Record 46.6M Bettors Plan To Wager on NFL This Season

On the eve of the 2022 NFL Kickoff Game, American sportsbooks are bracing for one of their biggest seasons yet.

Research from the American Gaming Association provided to Front Office Sports shows that a record 46.6 million American adults plan to bet on the NFL for the 2022 season.

According to the most recent census data, that’s 18% of all American adults — up 3% from the 2021 season.

Since then, several states have legalized or expanded sports betting, including Kansas and New York, with Massachusetts expected to follow. More than half — 132 million — of American adults can place legal bets in their states.

• 49% of NFL bettors (23 million) will wager online this season, up 18% from 2021.
• 23% (10.6 million) will bet with an in-person sportsbook, up 2% from last year.
• 13% (6.1 million) say they will wager with a bookie, down 2% from 2021 and 5% from 2020.
• Bookie usage is 50% higher in states without legalized sports betting.

The increasing legality of sports betting is clearly affecting the industry, as 90% of past-year sports bettors say it is very or somewhat important to bet with a legal, regulated sportsbook.

A Safer Bet

“Consumers clearly want legal sports betting options and understand the regulated industry’s foundational commitments to responsibility,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

For September’s Responsible Gaming Education Month, the AGA is helping bettors find resources to help with problematic gambling — 92% of bettors are aware of at least one responsible gaming resource.