Viva Las Vegas: Super Bowl LVIII Projected to Break Gambling Records

Photo Credit: John Angelillo / Shutterstock

Every year, the Super Bowl features new matchups, storylines, venues, and performances. There is one constant, however, as the biggest sporting event in America is also the biggest for bettors. This year is projected to be the most substantial yet. 

According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), a projected 67.8 million Americans will be placing bets on Super Bowl LVIII. This volume is 35 percent higher than last year, which saw a then-record 50.4 million adults gamble on the big game. The amount that is projected to be at stake is also slated to be record-setting, as $23.1 billion is expected to be wagered; a 44 percent increase from the Super Bowl LVII’s $16 billion total. 

The numbers are record-setting, regardless of which perspective you take. For traditional sportsbooks, which are legal in 38 states plus Washington, D.C., they are anticipating 42.7 million adults, up 41 percent from last year. The 36.5 million casual bettors, those taking place in popular pools such as boxes, represent another 32 percent increase. 

Photo Credit: American Gaming Association

The projections from AGA come as a result of the online survey conducted by Morning Consult, which took a national sample of 2,204 individuals from Tuesday, Jan. 30 to Thursday, Feb. 1, and do not reflect the actual amount of bets that have been placed. 

This historic gambling volume comes after Americans wagered over $100 billion in 2023. Football remains the biggest for American bettors, with September, October, and January having the highest overall handles. Keep in mind, this is the only from legal sportsbooks and betting outlets, and does not account for the illegal books that saw similar volume. 

Gambling aside, this year’s game is also likely to be the most viewed, with 73 percent of adults planning on watching the game. While some are chalking it up to the ‘Taylor Swift Effect,’ which certainly plays a role, there is no denying the influence that wagers placed on the game have as well. 

Although there will only be 22 individuals on the field during the game, there is more at stake than ever this Sunday, and the world will be watching.