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Bookmakers Review

$35 Billion Expected to Be Bet on the NFL This Season

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A detail of the NFL logo at Soldier Field after the game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers on September 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP.

As the 2024 NFL is underway, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has shared its first-ever estimate for legal betting on the league.

The AGA expects American adults to bet $35 billion this season, up from almost 27 billion in 2023. That would add up to a 30% increase.

This growth is due to the ongoing expansion and development of legal sports betting in the U.S.

Since last season, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont have started new regulated sports betting markets, boosting the industry’s growth.

The NFL is by far the most popular sport for betting, thanks to its wide variety of available props, such as anytime touchdown scorer and yardage bets. You can bet on every facet of the game. This leads to an innate advantage for the savvy bettor.

Additionally, live programming like “RedZone” continues to integrate seamlessly with legal online betting.

Football has been a major driver of increased sportsbook customers and growing revenue in the sports gambling sector. In 2023, around 28% of the adult population in the U.S. bet on the NFL.

Bookmakers report that, on a per-game basis, more bets and more money are wagered on the NFL than any other league. The NFL also attracts the largest bets, with U.S. sportsbooks reporting six- and seven-figure wagers nearly every week.

Public Support for Sports Betting Stronger Than Ever

Meanwhile, as sports betting grows, public support for the industry is also increasing. Recent AGA data shows that 3 in 4 Americans approve of legal, regulated sports betting in their state — up by about 2% from last year.

Here’s what else the data shows:

  • 96% of past-year sports bettors are familiar with at least one responsible gaming resource.
  • 88% of sports bettors believe the legal industry is committed to responsible gaming and combating problem gambling.
  • 85% of sports bettors find responsible gaming programs effective, up from 83% last year.
  • 75% of American adults support legal, regulated sports betting in their state, up from 73% last year.

The summer slowdown is over now that football is back, and many states will see a big boost in sports betting revenue. There is no doubt that the NFL is king. Now we’ll just have to track the projection to see how close it comes to hitting the actual number. 

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Written By
Dave Grendzynski
Dave Grendzynski's sports journalism background runs deep. He won an Associated Press Award for his coverage of the 2007 American League Championship Series. He's also covered The Masters, an Ohio State National Championship game, and was in "The Q" when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA title in 2016. He also provides play-by-play for Ohio high school football regular season and playoff games, and hosts the "Courtside Culture Podcast" on the HoopHeads Podcast Network.

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