Americans' Super Bowl Betting Trends for This Year.
The Philadelphia Eagles were not the sole victors of Super Bowl LIX; betting platforms also emerged as significant beneficiaries.
Sportsbooks experienced a surge in app activity during the game on Sunday, marked by a notable rise in both downloads and wagers. A representative from BetMGM informed MarketWatch that this event represented "one of the best single game results in company history" and was the largest betting occasion to date.
The year has commenced positively for online sports betting, with the "handle"—the total amount wagered—rising by over 20% in January compared to December, according to state data reviewed by Bank of America. More than 16 million bets were placed on FanDuel, a subsidiary of Flutter, reflecting an increase of nearly 20% from the previous year's game.
Fans at various sportsbooks predominantly placed bets on a high-scoring match, opting for the “over” point-total wager, which was established at approximately 48.5. This indicated that they anticipated the total points scored would exceed that figure, which indeed occurred with a final score of 40-22. However, analysts from Bank of America suggested that the sportsbooks gained an advantage from the Eagles' victory, as well as the fact that both teams managed to keep key players, such as Saquon Barkley of the Eagles, from reaching the end zone.
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At DraftKings' Sportsbook, 52% of the bets were placed on Kansas City to cover the spread, meaning they were expected to win by a greater margin than predicted by the oddsmakers, as reported by The Athletic.
Barkley was a favored choice for the anytime touchdown "prop" bet, which involves wagering on specific in-game outcomes. He concluded the game with 57 rushing yards; the bet on him to exceed 110.5 rushing yards was the most popular prop at BetMGM, according to The Athletic. Other bets that did not succeed included whether Barkley and Kansas City's Travis Kelce would score touchdowns and if Kelce would propose to Taylor Swift.
As of Friday, BetMGM has identified the Eagles as the preliminary frontrunner to secure victory in Super Bowl 60.
Super Bowl LIX was a major success not only for the Philadelphia Eagles but also for the sports betting industry. With a surge in app activity, increased wagers, and a significant rise in sports betting handle, sportsbooks enjoyed a highly profitable event. Fans engaged enthusiastically with a variety of bets, including prop bets, with notable interest in high-scoring outcomes.
The strong performance of platforms like BetMGM and FanDuel highlights the growing popularity of online sports betting, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead. As sportsbooks continue to thrive, the future of sports betting looks promising, especially with Super Bowl 60 on the horizon.
