One of the most memorable Super Bowl games in recent memory attracted plenty of action with legal sportsbooks in New Jersey, according to state gaming regulators.
Preliminary figures released Wednesday by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement show a nearly 30% increase in the amount of money gambled on Super Bowl 58 compared to the previous year.
The DGE said approximately $141.6 million was gambled with the state’s 12 retail sportsbooks and 18 NJ sports betting apps.
Kansas City’s Super Bowl 58 win also a win for NJ bettors
The dramatic 25-22 overtime win by the Kansas City Chiefs over the San Fransisco 49ers on Feb. 11 was a huge win for gamblers across the country.
The underdog Chiefs (+1.5) winning in walk-off fashion during the extended period but keeping the game’s total under the 47.5-point line cost bookies big time.
New Jersey sportsbooks paid out nearly $133.1 million on Super Bowl 58 bets, meaning the operators generated just $8.5 million in NJ sports betting revenue, according to state regulators.
2024 Super Bowl sees bounce-back after down year in 2023
Nonetheless, the big game was a boost for NJ sportsbooks. According to the DGE, this year’s Super Bowl saw considerably more money gambled than last year’s total of $109.3 million.
Last year’s Super Bowl featured the South Jersey-preferred Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to the Chiefs. There were 27 active online sportsbooks in New Jersey for last year’s game. But that didn’t help much, as the Garden State reported just $109 million in handle.
Super Bowl 56 is the high-water mark for the total amount wagered with NJ sportsbooks for the big game. More than $143.7 million was bet for the game between the winning Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
Sports gambling was legalized in NJ in 2018. The first Super Bowl following that, played in 2019, saw only $35 million bet with NJ sportsbooks, according to the DGE.
Since 2021 (Super Bowl 55), at least $100 million has been legally wagered with NJ sportsbooks each year.
