American Gaming: Record 45M-Plus Adults Plan To Wager On NFL Games This Season
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 03:15PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
September 7, 2021: The NFL enters the 2021 season with seven official sports book and gaming partners, including Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, WynnBet, Fox Bet and PointsBet.
Not by coincidence, a record 45.2 million people of legal age in the U.S. plan to wager on games during the 2021 NFL season, meaning 36% more people in the U.S. will place a bet on the league this season compared to last year, according to a new report from the American Gaming Assn.
The NFL and its teams have formed 52 data sharing and marketing partnerships since May 2018.
According to the AGA, “The sharp rise in betting plans this year can be traced to the expansion of legal sports betting options and increased enthusiasm overall for the upcoming season.”
People have legally wagered nearly $27 billion on sports in the first seven months of 2021, generating more than $350 million in federal, state, and local taxes.
At the start of the 2020 NFL season, people in 18 states and Washington, DC had access to operational, legal sports betting.
As the 2021 season begins, people in the U.S. will be able to place legal sports wagers in 26 states and Washington, DC, with five additional states likely to offer legal sports betting by the end of the season, including the launch of Arizona, South Dakota and Washington by NFL Kickoff on Sept. 9.
The AGA said 16 of the 23 states that are home to NFL teams have legalized sports betting.
"Sports betting is more popular than ever among Americans, and the enthusiasm of bettors for the upcoming NFL season highlights the remarkable growth of the industry over the past three years," Bill Miller, AGA president and CEO, said via the organization.
“Importantly, when the 2021 NFL season begins, more than 111 million American adults will be able to wager safely with regulated sportsbooks in their home states rather than with the predatory illegal market."
While NFL betting is projected to be up across all wagering methods, betting with online sportsbooks is expected to see the largest increase over 2020 while illegal bookies are expected to see the slowest growth:
Among other AGA’s findings:
• 21.7 million American adults will bet on the 2021 NFL season casually with friends, up 31% from 2020.
• 19.5 million will place a bet online (legal and illegal), up 73% from 2020.
• 14.6 million will participate in a paid fantasy contest or other type of pool competition, up 69% from 2021.
• 10.5 million will place a bet at a physical casino sportsbook, up 58% from 2020.
• 6.7 million will place a bet with a bookie, up 13% from 2020.
• 44% of all Americans and 63% of NFL fans believe that in-venue sportsbooks will add entertainment value to attending sporting events in-person.
"Fans are the heartbeat of professional sports, and leagues like the NFL are realizing the full potential of sports betting to drive fan engagement."
"Fans are the heartbeat of professional sports, and leagues like the NFL are realizing the full potential of sports betting to drive fan engagement," added Miller. "To capitalize on this tremendous opportunity, the NFL and its 32 teams must also realize their responsibility to educate fans and promote responsible gaming."
Morning Consult, on behalf of the American Gaming Assn., conducted the online survey for this report from Aug.25-30, 2021 among a national sample of 2,200 American adults.
AGA said its “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” public service campaign brings together sports leagues and teams, media, and gaming companies to promote sports betting education. The Washington Football Team is the first NFL team partner with the campaign.
NFL Adds More Partners To Sports Betting Roster
NFL Deal Betting On FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars
Back to Home Page