- Super Bowl viewing figures continue to increase.
- Over $1 billion will be wagered on Super Bowl LIX.
- The Super Bowl is the most popular sporting event in North America.
Eighteen weeks of the regular season and three playoff rounds lead to the Super Bowl.
There is no bigger football betting event.
How Did the Super Bowl Become So Popular?
The Super Bowl became so popular because it is far more than a sporting event. From the vastly expensive commercials to the glitzy halftime show, there is something for everyone on Super Bowl Sunday.
It carries significance beyond fans of the two teams involved, giving a reason for people to get together. The drama of a winner-takes-all game makes it accessible to people with no more than a passing interest in the rest of the NFL season, unlike the drawn-out series in the NBA Finals, World Series, and Stanley Cup Finals.
First played in the 1960s, the Super Bowl benefited from a population desperate for televised entertainment. Over the decades that followed, the Super Bowl has become an integral part of American culture.
In recent years, the option to bet online has contributed to the Super Bowl’s increasing popularity. The American Gaming Association projects Americans will wager a record $1.39 billion on NFL betting markets for Super Bowl LIX.
Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association, said, “No single event unites sports fans like the Super Bowl, and that excitement extends to sports betting, with this year’s record legal handle reflecting its widespread appeal.”
Is the Super Bowl the Most Popular Event?
Yes, the Super Bowl is the most popular annual domestic sporting event in the world.
It is by far the most popular event in North America, with its viewing figures dwarfing the numbers from the other major sports.
The Olympics and FIFA World Cup generate larger worldwide audiences, but they only take place every four years. The UEFA Champions League final gets larger viewership numbers, though that covers an entire continent.