As the 2023 NFL season launches on September 7, reigning champs Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Detroit Lions, sparking a nationwide gridiron frenzy. The game opens with the Chiefs as favorites, but the Lions are poised to pounce on any missteps.
NFL Games: A Betting Bonanza
According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), a staggering 73.5 million US adults plan to wager on NFL games this season, marking a 60% increase compared to 2022. A significant portion, 19%, will place bets through online sportsbooks or mobile operators, reflecting a 56% surge from last year.
The growth in sports betting can be traced back to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that legalized it. With 34 states and Washington, D.C. now allowing sports wagering, the industry has flourished. Key players like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars have embraced online platforms, making betting accessible and secure.
NFL’s Big Deals
The NFL has inked a substantial $1 billion partnership with major operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars for a five-year duration. These partnerships have expanded to include in-stadium sportsbooks and NFL-themed slot machines in casinos nationwide.
While past player involvements in betting operations led to suspensions and penalties, the NFL now views sports gambling differently. Despite previous hiccups, the 2023 NFL season promises to be a thrilling spectacle, drawing record numbers of American fans and bettors into the action.
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About AGA
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the driving force behind the gaming industry, uniting members from every facet of the sector to address intricate challenges that require collective action. Their mission is to cultivate a favorable policy and business landscape that nurtures legal, regulated gaming.
As the foremost national trade organization representing the U.S. casino sector, AGA brings together a diverse membership, including commercial and tribal casino operators, sports betting and iGaming firms, gaming suppliers, and more, collectively steering a $261 billion industry that sustains 1.8 million jobs nationwide.
AGA conducts comprehensive, inclusive processes to formulate industry stances on vital matters, championing policies that stimulate reinvestment and innovation. Their unwavering focus lies in advocating for issues that yield the greatest impact and value for the industry and its members.
About NFL
The NFL stands as a pinnacle of American sports, comprising 32 teams equally distributed across the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Renowned as one of the premier professional sports leagues in North America and the paramount realm of American football globally, it proudly calls New York City its headquarters.
An NFL season commences with a three-week preseason in August, followed by a thrilling 18-week regular season running from early September to early January. During this period, each of the 32 teams engages in 17 games and enjoys one bye week. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference, comprising four division winners and three wild card teams, embark on an exhilarating single-elimination playoff tournament. The grand culmination of this journey unfolds in the form of the Super Bowl, contested in February and featuring the champions of the AFC and NFC conferences.
The NFL’s inception dates back to 1920 when it emerged as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). Two years later, it assumed the title of the National Football League for the 1922 season. Initially, championships were determined based on season-end standings. However, a playoff system was introduced in 1933, leading to the NFL Championship Game, which continued until 1966. Subsequently, following the merger of the NFL with the rival American Football League (AFL), the Super Bowl made its debut in 1967. It has since remained the epic concluding spectacle of each NFL season, firmly established after the merger’s finalization in 1970.
The NFL reigns as the world’s wealthiest professional sports league in terms of revenue, boasting the most valuable teams. Its games draw the highest average attendance (67,591) of any professional sports league globally and enjoy unmatched popularity in the United States. The Super Bowl ranks among the most significant club sporting events worldwide, with individual games consistently ranking as some of the most-watched television programs in American history. In fact, many Super Bowl broadcasts occupy prominent positions in Nielsen’s Top 5 list of all-time most-watched U.S. television broadcasts, a status achieved by 2015.
The Green Bay Packers hold the distinction of securing the most combined NFL championships, amassing thirteen titles, with nine won before the advent of the Super Bowl era and four Super Bowl victories thereafter. In the post-Super Bowl era, the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers share the honor of the most Super Bowl victories, each boasting six championships. The reigning NFL champions are the Kansas City Chiefs, who triumphed over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.