Monthly Archives: September 2019

Report: Nearly 40 Million Americans to Wager on the NFL

Thirty-eight million American adults—15 percent of the U.S. adult population—are planning to bet on National Football League (NFL) games this season, according to a new survey by the American Gaming Association (AGA).

The rapid expansion of legal sports betting has provided increased opportunity for millions of Americans to bet safely with a licensed, regulated sportsbook. This year, 7 million Americans say they will bet legally at a casino sportsbook, 1.2 million more than last year, and tens of millions of others will place bets with friends, participate in pools or squares contests or place their bets online.

“During this centennial NFL season, more Americans than ever before can wager on football in safe, well-regulated environments,” said Bill Miller, AGA’s president and chief executive officer. “It is clear that as jurisdictions enact policies to provide a legal alternative to the dangerous illegal market, consumers follow suit and seek the protections they deserve.”

The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, also found that nearly one-in-four (24%) American adults say they would place a bet on the NFL if it was legal in their state. As legal sports betting continues to expand, fan engagement with NFL games will see an impact:

  • 39 percent of avid NFL fans plan to place a bet on the NFL this season.
  • 75 percent of NFL bettors say they are more likely to watch a game they bet on.
  • 28 percent are more likely to attend a game they have bet on.
  • 51 percent are more likely to watch pregame shows and commentary.
  • 63 percent are more likely to gather with friends or family to watch a game.

“Sports betting clearly impacts fans’ enthusiasm for engaging with the NFL. As the legal market grows, it is imperative for gaming and adjacent industries to focus on implementing and promoting legal sports betting responsibly to protect consumers and ensure the viability of legal markets to the continued detriment of illegal operators,” Miller added.

Among NFL fans, the New England Patriots are the favorite to win the Super Bowl (23 percent), followed by the Kansas City Chiefs (8 percent), Dallas Cowboys (7 percent) and New Orleans Saints (6 percent).

Background

  • Since the U.S. Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act—the failed federal ban on sports betting—in May 2018, more than $10 billion has been legally wagered on sports.
  • Thirteen states now offer legal, regulated sports betting, with five more states and the District of Columbia poised to open legal markets in the coming months.
  • Last September, an AGA study showed that the NFL stands to gain $2.3 billion annually from legalized sports betting, largely due to increased fan engagement.
  • AGA’s Sports Betting Consumer Study found sports bettors are more interested in the NFL than any other professional sports league (93 percent interested).

BETMAPS Launches the First Sports Betting Social Directory

BetMaps, Inc. proudly announces the launch of the BETMAPS website and mobile app. BETMAPS is a place where sports fans, interested in legal sports betting, can find and compare nearby sportsbooks. With BETMAPS, users can read reviews, compare features, find events and specials, and connect with sportsbooks directly.

Sports betting is now legal in 18 states plus Washington, DC. Mobile betting has led the sports betting scene, with up to 85% of bets placed online. That’s great news for the industry. But for some, online betting lacks that loud, exciting, and social element which only a raucous sportsbook can provide.

To attract a new generation of sports fans, sportsbooks have built up their offerings. With their “man-cave” style furniture, pool tables, bar games, and huge walls of ultra-high-definition TVs, today’s sportsbooks have a lot to offer patrons. Other venues like sports bars, taverns, and stadiums are chomping at the bit to run their own sports betting operation. Each venue has something different to offer. However, one thing is clear: for a consumer, sorting through the different options is a tough task.

BetMaps, Inc.

“Through our platform, users can easily search for that perfect place. They can find a spot to make a bet, watch a game, soak up the atmosphere, and hopefully bring home a W,” said BetMaps, Inc. CEO and Founder Isaac Khan. “We do the work, so they can focus on enjoying the game.”

Khan, a pharmacist by trade, gained valuable experience when he started a successful consulting business. An amateur sports bettor at best, Khan saw a growing industry in need of a platform. The opportunity to shake things up was too hard to pass up. So Khan banded together with a few fellow sports fans to change the way consumers choose where to bet on sports. The BETMAPS team are professionals from diverse fields including law, finance, politics, and IT. After many long nights and early morning meetings across tables at sparsely-populated coffee shops and sports bars, BETMAPS has launched a game-changing platform.

Khan concluded, “We are in the early stages of legal sports betting, what better time than now to jump in. We’ll grow and adapt with this space and provide long-term value to our users.”