Legal sports betting in Nevada has been on an upward trajectory for years prior to the casinos closing and sports leagues pausing their season’s due coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world. In fact, Nevada sportsbooks haven’t had a losing month since July 2013, according to ESPN’s David Purdum.
Not only are Nevada sportsbooks winning every month people are wagering on sports more than ever. According to the UNLV Center for Gaming Research, more money has been wagered on sports every year in Nevada since 2009.
The decade of sports betting growth is continuing thanks, in part, to the expansion of legal sports betting around the country. Major mainstream sports media coverage is catering more to gambling as larger states legalize sports betting. The increase in reporting and information about sports betting reaches local and national audiences that might not have been exposed to such information before.
Even though Nevada is a mature sports gambling state, this still impacts recreational bettors. The more people hear about a topic, the more likely they are to participate. A record of $5.3 billion was wagered on sports in Nevada in 2019. As usual, betting on football led the way with nearly $1.9 billion of all bets place last year.
Super Bowl could be in Las Vegas sooner than later
Nevada sports bettors have been fans of football long before the Raiders announced they would be moving to Las Vegas. After the initial excitement for Nevada having a local team, attention moved to what other pro football events Sin City would see.
Sadly, the first taste of NFL action was canceled. The 2020 NFL Draft was set to take place in Las Vegas this month but the Vegas Strip event was scaled back to help slow the spread of coronavirus. The 2020 draft is now scheduled to take place without fans.
The NFL Draft could come back to Las Vegas after it takes place in Cleveland, OH next year. The NFL is also considering moving the Pro Bowl to Las Vegas. While these are NFL events, nothing compares to the Super Bowl. The Big Game is the Big Kahuna when it comes to NFL events and it could be coming to Las Vegas sooner than later.
New Orleans, NFL exploring possibility of moving Super Bowl hosting date due to event conflicts in 2025 https://t.co/1J5g1ZYJmS via @NOdotFootball
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 3, 2020
Las Vegas is not currently scheduled to host the Super Bowl, though that could change. Here is where Super Bowls will be played through 2025.
- LV: February 7, 2021, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- LVI: February 6, 2022, LA Stadium at Hollywood Park, Los Angeles, CA
- LVII: February 5, 2025, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
- LVIII: February 4, 2025, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, New Orleans, LA
The soonest Las Vegas could host a Super Bowl is 2025.
Las Vegas Super Bowl should be a record for sportsbooks
A Super Bowl in Las Vegas should shatter sports betting records in Nevada. Mainstream sports media coverage due to expansion across the country and the existing upward trajectory of sports betting handle should combine to make this an explosive event for Nevada sportsbooks whenever its played.
Circa Sports sportsbook manager Chris Bennett agrees. He tells PlayNevada that with sports betting on the rise “I don’t see why it wouldn’t be” a record handle for Nevada sportsbooks.
Nevada sportsbooks already see great crowds and a massive handle for the Super Bowl. The 2020 Super Bowl had just over $154 wagered on the game. That was good for the second largest handle ever for the Super Bowl.
When Las Vegas hosts the Super Bowl for the first time there will be even more visitors in town and more exposure on sports betting than ever before. This combination should help Nevada crush previous records for wagering on the Super Bowl.
