About one out of every three Americans lives in a state where regulated sports betting will give them an opportunity to place a bet on a football game this season. About 13 percent of those folks will actually be placing a wager. Of those folks who can legally wager on a game, about 45.2 million, or 18 percent of all Americans will actually place a bet. These numbers, which come from a recent prediction by the American Gaming Association (AGA) illustrate the stunning success of regulated sports betting in the United States.
At the start of the 2021 American football season, football fans in 26 states and Washington D.C. have access to regulated sports betting. By the end of the season, another five states are expected to open regulated sports betting to their residents. That means that a lot of Americans will have the opportunity to legally bet on football games and a great many will avail themselves of that opportunity.
Not surprisingly, most Americans who want to bet on football are doing it from the comfort of their own smart phones. According to the AGA, approximately 19.5 million American gamblers will be placing a football bet by phone. That’s up 73 percent from 2020. About 10.5 million will place a wager at an actual, land-based casino-sportsbook, which represents a 58 percent uptick from 2020.
Also not surprising is the fact that AGA President and CEO Bill Miller is pretty psyched about the whole situation. He recently commented on the football betting upsurge saying, “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. 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.”
Given the American infatuation with football, the AGA’s predictions on a banner year for sports betting are likely to come to fruition.