Forty-six million American residents have indicated their intention to wager on National Football League games.
In a significant shift reflecting the normalization of sports betting in the United States, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has reported that more than 46 million adults, or 18% of the population, plan to place a bet on the NFL season in 2022 [1].
This substantial figure underscores the increasing engagement with NFL betting among American adults. The AGA's findings reveal how legalized sports betting has revolutionized the fan experience by integrating betting activities into the NFL season [2].
The growing popularity of sports betting is particularly evident in the NFL, which remains the primary driver of sports wagering in the U.S. [3]. As of September 2022, 36 states, including those with tribal gaming, have legalized wagering [4].
New York, for instance, has recently launched mobile wagering for the first full NFL season and has already surpassed $10 billion in handle since launching online betting in early January [5].
Responsible gaming awareness is also on the rise, with #Kickoff2022 marking the beginning of Responsible Gaming Education Month [6]. More than half of the American adult population (132 million) can now legally place a wager in their own state [7].
The AGA's study also found that more than 51% of respondents recalled seeing or hearing more about responsible gaming over the past 12 months than in previous years [8]. Furthermore, 82% of respondents believe responsible gaming programs are either somewhat or very effective [9].
While the AGA did not provide new facts about the number of states with legal wagering, the NFL being the primary driver of sports wagering, or the handle in states like New York, they did project that 46.6 million American adults will wager on an NFL game for the upcoming season [10]. This represents a 3% year-over-year increase from 2021's projections [10].
Interestingly, fewer people (13%) are expecting to place a wager with a bookmaker compared to last year (15%) and 2020 (18%) [1]. Conversely, approximately 10.6 million people will place a wager at a retail sportsbook this season, an increase of 2% from last year and 61% higher than in 2020 [11].
The AGA's partnerships with the Washington Commanders and New York Jets to promote its "Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly" campaign further underscore the industry's commitment to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming [12]. Bill Miller, the president and CEO of the AGA, stated, "Responsibility is an underpinning of regulated U.S. sports betting and a clear competitive advantage as we continue to build a sustainable marketplace" [12].
In conclusion, the AGA's study highlights the growing trend of sports betting in the U.S., particularly in the NFL, and the increasing emphasis on responsible gaming practices. As more states legalize sports betting and awareness of responsible gaming continues to grow, it is expected that the sports betting market in the U.S. will continue to expand.
References: [1] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/ [2] American Gaming Association. (n.d.). Sports betting in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/issues/sports-betting/ [3] American Gaming Association. (n.d.). Sports betting in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/issues/sports-betting/ [4] National Conference of State Legislatures. (2022, August 5). Sports betting. Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/research/finance/sports-betting.aspx [5] Associated Press. (2022, August 29). New York surpasses $10 billion in sports betting since launching online betting in early January. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/08/29/new-york-surpasses-10-billion-handle-since-launching-online-betting-early-january/68395237007/ [6] American Gaming Association. (n.d.). Responsible gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/issues/responsible-gaming/ [7] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/ [8] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/ [9] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/ [10] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/ [11] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/ [12] American Gaming Association. (2022, September). 2022 NFL betting: More than 4 in 5 respondents feel the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and fighting problem gaming. Retrieved from https://www.americangaming.org/resources/press-releases/2022-nfl-betting-more-than-4-in-5-respondents-feel-the-gaming-industry-is-committed-to-encouraging-responsible-gaming-and-fighting-problem-gaming/
- The American Gaming Association (AGA) reported that more than 46 million adults intend to wager on sports-betting, particularly the NFL season in 2022.
- The growing popularity of sports betting has integrated betting activities into the NFL season, according to the AGA's findings.
- As of September 2022, 36 states, including those with tribal gaming, have legalized sports-betting, and New York has already surpassed $10 billion in sports-betting handle since launching online betting in early January.
- The AGA's study projected that 46.6 million American adults will wager on an NFL game for the upcoming season, representing a 3% year-over-year increase from 2021's projections. However, fewer people are expecting to place a wager with a bookmaker compared to previous years.
