• Loading stock data...
Saturday, December 27, 2025

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.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) and head coach Nick Sirianni celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome

From Record Super Bowl Ratings to WNBA CBA Talks: 2025 in Charts

Seven data visualizations that defined the business of sports in 2025.

3 Teams That Got Big Stadium Subsidies Before The Chiefs

Economists say teams, not taxpayers, win when stadiums are publicly funded.
Dec 25, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA Christmas Day logo during the second half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center.

NBA Has Superior Slate Entering Christmas Face-Off With NFL

The NFL has scheduled Christmas games for six consecutive seasons.

Featured Today

Heated Rivalry (L to R) - Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in Episode 104 of Heated Rivalry. Cr. Sabrina Lantos © 2025

Hockey Needed Some Virality. Then Came ‘Heated Rivalry’

No one was prepared for the Canadian show’s smash success.
Rob Manfred
exclusive
December 23, 2025

MLB Teams Fear League Will Pick Winners and Losers in Tech

One company under consideration was founded by a top MLB exec’s uncle.
December 23, 2025

What It Takes to Pull Off Florida’s First Outdoor NHL Game

The Rangers will face the Panthers in Miami’s first NHL Winter Classic.
December 14, 2025

How Pickleball Became One Massive Private-Equity Rollup

Pickleball roads lead back to billionaire Tom Dundon.
Emmanuel Clase

2025 Was the Year of Sports Gambling Scandals

Gambling scandals across pro and college sports went mainstream in 2025.
A view of the FanDuel Sportsbook betting area at Belterra Park Cincinnati.
December 22, 2025

FanDuel Joins Prediction-Market Fray As New App Goes Live

FanDuel Predicts is live in five states.
Dec 20, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Andre Burakovsky (28) celebrates with center Ryan Greene (20) his goal scored in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.
exclusive
December 23, 2025

Blackhawks Are First Pro Team to Make Direct Deal With Kalshi

The deal builds on Kalshi’s existing partnership with the NHL.
Sponsored

The Hidden Tech Behind Every Touchdown

Nearly two-thirds of NFL stadiums already rely on Cisco networks, and the Super Bowl will showcase the full scale of the partnership.
DraftKings
December 19, 2025

DraftKings, Coinbase Dive Into Prediction Markets in Wild Week

DraftKings Predictions offers sports-related contracts in states without legal betting.
Dec 13, 2025; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Kansas State Wildcats guard PJ Haggerty (4) drives around Creighton Bluejays guard Josh Dix (4) during the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha.
December 18, 2025

Kalshi Under Fire for Potential Transfer Portal Event Contracts

Polymarket has already had at least one live transfer portal market.
December 17, 2025

Heat Still in Limbo With Terry Rozier: ‘No Obvious Solution’

Terry Rozier was arrested in October in a gambling case.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen runs with the ball looking to throw to a receiver during second half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 7, 2025
December 12, 2025

NFL, NCAA Rail Against Prediction Markets: ‘Catastrophic’

Executives for the leagues offered fresh criticisms of the lack of regulation.