The NFL season kicks off on Thursday with the Dallas Cowboys heading to Philadelphia to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles.
Sports bettors eagerly await their first opportunity to wager on this season’s football action. According to the American Gaming Association, sportsbooks will handle more betting this football season than ever before.
The AGA predicts Americans will wager an estimated $30 billion through legal U.S. sportsbooks. It would be the largest NFL betting handle in U.S. sports betting history. Furthermore, online sports betting would make up nearly all of the volume.
“This season, fans have more ways than ever to responsibly engage with the game they love. Legal sports betting enhances the fun and friendly competition that make NFL games and traditions even more special,” said AGA president and CEO Bill Miller.
Miller added that the regulated aspect of the U.S. market is what minimizes problem betting.
“With strong consumer protections and a shared commitment to responsibility, the legal, regulated sports betting industry encourages all football fans to have a game plan before placing a bet and ensure their gameday experience – regardless of the outcome of a bet or the game – remains enjoyable.”
Plenty Of Support For Legal NFL Betting
This year’s NFL betting estimate is based on national handle growth to date applied to last year’s estimated total. The AGA included football-specific reporting from select states used to calculate the share of wagers expected this season.
The estimate includes preseason games, futures wagering booked as early as March, the playoffs, and Super Bowl betting.
There are 40 U.S. jurisdictions with a legal sports betting industry. That includes 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Most Americans support the expansion. The AGA report states that 75% of Americans support legal sports betting in their home state and 90% view sports betting as an acceptable form of entertainment.
However, the support comes as a significant number of Americans are still using offshore gambling sites. In August, the AGA released a separate report stating Americans still wager $673.6 billion annually with unregulated operators.
Of that, sports betting produced an $84 billion handle resulting in $5 billion in revenue. As a result, U.S. states lost possible tax revenues of about $1 billion.
Responsible Gaming Stressed
As a new NFL season gets underway, the AGA reminded bettors of responsible gaming practices. This includes reiterating the trade group’s “Have A Game Plan, Bet Responsibly” campaign.
The program has five key principles:
- Setting a budget and sticking to it
- Determine how much you are willing to spend and never chase losses
- Keep it social
- Betting should be a form of entertainment shared with friends and family
- Know the odds
- Understand the games and your chances of winning
- Play legally
- Use regulated, legal betting platforms
- Keep Your Cool
- Athlete harassment is never acceptable, and good sportsmanship is for everyone
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