Arizona Hosts Super Bowl, Offering Legal Betting Among Novelties
Hype level in Arizona during the upcoming Super Bowl? Off the charts, mate! It ain't just about the game. The sports wagering angle is where it's at.
The NFL's love affair with legalized betting continues, sending cashes rolling into sportsbooks and marketing departments. And this Sunday, in-stadium mobile bettors will be able to place in-game wagers on the Super Bowl, exclusively at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Want Pizza Box Nachos with Prime Rib at halftime while you ponder a parlay? Why not? Fancy a Chop Chop Salad while JuJu Smith-Schuster scores a touchdown? Go right ahead. The in-game options might not be as flashy as the pre-game board, but there's a betting opportunity for Super Bowl attendants for the first time.
Zak Cutler, Paysafe President of Global Gaming, said, "Super Bowl LVII ... will make U.S. online sports betting history, as the first time America's biggest sporting event plays out in a state where iGaming is regulated." And they can bet on those Chiefs and Eagles fans, armed with their smartphones, placing live bets on their phones during the game.
It's not all about betting, though. The Phoenix area offers a heap of things to do beyond making wagers.
Sportsbooks and Pundits Galore
The proximity of FanDuel's sportsbook at the Footprint Center to Radio Row at the Super Bowl media center offers bettors a chance to make in-person bets if they prefer. FanDuel isn't the only sportsbook close by, with Caesars having its book adjacent to Chase Field and near Guy Fieri's DTPHX Kitchen + Bar.
"Beyond the stadium itself, betting volumes will almost certainly surge," Cutler added. "American online sports bettors tend to wager more than other global players, and we can expect U.S. players' bets to increase even more for the Super Bowl."
The WM Open Turns Up the Heat
As if the Super Bowl wasn't enough, the PGA Tour is hitting the Phoenix area this weekend with the Waste Management Open. Known for its rambunctious fans, the WM Open fits right into the week's festivities, highlighted by the theater in the round of the signature 162-yard, par-3 16th hole.
It doubles as a golfing Roman Colosseum, with fans judging pros' tee shots and cheering for caddies who sprint from tee to green carrying a full bag of clubs. The event offers a perfect opportunity for bettors who want to make cross-sport bets and parlays, a now-popular Super Bowl weekend pastime.
DraftKings Goes All In
DraftKings entered Arizona through a partnership with the host course - TPC Scottsdale - and its sportsbook next to the course is currently under construction. Despite not having a retail book up and running yet, DraftKings has generated a state-leading $2.3 billion handle since launching operations in September 2021 and remains the only sportsbook to surpass $200 million in accepted wagers in any month.
Keep an Eye on Las Vegas
Three hundred miles north, Las Vegas is watching this week's festivities with interest. Sin City's already made a name for itself as a sports town with the arrival of the Golden Knights and the Raiders. While the NHL franchise created a significant buzz in 2018 when it reached the Stanley Cup in its inaugural season, that will be nothing compared to the atmosphere Super Bowl LVIII will bring to Allegiant Stadium and the Strip in 2024.
From infrastructure to entertainment, Las Vegas is already sending not-so-subtle reminders that it's ready to pull out all the stops for a first-class spectacle when it hosts the Super Bowl in 2024. As for now, sit back and enjoy the show in Arizona!
- With the Super Bowl approaching, sportsbooks in Arizona, such as FanDuel's sportsbook at the Footprint Center and Caesars near Chase Field, are preparing for a surge in betting activity.
- Zak Cutler, the President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, expects American online sports bettors to wager more than usual during the Super Bowl, making it a significant event for the betting industry.
- The Waste Management Open, a PGA Tour event taking place in the Phoenix area around the same time as the Super Bowl, offers additional opportunities for bettors, especially those who enjoy making cross-sport bets and parlays.
- DraftKings, another major sportsbook, has partnered with the host course for the Super Bowl, TPC Scottsdale, and although its sportsbook there isn't operational yet, it has generated a significant handle in Arizona since its launch.
