Their report from Thursday shows an 8.5% climb from last year’s $27.5bn, showing that regulated betting keeps spreading in the country. This prediction tracks bets placed at regular sportsbooks in 38 states and the District of Columbia, places where sports betting is allowed. Bill Miller, AGA President and CEO, explained that legal, regulated sports betting comes with good consumer protections and responsibility. He asked football fans to think ahead before betting so they can keep enjoying the game, no matter the outcome.

The AGA used future bets like Super Bowl winning odds, plus bets made on single games from the preseason until Super Bowl LX to make their calculation. Even though legal betting goes up, AGA points out that this regulated sector is just a small part of the whole money Americans bet. Recent research from AGA shows Americans put around $674bn per year with offshore and non-legal operators, highlighting ongoing issues with unlawful gambling.

Legal sportsbooks see the NFL as the main force that raises betting activity. Industry experts mention this focus matches with football’s importance in culture and bigger money connected to every game.

Legal Gambling Reduces Problem Gambling Cases

Legal sports betting’s growth has happened alongside talks about gambling responsibly. A 2024 survey by the Council on Problem Gambling reports risky habits have levelled off after going up between 2018 and 2021, which was the period that had the pandemic and quick growth in betting choices. Officials and groups staying alert to these patterns see that regulated markets have good points but also risks that need watching.

More scrutiny now targets athletes and officials as betting grows. Pro sports leagues like the NFL have reported more online threats against players, coaches, and referees because unhappy bettors make such moves. League officials say their security teams watch what’s posted on social media, look into threats, and run background checks to keep participants safe. This shows a bigger push to deal with worries about the game’s fairness and balance the money flow that legal betting gives to pro sports.