American football's 2024-2025 season kicked off last evening
Growing NFL Sports Betting Market in the USA
The NFL sports betting market in the United States is on an upward trajectory, with the 2024/2025 season promising significant growth. The total amount wagered on NFL games is forecasted to reach an impressive $35 billion (€31.51 billion), marking a 30% increase compared to the previous season.
The opening game of the season saw the Kansas City Chiefs triumph over the Baltimore Ravens 27-20. Both teams are among the top contenders for the Super Bowl victory next year, alongside the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and potential dark horses like the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The sports betting industry and the American Gaming Association (AGA) anticipate this growth, driven by expanding mobile betting, strategic partnerships, and rising fan engagement. This growth is expected to continue into the 2025 NFL season, positively impacting the industry’s size, profitability, and market dynamics.
Key insights and forecasts reveal strong revenue growth. DraftKings, a prominent sports betting operator, reported Q2 2025 revenue surged 37% year-over-year to $1.51 billion. Their sports betting hold rate improved to about 10.4%, supporting a projected 2025 revenue guidance of $6.2–$6.4 billion for the company alone.
The increasing national sports betting volume is also evident. In May 2025, Americans wagered $12.11 billion on sports, a 15.5% year-over-year increase. The NFL remains the dominant driver due to its large viewership and frequent betting opportunities.
The NFL’s strategic media and betting partnerships further fuel this growth. For instance, ESPN acquired media rights and branded ESPN Bet operated by Penn Entertainment, reinforcing the intertwining of sports media and betting operators. The NFL holds a 10% equity stake in ESPN, incentivizing partnerships that promote sportsbooks in the 2025-26 NFL season.
The NFL season 2024/2025 began on September 6, and fans can watch the games live on streaming service DAZN or the pay-TV offer of RTL. The Buffalo Bills, who have narrowly missed the NFL final in recent years, are still capable of reaching the final.
To combat match-fixing, the NFL has increased its monitoring activities, deploying former FBI or police officers in all NFL stadiums to detect suspicious activities during games.
The average betting odds for the American Football games of the NFL's first round are as follows:
- Kansas City Chiefs: 3/1
- Baltimore Ravens: 6/1
- San Francisco 49ers: 7/1
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9/1
- Miami Dolphins: 25/1
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 30/1
The outlook for the NFL sports betting market points to continued robust growth with evolving regulatory and commercial complexities.
Online casinos in Germany might find the NFL sports-betting market in Germany as an attractive opportunity, given its growth in the USA. In the 2024/2025 NFL season, various sports, including football and American football, will likely capture the attention of sports-betting enthusiasts. The increasing popularity of football, such as the NFL, may encourage German online casinos to offer odds for matches like the one between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, or events within the sports, such as the Super Bowl. As the NFL's strategic media and betting partnerships further fuel this growth across various regions, the sports-betting market might become a valuable segment for online casinos to explore in Germany.
