Americans will wager an estimated $6 billion on the upcoming Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots, according to survey results from the American Gaming Association.
Legalized sports gambling has spread across the country over the past year. In addition to Nevada, bets can now be placed in New Mexico, Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
According to the survey, which was released Monday, 52 percent of the responders said they would bet on the Rams. Nearly 10 percent of Americans will bet one way or another.
“The interest in legal, regulated sports betting in the United States has never been higher,” said Bill Miller, AGA’s president and chief executive officer, in a news release. “More Americans than ever before will be able to place their bets with legal sports books now operating in eight states, generating valuable revenue for state, local and tribal governments and increasing fan engagement with the game.”
The survey also estimates that 1.8 Americans will still place a bet illegally through a bookie, with “millions more likely to bet illegally through offshore online books.”
Super Bowl LIII takes place Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
QUIZ: The ultimate NFL Super Bowl trivia challenge - Are you ready for some football?
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.