Despite Super Bowl record-breaking figures, AGA warns Nevada sports books outdone by massive illegal market

American Gaming Association (AGA) Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Rayme released the following statement
after the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced that a record $138.48 million was bet on Super Bowl 51 at Nevada sports books:

“Even as Nevada sports books break records, the amount wagered legally pales in comparison to the thriving illegal market, in which fans just bet $4.5 billion on the big game. After 25 years of a failing federal ban, it’s time for Congress to take a commonsense approach to sports betting that generates revenue, protects consumers and helps fans engage with the games they enjoy.”

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Last week, AGA released estimates that showed Americans were poised to bet $4.7 billion on Super Bowl 51. Yet 97 percent of bets – approximately $4.5 billion – would be placed illegally

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The _Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, dictates that Nevada is the only state permitted to offer traditional sports betting. Despite this ban, sports betting has only grown more prevalent. In fact, in 2016 alone, Americans wagered an estimated $154 billion on all sports, nearly all of it through bookies and offshore, illicit web sites.

Further, the United States Supreme Court is considering hearing a sports betting case that could dramatically alter the country’s sports betting landscape. Earlier this year, the Court asked the U.S. Solicitor General to submit a brief in the New Jersey-led sports betting petition. AGA previously submitted an amicus brief urging the Court to consider the failed, unconstitutional sports betting ban.

Fans who want to help lift the federal ban can join the grassroots campaign at SportsBettingInAmerica.com [3].

The numbers of the Super Bowl

The $138.48 million wagered beats last year's record mark of $132.54 million. The books held 7.9 percent of the amount wagered and recorded their seventh-most lucrative Super Bowl ever, when the New England Patriots erased a 25-point deficit and beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.

Since the Nevada Gaming Control Board began tracking wagering on the Super Bowl in 1991, the state's regulated sportsbooks have come out ahead in 25 of 27 games. The books are up a net $173.6 million on the Super Bowl during that span, capped by this year's big win.

The Patriots covered as 3-point favorites, and the game went over the consensus closing total of 57. The favorite and over is normally a bad combination for the books, but that was not the case this year.

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The MGM sportsbook reported winning multiple seven figures on the game off of extremely balanced action

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Jay Rood, vice president of race and sports, said he ended up with 51 percent of the straight-bet money on the Patriots and approximately 1,000 more bets on New England.

"We did well," Rood said. "It dug us out of the hole. We needed this to make up for such a really bad end to the season."

The action was so evenly distributed on the point spread, total and props that most sportsbooks entered the game in a no-lose situation.

"It would have been difficult not to win money on a day like this," Ed Salmons, Westgate SuperBook assistant manager, said.

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The SuperBook saw a 20 percent increase in handle over last year's Super Bowl

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The South Point casino also reported record handle at its shop. Sportsbook operator CG Technology, Station Casinos, Caesars, South Point and the Wynn also reported coming out ahead on the game. But the books did have a late sweat.

With the point spread never moving off New England -3 and the over/under total sitting at 59 for the majority of the days leading up to the Super Bowl, a 31-28 Patriots win would have resulted in a push on the side and the total. The game went into overtime tied 28-28. New England running back James White's winning touchdown in overtime helped the books avoid what would have been a lengthy process of refunding millions of dollars in bets.

"I'm sure that almost gave everyone a heart attack," Jason Simbal, vice president of risk for CG Technology, said.

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While betting interest surged, television viewership declined. According ESPN senior writer Darren Rovell, 111.3 million viewers tuned in Sunday night, the lowest since 2014

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"Usually, television ratings equate to betting handle," said Station Casinos vice president of race and sports Art Manteris. "But that wasn't the case this year, as betting handle in Nevada continues to soar to all-time heights. The live, in-game betting, I think, played a role in that. In-game betting really came of age yesterday during the Super Bowl."

William Hill's sportsbook was the only Las Vegas shop that reported coming out on the short end. A flurry of in-game bets on the Patriots at odds of 10-1 or greater perpetrated a six-figure loss for William Hill. In the fourth quarter, New England was listed as high as a 16-1 under to win the game. William Hill took only a couple of small bets at that price.

There were some disappointed Falcons bettors, who were willing to lay a heavy price on what seemed like a guaranteed Atlanta win. One bettor at William Hill risked $3,000 on the Falcons at -2,000 odds. The bet would have paid $150.