What color Gatorade will the winning coach get soaked in? Who will win the coin toss? These are a few trivial questions that actually mean a lot to people who bet on America's biggest game: the Super Bowl.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) released their first-ever estimate of illegal bets on the Super Bowl last week. According to the Association's press release, Americans will make $3.8 billion worth of illegal bets on Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, which is 38 times greater than the amount of legal bets that will be wagered in Las Vegas.
Legislation that called for the legalization of gambling in New Jersey casinos and racetracks was shot down a few months ago by a federal judge, who cited the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992. This piece of legislation made it illegal to place sports bets throughout the United States with the exception of Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana.
"Betting on the big game is a huge industry that keeps on growing," said Geoff Freeman, the president and CEO of the AGA. "This first-ever estimate comes at a time when Americans' attitudes toward regulated gaming continue to improve, and the AGA is closely examining the current state of sports betting, the laws that govern it and the best way forward for the gaming industry."
The Super Bowl is the single-most wagered sporting event of the year, according to the AGA, and we've provided a list of provided odds that people can bet on.
- Seahawks +1
- Patriots -1
- Over/Under 47 ½
- Seahawks Total Team Points O/U 24
- Patriots Total Team Points O/U 24
- Longest Field Goal O/U 44 ½ yards
- Total Field Goals Made O/U 3 ½
- Total Touchdowns Scored O/U 5 ½
- Total Number of Fumbles O/U ½
- Total Number of INTs O/U 1 ½
- Super Bowl MVP (various odds based on players provided by sportsbook)
- Will QBs throw a touchdown or INT first?
- Will first pass of the game be complete or incomplete?
- Which half will there be more points score in?
- Which quarter will the most points be scored in?
- Will the coin toss be heads or tails?
- Who will win the coin toss?
- What color Gatorade will be poured on winning coach? (various choices provided by sportsbook)
These are just a few of many bets that can be placed on America's biggest game. As gaming and betting grows in popularity throughout the United States, illegal numbers will be tracked more closely in the coming years and this is the first Super Bowl in an era where the legalization of gambling has perhaps been discussed the most.
