The Super Bowl hype is growing across America, with a record 50.4million Americans predicted to bet up to $16billion on Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The number, forecast by the American Gaming Association, would be a record is a 61 per cent increase on last year and includes legal and illegal gambling and bets made among friends.
Legal sports betting has launched in 32 states in America and Kansas, as well as Ohio, Maryland and Massachusetts, have launched online betting since the last Super Bowl.
Sunday's game, at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is the first Super Bowl to have a retail sportsbook at the venue, operated by BetMGM. It will be open on the day of the game to ticket holders.
Every year, the Super Bowl serves to highlight the benefits of legal sports betting,' Bill Miller, CEO and president of the AGA, said.
A record 50.4million adults predicted to bet up to $16billion on Sunday's Super Bowl
The game is expected to see a rise of 61 per cent in bets placed compared to last year's event
'Bettors are transitioning to the protections of the regulated market; leagues and sports media are seeing increased engagement, and legal operators are driving needed tax revenue to states across the country.'
The Eagles are narrow favorite to edge the Chiefs in Sunday's game, which would be their first Super Bowl triumph since 2018 when they beat New England 41-33.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, won the Super Bowl in 2020 and lost the following year to Tampa Bay and Tom Brady.
People may prefer the Eagles to the Chiefs because there are concerns over the condition of Kansas quarterback Patrick Mahomes, after he recently sprained his ankle.
But speaking Monday, he was confident it will not hold him back by the weekend.
'It’s definitely better,' Mahomes said on Monday - the first media day of the week on Super Bowl Opening Night.
'You never know exactly until you get to the game obviously, but it’s definitely in a better position than it was at this time before the last game.
'We’ll keep pushing it but not doing too much ’cause you don’t want to have any setbacks, but I haven’t had any since the game at least.'
Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs has moved to downplay fears about his injured ankle
Jalen Hurts, meanwhile, is the quarterback looking to lead the Eagles to Super Bowl victory
English (United States)