This NFL season will be the first time in history that more than half of the states in the US offer legal sports betting. Following the US Supreme Court decision just three years ago that ruled to overturn the PASPA law, there are now 26 states, plus the District of Columbia, that allow gamblers to wager legally on the football league games. It’s expected that another five states will join these states before the end of the season.
These numbers are especially impressive considering that at the same time last year, at the start of the football season, only 18 states offered legal sports betting. It’s estimated that some 45 million people will bet on the 2021 NFL season – up from 36% last year.
The potential of the future market is particularly lucrative, since some of the largest states such as California and New York haven’t even joined yet.
The large majority of NFL betting – more than 80% – takes place on mobile devices and a lot of it is live betting during the course of the games being played.
The NFL hasn’t always been a fan of sports betting on its league games and has even fought hard against this practice in the past. But once the Supreme Court gave its landmark ruling, it was only a matter of time that the NFL realized the potential revenue. It has now inked deals with no less than 7 sportsbook operators who have the right to advertise during NFL games.
