Last night, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling 25-22 victory to secure their second consecutive Super Bowl title. The game took place at Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium, where GeoComply conducted betting activity checks throughout the entire weekend. These checks were carried out in US states where sports betting is legal, as well as in the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico. It is worth noting that Florida was not included in the checks, as the Seminole tribe introduced online betting through Hard Rock Bet in November 2022. GeoComply considers the increase in geolocation checks as a positive sign for legal sports betting in the US, highlighting a shift towards a regulated, taxed, and safe betting environment.
One noteworthy statistic from GeoComply is the record pre-game activity. In the minutes leading up to kick-off, there were 14.75 thousand transactions per second, the highest ever recorded and nearly double the previous year’s peak. Additionally, there was a 15% increase in active accounts, with a reported 8.5 million accounts across the 28 legal US markets. Furthermore, over 1.7 million new users signed up for legal online betting accounts in the two weeks leading to Super Bowl LVIII. Looking ahead to the entire 2023-24 NFL season, GeoComply customers added more than 13.7 million new accounts, marking a 28% increase compared to the previous campaign.
According to GeoComply co-founder and CEO Anna Sainsbury, “The continued transition to the legal market set the stage for a historic first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, and the record-breaking results we saw did not disappoint. We are proud to help foster the growth of a regulated industry that prioritizes accountability, security, and player protection. Compliance remains our mission, as we strive to assist our customers in expanding their businesses responsibly and reliably. Each year the legal market grows is good news for consumers and states, but bad news for illegal offshore sportsbooks that become marginalized.”
More data regarding betting volumes from Super Bowl LVIII is expected to be released in the coming weeks. The American Gaming Association (AGA) predicted record-breaking activity for the big game, forecasting that Americans would wager $23.10 billion on the Super Bowl. This forecast, based on a survey of 2,204 adults to predict wagering activity, anticipated a total that is 35.0% higher than the wagers placed during Super Bowl LVII. It was also estimated that a record-breaking 67.8 million people would engage in betting activities, a 35.0% increase from the previous year’s Super Bowl. Of those participating in betting, 42.7 million were expected to do so online, at a retail sportsbook, or with a bookmaker. Ahead of kick-off, Buck Wargo provided insight into the impact hosting the Super Bowl could have on Las Vegas in a special article for InnovateChange
