The Super Bowl isn't just the pinnacle of the NFL season, it's also the yearly apex of sports betting. Each year millions of fans across the globe flex their gambling muscles by wagering on the NFL's illustrious main event.
Whether it’s prop bets, point spreads or totals, gambling on the Super Bowl creates a massive financial footprint. However, what about those who bet in person at a Las Vegas sportsbook? Have you ever wondered what the total handle – a fancy way to say the “sum of all bets” – is for the NFL’s most important Sunday?
Super Bowl Bets By The Numbers
The Super Bowl's betting landscape is staggering. The American Gaming Association estimated that over 50 million Americans placed bets on the Kansas City Chiefs' triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Or about 15% of the entire U.S. population placed some sort of bet on the Super Bowl. An astronomical figure that continues to climb at an obscene rate.
The AMA expects those numbers to climb substantially as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. San Francisco are currently 2-point favorites over the Chiefs, with the total for the big game set at 47.5.
Largest Super Bowl Betting Markets
Brock Purdy OVER 12.5 rushing yards is currently the most bet Super Bowl 58 player prop. Bettors are seemingly looking to cash in after the 49ers quarterback picked up 48 yards rushing against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game. Purdy also had a few key scrambles, with 14 rushing yards against the Green Bay Packers. With a championship on the line, Purdy has shown he's more than willing to pick up first downs with his legs.
Meanwhile, the betting public is all over the Kansas City Chiefs as two-point underdogs in the Super Bowl. Over 75% of tickets and 81% of cash are currently on the Chiefs to cover the spread. Those looking to play the total will be happy to learn that 59% of the cash is on the OVER 47.5.
Similarly, Kansas City to win by 7-12 points is one of the most bet Super Bowl 58 game props at +550. With the outcome of the coin toss being heads (-105), and color of the Super Bowl Gatorade bath to be orange (+500) as two of the more popular Super Bowl exotic prop bets. Superstar tight end Travis Kelce is the most bet on player to win Super Bowl 58 MVP.
How Much Is Bet On the Super Bowl?
The Nevada State Gaming Control Board has tracked betting data all the way back to 1991, courtesy of 200 sportsbooks and casinos across the state. Back then, sports bettors dropped a total of $40,080,409 worth of legal wagers, the equivalent of about $89-million today.
Interestingly, both Super Bowl LV, and LVII saw a dip in betting volumes. Were people just sick of seeing Tom Brady in the big game? Or perhaps families were finally able to enjoy the rest of the world and spent their money elsewhere after a year stuck inside. Regardless, the lull in in-person wagers on Super Bowl LVII makes more sense, as American bettors are afforded many more advantageous ways of wagering online with sports betting now legal in many States.
Check out the table below to find out exactly how much is bet on the Super Bowl.
For more information on the numerous ways to wager on the big game, check out our How to Bet on the Super Bowl article. To keep up to date on the latest odds for Super Bowl LVIII, our Super Bowl futures page has you covered.