Experts predict this year's Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and 49ers will shatter viewership and betting records.
Approximately 68 million American adults — about 1 in 4 — plan to wager on the big game according to estimates from the American Gaming Association (AGA). This shows a 35% increase over 2022's prior record amount.
Of the projected total handle, around $23.1 billion of Super Bowl 2024 betting will be placed illegally or with offshore sportsbooks. But legal betting outlets still expect massive growth handling over $1.5 billion in wagers, nearly doubling last year's sum.
"There’s a good chance that every Super Bowl for the next ten or so years will be the best event thanks to the expansion of legal sports betting across the country. The accessibility makes more casual engagement easier than ever."Gambling analyst, Chris Grove
Love is in the Air
Viewership also looks to notch fresh highs thanks in part to intrigue around Chiefs star Travis Kelce's romance with pop icon Taylor Swift. An estimated 73% of adults expect tuning into broadcasts this year according to polls. Sportsbooks wasted no time posting entertainment props to bet on the Super Bowl around the star couple who are sure to be omnipresent during the big game broadcasts.
The popularity of their budding relationship makes Swift a focal point for novelty wagers on everything from outfit colors chosen (+200 pink) to baby announcement odds at +2200. Books also list prices on screen time over/unders for Swift at around 2.5 appearances including probabilities on cameos during the National Anthem or halftime show with Usher.
As for Kelce himself, the veteran Chiefs tight end sees robust menus around his on-field production likely topping receiving yards and reception benchmarks:
Kelce Stat Props
Receptions O/U: 7.5
Receiving Yards O/U: 69.5
Kelce Anytime TD Odds: -120
Kelce MVP Odds: 20-1
The ever-inventive nature of Super Bowl prop betting ensures no stone goes unturned mining intriguing wagering angles intersecting sports and entertainment. Storyline connections between Kelce and Swift almost guarantee heavy action predicting the couples' spotlight moments with Chiefs kingdom hoping Travis finds his way into the end zone securing himself a memorable championship night alongside pop queen Taylor.
With kickoff approaching February 12th, all metrics point towards new benchmarks around audience reach and gambling activity driven by confluence factors poised to converge perfectly when the heavily wagered 49ers and Chiefs battle for NFL supremacy.
Significant early betting action on the Super Bowl already pours in from public bettors and professional sharks across Las Vegas sportsbooks with nearly one week until kickoff. Early reports highlight massive wagers across game outcomes, novelty coin flips, and intriguing longshot MVP plays.
Reported Super Bowl Bets
$1 Million - 49ers Moneyline Wager
$120K - 60 Assorted $2K Prop Bets
$100K - Coin Toss Bet on Tails
$25K to win $1M - MVP Bet on Chiefs' Pacheco
A gambler at Caesar's made the first publicly known seven-figure bet - $1 million on the San Francisco 49ers to win straight up.
Speaking of straight up, one customer at South Point casino forked over $120,000 on a variety of $2,000 proposition wagers.
Flipping to coin toss betting, Super Bowl 2024 betting at Caesars also took $100,000 on tails hitting the opening flip Saturday - quite the risky call losing half the time historically. But Tails never fails we suppose!
Additionally early MVP longshot action reports briskly with one bettor placing $25,000 on 40:1 underdog Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco netting a $1 million payout if captured. Another put $15,000 wager on 65:1 receiver Kadarius Toney tally hopes of winning nearly $1 million.