Marking a Milestone for Legal Sports Betting

When Super Bowl LVII kicks off tonight, fans at State Farm Stadium will be able to get in on the action with the protections of the regulated, legal market. The first Super Bowl in a live, legal betting state and at a stadium with its own sportsbook is a milestone for the industry that was hard to imagine just five years ago.

Super Bowl LVII isn’t only a milestone – it’s a record. The American Gaming Association ’s Super Bowl?estimates?show a record 50 million Americans plan to wager $16B on the Big Game. That’s one in five U.S. adults (20%) – double the total estimated bettors from 2021 – as legal sports betting has expanded.?

I’ve been in Phoenix this week sitting down with media from across the country to share our Super Bowl projections and the benefits of legal, regulated betting. Here’s what I’ve been talking about.

Bringing betting mainstream.?The last time the Philadelphia Eagles were in the Super Bowl – 2018 – Nevada was the only state with legal sports betting. With 34 live markets today, more than half of American adults can legally wager in their home state. This has a real mainstreaming effect on the casino gaming industry as more Americans seek out our entertainment offerings.??

Our expansion also has ripple effects. Over the last five years, legal sports betting has transformed consumer entertainment and innovated the sports industry.?

Fans are more likely to tune in when they have a stake in the game. Our Super Bowl research shows that more than a third of NFL fans say legal sports betting makes watching an NFL game more engaging.?

We’re also deepening gaming’s impact in communities. Legal sports betting has generated more than $2B in tax dollars for communities across the country since 2018. That’s money to fund scholastic sports in Ohio, water conservation in Colorado, essential services in Arizona, and so much more.

Taking market share from illegal operators and bookies.?I say it all the time…Americans have always bet on sports. They just haven’t been able to do it legally. The good news is legalization is putting a sizable dent in the illegal market. Last year, Americans?wagered?an estimated $64B with illegal bookies and offshore sportsbooks. That’s down 60% since PASPA paved the way for legalization—and it’s because Americans want to bet with legal, regulated operators.

But we can’t let up in migrating Americans to the legal marketplace and shutting down illegal businesses. We need federal and state law enforcement to go after bad actors, policymakers to close loopholes, and media and tech platforms to cut off access. Shutting down the illegal market remains one of the AGA’s top priorities because these bad actors are a threat to consumer protections with no regard to age verification, guaranteed payouts or responsible play.

Leading responsibly.?The fact is, there has never been more attention paid or money invested in responsible gaming education or problem gambling support than there is today.?

The AGA and our members are providing customers with the tools they need to bet responsibly; driving bettor education through advertising; training employees and upholding high regulatory standards; serving as the primary funder and marketer of problem gambling services and support; and investing in independent research to study sports betting’s impact.

Most importantly, we’re continuing to elevate and evolve our approach to player protection. We’re learning from research, innovating with technology, and raising our standards to build a sustainable marketplace.

It’s been a great week in Arizona touting the excitement around legal sports betting, our strong record on responsibility, and our impact in communities across the country. As Americans place their bets on the Big Game this weekend, I’ll be betting on the future of our industry.