New York Surpasses Nevada for Top Super Bowl Betting Handle in the United States

For so long, Nevada has remained at the epicenter of Super Bowl betting. But not anymore.

On the heels of an epic Sunday showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, data from the United States’ betting on the Super Bowl is starting to trickle out. And while the information is not complete, it looks like the Nevada sports betting market is no longer the nerve center for wagering volume.

Early estimations have that honor belonging to sports betting in New York. Will these projections hold? And what is behind the overall shift? Let’s dig into the latest.

Here Is Why Nevada Used to be the Hub for Super Bowl Betting

It comes as little surprise that New York qualifies as a top Super Bowl betting market. After all, The Empire State has emerged as the most lucrative wagering market in the country, period. 

Since launching New York online sports betting back in 2022, residents have placed more than $60 billion worth of total wagers. No other state even comes close to matching that volume.

This includes sports betting in Nevada. The Silver State has taken in under $30 billion of total wagers during this same span, despite having a more established market. And this makes sense in the grand scheme. New York has more sports franchises, as well as around 16.3 million more people living in the state. They should be a hub for more overall business.

Of course, this prompts an interesting question: Why is Nevada considered the state to beat for Super Bowl sports betting? 

Part of the answer is obvious. Sports betting in Nevada has been legal for waaay longer than most other states when factoring in Las Vegas wagers. And yet, The Silver State has continued to host a ton of Super Bowl betting even after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act nearly seven years ago. 

Two factors continue to drive Nevada’s Super Bowl sports betting business. First and foremost, Las Vegas remains a tourist destination. Tens of millions of people travel there every year. And many of those travelers will place wagers at sportsbooks. 

This is especially true for those who come from states without sports betting. Nevada is a chance for them to partake without extra hassle. In fact, many dedicated football fans may plan their Las Vegas visits around the opportunity to bet on the Super Bowl.

New York’s Super Bowl Betting Handle Approaches $200 Million

Another factor that has boosted Nevada’s recent record-setting Super Bowl betting is the location of the game. Las Vegas played host to the Super Bowl year. Every market that carries the big game and offers sports betting is bound to see an uptick in business. 

With Super Bowl LIX taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, this past Sunday, Nevada forfeited that in-market advantage. This paved the way for New York sports betting to take center stage. And as Glenn PItcher of the Nevada Current writes, this is actually what The Empire State did:

“The buzz is that New York might have enough momentum to dethrone Nevada and claim the top spot for Super Bowl betting this year. The numbers don't lie. With an expected handle of over $190 million, New York is showing a 18.3 percent growth from last year. Compare that to Nevada's small annual decline, and it looks like the Empire State is on the verge of a major upset. New York is primed to take the lead with a projected $193 million in bets, with Nevada and New Jersey following closely behind.”

It bears reiterating that these numbers are not yet final. But these initial results tend to be accurate. The margins have to be needle thin for Nevada to retain its Super Bowl betting handle crown.

Betting on The Big Game Increased All Over The Country This Year

Granted, while The Silver State experienced a slight decline in Super Bowl betting, this is no time to sound the alarm. On the contrary, this trend was inevitable. 

Legal online sports betting in the United States has never been more accessible. Thirty-eight states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico offer some form of legal wagering. Missouri is set to join the fold later this year as well. 

Not surprisingly, Super Bowl betting was on the rise across most of the markets. Especially some of the newer ones. 

According to the Nevada Current, most of the 40 total markets offering some form of legal sports wagering saw sizable increases in Super Bowl betting. And this trend will likely continue for some time. Younger markets like New York and Puerto Rico have more untapped business to plumb. Veteran markets like Nevada and New Jersey, on the other hand, may have peaked now that they have more competition from so many other states.

None of which is necessarily bad for Nevada. Sports betting in The Silver State is still widely prevalent. And their 2025 Super Bowl betting handle is still expected to exceed nine figures. Opportunities for growth will emerge in coming years, too. The state just may need to readjust how much annual growth they can count on moving forward.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: