A record 7.6 million U.S. residents will bet on Super Bowl LV through legal online sportsbooks, an increase of 63% over last year, according to a Morning Consult poll commissioned by the American Gaming Association. That represents about one-third of the 23.2 million Americans who are expected to wager $4.3B on this year’s game, based on AGA projections.
The numbers reflect a migration of bettors from illegal offshore sites and neighborhood bookies, driven by the opening of legal online sportsbooks now available in six U.S. jurisdictions that opened since last year’s game -- Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee and DC. Those six new markets combined for 33 million 21-and-over residents, bringing the U.S. total to 65.2 million, or about 27% of the nation’s addressable market.
While many more will bet legally than ever before, overall Super Bowl activity is expected to decline as a result of Covid-related closures of retail sportsbooks and the anticipated reluctance of many to gather at large Super Bowl parties. The AGA projects 1.4 million Americans will bet at a retail book, down 61% from last year; 1.8 million will bet with a bookie, down 21%; 4.5 million will purchase Super Bowl squares, down 19% and 11.9 million will bet casually with friends, down 18%.
