Thursday, September 24, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

Sportsbooks Could Spend $1B on Football Ads

  • The league’s TV partners will be able to sell up to six gambling spots per game. 
  • A record 45.2 million Americans are expected to bet on the new NFL season.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

With the NFL allowing sports betting ads for the first time, operators could spend up to $1 billion on football advertising this season.

The stigma surrounding betting is gone, according to FanDuel marketing executive Andrew Sneyd. The company launched its first national ad campaign with the aim of becoming “the next iconic sports brand in America.”

The NFL has signed deals with seven sportsbook operators: FanDuel, Caesars, DraftKings, FOX Bet, BetMGM, PointsBet, and WynnBet. The league’s TV partners will be able to sell up to six gambling spots per game.

  • Sports marketer Bob Dorfman predicts operators will spend between $500 million and $1 billion on football ads this year. 
  • FanDuel, Caesars, and DraftKings spent $314.6 million on ads last year, up from $84.1 million in 2019, according to Kantar Media.
  • Pro and college football could attract more than $20 billion in bets, per PlayUSA. 

A record 45.2 million Americans are expected to bet on the new NFL season, per the American Gaming Association, up 36% from last year.

The influx of cash is welcome for media companies that have lost billions during the pandemic. CBS sales executive Tony Taranto calls gaming the most significant new category in a generation.”

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

Exclusive

How House Republicans Could Make or Break College Sports Bill

The Protect College Sports Act faces potential opposition from many House Republicans.
Oct 3, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils fans look on against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second period at Mullett Arena

ASU Hockey Coach Declines to Answer Questions About Player’s Collapse

Greg Powers cited an ongoing investigation around Matthew Mayich’s collapse.
Exclusive

Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris Can Play in UFL This Spring

The pair have been blocked from college football and the NFL.
Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer speaks to athletic director Greg Byrne prior to the game against the Louisiana State Tigers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images
Exclusive

Alabama AD Greg Byrne Talks CFP Expansion, Life After Saban

Byrne also addressed jersey patch sponsorships and challenges with NIL.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/24/26 – NFL Ratings Rebound, Dart’s Season Over, Haliburton Flies Southwest

0:00

Featured Today

Hot & Social/Mets

Sports Teams Are Playing a New Role: Matchmaker

The latest promotion at the stadium? Love.
Exclusive
September 18, 2026

Vicious Infighting Is Jeopardizing the Future of Women’s Baseball

The WPBL’s own CEO admits there’s a “power struggle.”
September 17, 2026

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are forgoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.
Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena
September 10, 2026

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
Asset Class

The Firms That Power Prediction-Market Trades

“Essentially, our role is to help bridge demand across time and space.”
Jason Robins Front Office Sports
September 15, 2026

DraftKings CEO Fires Back at Headline Calling Company ‘Struggling’

“We’re doing great,” Jason Robins said in response to the article.
Apr 1, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) brings the ball up the court against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Delta Center.
September 22, 2026

Ryan Smith Doesn’t Want Betting to Take Over Sports

“I think we need a little more moderation in all of it.”
Sponsored

How Ryan Smith Is Building the Future of Sports in Utah

Utah Jazz and Mammoth owner talks from tech to team ownership.
First at FOS
September 15, 2026

WNBA Union Rips NBA for Exclusion From Betting Letter

Five men’s sports leagues sent a memo to regulators about betting-related harassment.
September 14, 2026

Female Athletes Rail Against Sydney Sweeney Nude Novig Ad

Pro and amateur female athletes say the spot sexualizes women in sports.
September 10, 2026

Novig CEO: Sydney Sweeney Ad Puts Us in ‘National Discourse’

Sweeney got equity in the company, and the racy ad went viral.
September 9, 2026

Prediction Market Ad Blitz Gets Backlash

Platforms are trying to capitalize on the start of the NFL season.