Friday, May 15, 2026

U.S. Sportsbooks Get Huge Boost From Super Bowl

  • GeoComply verified 100 million sports-betting transactions this Super Bowl weekend — a 25% increase from last year.
  • Several American sportsbooks reported milestones as a result of the increased traffic.
Patrick Breen/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

With 50 million Americans projected to bet $16 billion on the Super Bowl across legal and extralegal channels, it’s no surprise that sportsbooks were very active on Sunday.

GeoComply, which verifies bettors’ locations on behalf of legal sportsbooks, registered 100 million sports-betting transactions this Super Bowl weekend — a 25% increase from last year.

Several American sportsbooks reported milestones as a result of the increased traffic.

  • FanDuel averaged 2 million active users on its platform throughout the Kansas City Chiefs’ 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, and was taking a record 50,000 bets per second at its peak.
  • DraftKings paid out $2.68 million to one bettor who wagered $1.68 million on the Chiefs’ moneyline.
  • MGM Resorts says it had the highest Super Bowl betting handle in company history for the state of Nevada, including money wagered at its nine retail sportsbooks on the Las Vegas Strip and on its BetMGM app.

“This was BetMGM’s most successful Super Bowl and most-bet-on single game sporting event ever,” a company spokesperson said.

View of Super Bowl LVII signage and a Draft Kings billboard

Over 50M Americans Projected to Bet $16B on Super Bowl

The growth of legal sports betting in states is encouraging more bettors.
February 7, 2023

Next Year

The countdown to Super Bowl LVIII is already on — and given it’ll take place in the sports betting capital of the world, the handles are only bound to increase.

As for who could be taking home the Lombardi Trophy next year in Las Vegas, the books are already favoring a repeat: At DraftKings, the Chiefs opened as +600 favorites to win it all again — while the Eagles opened at +900, the fifth-best odds.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jan 17, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs against Denver Broncos linebacker Karene Reid (47) during the second quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High.

NFL Schedule Leans Further Into Holidays, Streaming Expansion

The upcoming slate features several notable changes from 2025.

NFL Rivalries Are Made on the Field, Mocked in Schedule Release Videos

Every year, teams find new ways to one-up themselves (and their rivals).
Feb 5, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks to media members at the Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

NFL Staying Hands-Off Schedule Videos as Vrabel Jokes Loom

The league isn’t reviewing teams’ schedule release videos in advance.

Featured Today

Bart Swings/Falyn Fonoimoana/Avery Poppinga

OnlyFans Is Paying Pro Athletes What Their Sports Won’t

The adult-content platform is a reliable income source for niche athletes.
May 13, 2026

How Sports Graphic Designers Are Grappling With the Rise of AI Art

The release of ChatGPT 2.0 Images sparked a conversation among sports designers.
May 12, 2026

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

The drink is secondary to the wild vessel it comes in.
Matt Palumb
May 8, 2026

Pro Lacrosse’s Top Ref Is As Famous As the Players

The last celebrity referee is in the Premier Lacrosse League.
exclusive

Polymarket’s Soccer Spree Continues With Serie A Deal

It’s the third big soccer deal Polymarket has reached this year.
May 8, 2026

DraftKings, FanDuel Push Further Into Prediction Markets

“It’s one of our fastest to profitability business lines we’ve ever launched.”
Kalshi's logo is displayed on a smartphone placed on a reflective surface onto which a betting curve is projected in Creteil, France, on March 9, 2026, during a major scandal and a $54 million lawsuit concerning bets related to recent strikes in Iran. (Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE
May 13, 2026

N.M. Tribes Claim Kalshi Sports Markets Violate Federal Law

The suit cites the same law a Wisconsin judge said tribes can pursue claims over.
Sponsored

What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?

Dave Checketts on his time running the Knicks & Jazz, Jordan war stories, and his investment strategy across major sports leagues.
FanDuel
May 6, 2026

FanDuel CEO Pushed Out After Five Years Amid Stock Slump

Shares of Flutter, FanDuel’s parent company, are down more than 50% this year.
Dave Checketts
May 6, 2026

Former Knicks Pres: Leagues, Sportsbooks Have Gotten Too Cozy

“I’m not sure that’s a good thing, this coziness that we’ve established.”
In this photo illustration, a mobile device displays the Kalshi logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the prediction market platform in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto)
May 4, 2026

Leagues Weigh In on Future Prediction Market Regulation

Safeguarding integrity and protecting consumers were common themes.
The sun rises on the backside as horses work with their riders at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. April 30, 2026
May 1, 2026

Prediction Markets Finally Found a Sport They Can’t Offer

Here’s why you won’t see the Kentucky Derby on Kalshi or Polymarket.