New research from the American Gaming Association (AGA) shows that a record 46.6 million American adults plan to bet on the upcoming National Football League (NFL) season, a 3% year-on-year increase.
The research also shows that bettors are moving away from bookies and are heading towards regulated options. Of American adults, 23 million will place a bet online this season, an 18% rise from 2021.
A total of 10.6 million will place a bet in-person at a sportsbook, up 2% from 2021, while just 13% of NFL bettors plan to use a bookie, down from 15% in 2021 and 18% in 2020. Bookie usage meanwhile is 50% higher in states without legalised sports betting.
“The sustained interest in NFL wagering reflects the growth and continued maturation of legal sports betting across the country,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Consumers clearly want legal sports betting options and understand the regulated industry’s foundational commitments to responsibility.”