Americans Projected to Bet $16 Billion on Super Bowl

Super Bowl Sunday is gearing up as a big business opportunity for American gambling operators, as the American Gaming Association is expecting US punters to wager around $16 billion on the big game.

The projection was made off of a survey of 2,199 adults throughout the country, which indicated that 20% of Americans will place at least wager one bet on the game. This would be a 61% increase from the year prior, and the lobbying group also said that they're expecting the amount bet per person to rise.

The data suggests 30 million to place a bet online, at a retail book, or through a bookie, while 28 million will place a casual bet through pools or with friends.

There has been widespread legalization throughout the country since the Supreme Court ruled to allow individual states to determine whether they want to offer the activity, with 33 states and the District of Columbia offering betting in some form.

Regarding the survey, AGA CEO Bill Miller said, "Every year, the Super Bowl serves to highlight the benefits of legal sports betting: bettors are transitioning to the protections of the regulated market, leagues and sports media are seeing increased engagement, and legal operators are driving needed tax revenue to states across the country.

"As interest in legal sports betting continues to expand, the gaming industry remains committed to responsibly delivering world class entertainment, educating consumers about how to bet responsibly, and combating illegal gambling as we work to build a safe, competitive and sustainable legal market for all."

Super Bowl LVII will be played on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game starts 6:30 EST, although wagers on everything from the length of the national anthem to the result of the coin toss will be taking place shortly beforehand.