The upcoming Super Bowl LVIII, hosted at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—the gambling capital of the US—marks a significant transformation in the anti-gambling stance the NFL held for decades.
The American Gaming Association says more than 65 million adults are expected to bet on tomorrow’s game and anticipates a record $23.1 billion worth of bets. These numbers show that the NFL is finally okay with gambling by the fans.
What has changed?
Since the Supreme Court overturned a federal law banning sports betting in 2018, the NFL has entered into partnerships worth nearly $1 billion with sports betting companies like FanDuel and DraftKings.
It has allowed sportsbooks in stadiums and even has a team in Las Vegas, a city the NFL previously avoided due to concerns about game integrity.
Not just the NFL, other major sports leagues have also embraced the legal sports gambling trend in America.
Why?
It’s big money.
As of 2023, sports betting has been legal in 38 states, and it saw over $115 billion legally wagered on sports the same year, according to the American Gaming Association.
It appeals the most to the 21-45 age group, says NFL’s general manager of sports betting, David Highhill.
Meanwhile, concerns about the addictive nature of sports betting and its impact on vulnerable demographics persist.
Calls to the 800-GAMBLER assistance line have surged 15% since 2018, per the National Council on Problem Gambling, indicating that compulsive gambling has become a problem.
But little has been done by sports leagues to combat gambling addiction.
The NFL did increase penalties for players who bet on their own teams. It fired 10 players last year for violating its betting policies.
Critics argue gambling addiction must be treated like any other form of substance addiction, and the league should offer rehabilitation opportunities.