on sports gambling which also explored problem gambling concerns.
The AGA survey notes the importance of responsible gambling best practices, and it believes responsible gambling messages are reaching customers ahead of this year’s Super Bowl. Last year, 71% of Super Bowl bettors reported seeing a responsible gambling message in the last year. That percentage grew to 75% in this year’s survey.
