Nevada Super Bowl Revenue Down As 2 Sportsbook Apps Go Down

 

Rewrite: Please note, this includes the updated win/handle numbers that were released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Nevada sportsbooks usually see the highest annual wagering on the Super Bowl compared to any other individual game. However, despite this trend likely continuing this year, revenue numbers have decreased from those of recent years.

Bettors in Nevada wagered $153.2 million on the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles this year, as reported by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NCGB). The total amount wagered on the Super Bowl resulted in sportsbook operators earning almost $5.5 million, indicating a hold percentage of 3.6%.

Super Bowl betting produced mixed results for sportsbooks, according to reports. Two operators likely to experience a dip in Super Bowl earnings are Caesars and William Hill. The sportsbooks’ apps for both companies ceased functioning at the conclusion of the game’s first half.

William Hill is owned by Caesars, and the same technology is used by both of their Nevada sports betting apps.

Super Bowl Revenue Down

This year, bettors placed $153.2 million on the Chiefs vs. Eagles Super Bowl, a decrease from 2022 but an increase from 2021, when the amount wagered was $136.1 million. Interestingly, the Chiefs also played in the 2021 game. However, they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a score of 31-9.

This year’s Super Bowl saw the fourth highest amount of money ever wagered. However, there was a significant 15% decrease from the $179.8 million bet on the previous year’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Since the NGCB began documenting the specific game in 1991, Nevada sportsbooks have made a profit from the Super Bowl in 31 out of the 33 years.

Nevada sportsbooks nearly experienced a Super Bowl loss in 2018, which was the closest they’ve come in the last ten years. They barely made a profit, securing just above $1.1 million and retaining a mere 0.7% of all the money bet.

The revenue results for individual sportsbooks varied according to the operator. Lamarr Mitchell, MGM Resorts’ director of trading, reported to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Super Bowl resulted in a significant win for the house.

Chuck Esposito, the sportsbook director at Red Rock Resorts (which includes Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Casino, etc.), stated that “the Eagles and over would have been the worst-case scenario, so it was beneficial for us at the counter that the Chiefs won.”

The Super Bowl “produced a winning day, but it wasn’t one for the books,” Jay Kornegay, the executive vice president of the Westgate Superbook, told the Wall Street Journal.

Caesars And William Hill Apps Stop Working Abruptly

The sportsbook technology utilized by Caesars and William Hill experienced a malfunction on Sunday. The issue started during the end of the game’s first half, impacting bettors both within and outside casinos across the state.

Bettors using mobile apps could not place In-Play bets during the Super Bowl. Also, customers could not cash out their Super Bowl winnings or place bets on other games using either app.

Despite Caesars owning William Hill, the two companies operate separate apps and distinct retail businesses, both utilizing the same technology. The companies remained relatively silent while customers attempted to access their accounts.

The NGCB issued a statement on Monday, acknowledging the issue and revealing that agents from their enforcement and technology division are presently probing into the matter.

Innevada reached out to Michael Lawton, Senior Economic Analyst for the NGCB, for his insights on the effect of the outage. Lawton explained that the revenues were affected due to technical issues on the William Hill Nevada sports betting platform. He added that quantifying the exact impact amount is not possible.

William Hill released a statement on Tuesday morning, providing the public with some insight into the issues.

pic.twitter.com/SNAv6rhhug

– From William Hill US (@WilliamHillUS) on February 14, 2025.

Customers are now able to place bets and cash in tickets from bets placed at retail before the Super Bowl. However, customers using the mobile app are still waiting for it to be operational again.

In-Person Sportsbook App Registration Still An Issue

Bettors could not make In-Play wagers with Caesars or William Hill during the second half of the Super Bowl unless they had established multiple sportsbook accounts before the game.

The process of opening a sportsbook app account in Nevada varies from that in most states where sports betting is legal.

Regulators in Nevada mandate that new sports betting app accounts must be established in-person at a sportsbook within a casino. This is not the standard practice in most states.

It’s simpler for sports bettors who have legal sports betting options elsewhere. They can easily download an app from another sportsbook operator and set up an account in a matter of minutes.

It’s highly unlikely that someone would choose to leave the Super Bowl to visit a casino and set up a new mobile sports betting app account. The process, which involves driving to a sportsbook and waiting in line to open a new account, would result in potential bettors missing out on the thrilling climax of the Super Bowl, which was determined in the final minute of action.

Caesars and William Hill have operations in several states, so the Nevada handle shouldn’t cause significant damage. However, the requirement for in-person account registration has negatively impacted every sportsbook operator in Nevada. They could have attracted a new customer had mobile account registration been an option.

The recent outage experienced by the Caesars and William Hill app offers another compelling reason to establish and fund accounts on several sportsbook apps. Diversifying your apps allows you to check and compare odds, ensuring you secure the best possible returns. Additionally, it safeguards against missing any betting opportunities should one sportsbook app experience downtime.