As the Super Bowl winners, the Kansas City Chiefs capped off their season in perfect form, they did so in front of a packed out Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, as well as in front of millions of viewers across the United States, and around the world.
The NFL has done an incredible job in growing its fanbase with access to its games on streaming sites, the immensely popular NFL Fantasy Football game, playing international matches throughout the season, as well as with NFL odds on global sportsbooks.
Compared with its rival leagues in the United States, like the NBA and MLB, the NFL has tapped into the global interest in American Football and is building a huge following. 123.4 million people tuned in to the 2024 Super Bowl, making it the most watched Super Bowl in history.
Sports Betting in the United States
The Vegas NFL odds used to be the only way to bet on the league prior to the 2018 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) being declared unconstitutional by the supreme court which has since left each state with the decision on whether to legalise sports betting at a state level.
No longer does Nevada hold a monopoly on sports betting and no 38 states across America have legalised sports betting either in-person, online, or both.
With American Football being the most popular sport in the United States, it has been a driving force in the increase in sportsbook customers as well as growing revenue in the sports gambling sector, and in 2023 around 28% of the adult population in the U.S bet on the NFL.
American’s can now access regulated sportsbooks in states which have legalised sports betting, with online options being the most popular. Customers can access sports from around the world with local, national, and global sportsbooks which offer a wide range of markets and betting options, as well as promotions and welcome bonuses.
NFL odds are available for the 2024/25 season already, with future bets like who will win the Super Bowl. Throughout the season customers can place their bets on each game, with standard game lines, spread and points bets as well as a wide range of props bets which ensure there is something for everyone.
Future of the Industry
Since the changes to the law in 2018 are so fresh in the memory, and some states are still deliberating or awaiting the final stages of plans to legalise sports betting in their state, the future of the industry looks set to expand further.
The fact that the NFL continues to grow in popularity and demand further enforces the fact that sports betting will continue to grow. There are so many options for Americans to get involved with, new sportsbooks and new promotions which will appeal to new customers.
In 2022 the American Gaming Association released data which stated the sportsbook revenue in the United States hit $7.5 billion, which was up 75 percent from 2021. An immense jump, and some believe the industry is on course to be worth more than $40 billion by 2030. The fact that this rise was so quick as states began to legalise in just five years from it expanding out of Nevada.
Growth of the NFL
Being the most popular sport in the United States is one thing, but the NFL has capitalised on the demand for its product abroad. In 2023 it was reported by sportskeeda that 23 million people in Mexico and around 20 million in Brazil follow the league, while in Europe, Germany and the United Kingdom provide around 6.5 million and 6 million respectively.
The move to send teams abroad for international games during the season, especially with the Jacksonville Jaguars adopting London as a second home, has further increased popularity and engagement with international audiences.
While sports like Soccer may hold the top spot for the most bet on sports in the world, the NFL is growing and increasing its value in the sports betting industry. Extending its global popularity over the NHL and NBA, it is competing with new customers, and the league itself is doing so well that sportsbooks are reaping the rewards.
Fans around the world will download the fantasy NFL app, play against friends, and follow the league even more closely. This often leads to venturing out from their standard bets on different sports into the NFL lines to test their luck there. As the NFL continues to grow it will not only bring current sports bettors to bet on the sport, but also fans of the sport who previously did not bet.
For the league, and the sportsbooks, there looks to be no slowing down as the NFL looks set to compete further with some of the biggest sporting events in the world.
