The NFL season kicks off Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium when the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions.
While the Chiefs unsurprisingly are the favorites to repeat with the preseason odds, it’s showing America is putting its money where its mouth is.
All 73.5 million of them.
According to survey results by the American Gaming Association, approximately 73.5 million American adults are expected to bet on NFL this season. That means 28% of the adult population, or more than 1 in 4 American adults.
Crazy.
That, according to ABC News, is an estimated 57.7% increase from last year’s results.
Since 2018, the AGA indicates more than $250 billion (!!!) has been bet with American sportsbooks. That was the year the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting which allowed state governments (more than just Nevada) to set their own policies.
Now, for the details:
The survey consisted of 2,200 American adults. They also defined “a bet,” as one that included pick ’em and squares pools, paid fantasy contests and even casual wagers with family and friends.
Now, over 35 states and Washington D.C. have legalized some form of sports betting with the numbers growing. Kentucky just recently became the 35th state to legalize sports betting.
Just in time for the NFL season.
