As the world prepares to enjoy America’s most watched sporting spectacle, the Super Bowl LVIII showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the gambling world is following keenly. According to a new report by the American Gaming Association (AGA), the fifty-eighth edition of the Super Bowl will attract roughly 68 million American bettors. This accounts for nearly 26% of the American adult population, which is expected to wager a whopping $23.1 billion on the sporting event hailed as the pinnacle of American football.

Based on AGA’s predictions of the Super Bowl betting figures, the estimated 67.8 million American bettors represent a 35% increase from the number recorded last year. Additionally, the $23.1 billion expected to be spent on Super Bowl bets this year will also be a significant improvement to the $16 billion wagered during the fifty-seventh edition of the Super Bowl. Regarding the Super Bowl LVIII outcome, 47% of the bettors intend to wager on a Kansas City Chiefs win, while 44% will put their money on the San Francisco 49ers.

The AGA attributed the expected improved figures to the expansion of legal sports wagering across the country. The regulator surveyed a sample population of 2204 adults and concluded that 42.7 million American adults plan to place their Super Bowl LVIII wagers at online platforms, retail sportsbooks, or with a bookie. This represents a 41% jump compared to last year’s figures for the Super Bowl LVII. On the other hand, 36.5 million people say they will wager casually with their family and friends, a 32% increase from 2023.

In a big win for the AGA and extensively for the gambling community around the US, the AGA projects that more and more American bettors are embracing the legal wagering market. According to the American gambling industry trade body, 28.7 million adults, which is 11% of the adult population, are planning to wager via a regulated US sportsbook.

Player Protection Top of the AGA’s Priorities

The AGA’s CEO and President, Bill Miller expressed delight in the results of the latest survey by the association. Be that as it may, the head of America’s premier trade body opined that now more than ever, the player’s interests should be carefully catered to without compromise.

As such, the AGA intends to continue with its player protection programs, primarily focusing on its responsible gambling tools. Passing this message, CEO Miller said in part:

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“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 US gaming industry… 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.”

In line with that, the survey shows that the responsible gambling message fronted by the AGA is gaining traction as time goes by. For instance, the vast majority of Super Bowl LVIII prospective bettors, more specifically 75%, have reported seeing a responsible gambling message in the lead-up to the epic event. This represents a 4% rise from last year’s Super Bowl. On a broader scale, 47% of American gamblers have reported coming into contact with a responsible gambling message in the past year, a notable uptick from last year’s 40%.

The Super Bowl will, of course, be graced by CEO Bob Miller, who will be joined by former NFL running back and current on-air personality for Fox Sports Mark Valentino Ingram II. The duo will be speaking on the gradual expansion of legal sports wagering in the country and the importance of responsible play, even as legal sports wagering continues to be unlocked in many US jurisdictions.

At the time of this writing, sports wagering is legal in 38 states and Washington DC, meaning that 67% of the American adult population have access to legal betting means. Speaking on the upcoming Super Bowl LVIII and his co-appearance with Bob Miller, Mark Ingram II said:

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“The thrill of the game and the passion of the fans are what make sports so rewarding and fun. Legalized sports betting builds on this excitement. That’s why I’m thrilled to partner with the American Gaming Association to encourage fans, whether it’s during the big game or throughout the year, to keep it social and wager responsibly.”

NFL Professionals Strictly Prohibited From Betting on the Super Bowl

While the rest of the country and fans anticipate Super Bowl wagering, NFL professionals are prohibited from wagering on the event. This has been a rule that has existed for quite some time now. And if the NFL professionals needed a reminder, they got it when the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo to all 32 teams in the NFL, reinforcing the league’s strict position on gambling.

The memo in question detailed that any kind of wagering by the professionals on the 32 teams is illegal. This prohibition also extends to squares, pools, or any other contests of a similar manner. Pro NFL players are only allowed to walk through sportsbooks on condition that they are accessing an adjacent space that isn’t off-limits as per the league’s rules. The memo also exclusively warned against sharing insider information.

Non-player personnel of the 32 NFL teams will be allowed to participate in casino wagering, including table games, slot machines, and other games, provided they do so during their off hours. Typically, non-player professionals are always also banned from everything about gambling, including casino gambling, but this is an exception that only applies to the Super Bowl week. Players of the NFL teams, except the two that will be clashing in the Super Bowl, can also participate in casino games.