Despite stiff competition from the sports betting industry’s largest market, New Jersey broke its own state record with $143.7 million wagered on Super Bowl LVI.
The record total from the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals — which includes online and retail — was up 22.4% from the $117.4 million bettors shelled out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs last year.
New Jersey reached the milestone despite an influx of sports bettors in neighboring New York who wagered on a Super Bowl for the first time. In January, the Empire State handled more than $1.6 billion in its first month of legal sports betting — a single-month record for any state.
Super Bowl LVI provided other states with record handles thanks to the growth of legal sports betting throughout the U.S.
- Nevada reported a record handle of $179.8 million, a 32% uptick year-over-year.
- Illinois took in $60.5 million for the game, up $15 million compared to Super Bowl LV.
- Montana saw $700,000 sift through its sportsbooks, a 41% increase year-over-year.
Sunday’s game also created a lucrative opportunity for bettors in New Jersey, as the net win by operators in the state decreased 33% from last year to $7.8 million.
Familiar Territory
New Jersey is familiar with setting records. Last year, the Garden State reported a record handle of $10.9 billion in 2021, up from a previous total of $6 billion in 2020.
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