Americans are projected to wager a record $30 billion on the NFL this season, marking an 8.5 percent increase from last year’s total of $27.6 billion.

The NFL has long been the most popular sport in the United States, but in 2025, it is increasingly becoming the centerpiece of a nationwide betting frenzy.

According to new estimates from the American Gaming Association (AGA), American bettors are expected to place a staggering \$30 billion in wagers on NFL games this season at legal U.S. sportsbooks, a figure that would shatter all previous records.

The projection represents an 8.5 percent increase over last season’s estimated handle of \$27.6 billion, a jump that underscores both the expansion of legal sports betting and the cultural grip the NFL continues to hold over fans.

“This season, fans have more ways than ever to responsibly engage with the game they love,” AGA president and CEO Bill Miller said. “Legal sports betting enhances the fun and friendly competition that make NFL games and traditions even more special.”

Miller also emphasized the industry’s commitment to responsible play, urging football fans to “have a game plan before placing a bet” so that wagering remains an enjoyable part of the gameday experience.

The growth is fueled by multiple factors, including the rapid expansion of legal betting markets across the United States.

Since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, more than 30 states have legalized sports betting, with others considering legislation.

Major players like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars have aggressively competed for market share, offering promotions, mobile betting platforms, and live in-stadium wagering options that have turned NFL Sundays into one of the busiest betting days of the week.

One need only look at the most recent Super Bowl to understand the magnitude of the industry’s growth. In February, the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles generated an anticipated \$1.39 billion in wagers at legal sportsbooks.

That figure represented an 11.2 percent increase from the previous year’s \$1.25 billion bet on the Chiefs’ clash with the San Francisco 49ers. The Super Bowl has consistently stood as the single biggest event for sportsbooks, and this year was no exception.

“Super Bowl LIX was the single-biggest betting event in the history of BetMGM,” said senior trading manager Christian Cipollini. “It took the most bets, and was one of the best single-game results in company history.”

DraftKings reported equally eye-popping numbers.

“There were over 12 million bets placed on the game with DraftKings across 2.5-plus million active customers,” a spokesperson revealed, noting that the app climbed to No. 3 overall in the App Store’s top free downloads, and secured the No. 1 spot in the Sports category.

The sheer volume of wagers underscored how mainstream sports betting has become, particularly around marquee NFL matchups.

The impact is not only national but local as well. Sportsbooks inside stadiums, such as FedExField in Washington or State Farm Stadium in Arizona, have become attractions on gameday, with fans placing bets in real time while watching their team.

Casinos in states like New Jersey, Nevada, and Connecticut have transformed into betting hubs, where entire sections of sports bars are devoted to NFL Sundays,

complete with live odds boards and prop bets ranging from the length of the national anthem to the number of touchdowns a quarterback might throw The NFL itself has embraced this new era.

After years of keeping a distance from gambling, the league has now partnered with major sportsbooks, promoting responsible betting campaigns during broadcasts and signing sponsorship deals that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

Television coverage is now interspersed with betting odds, win probabilities, and prop bet discussions, reflecting how deeply wagering has been woven into the fan experience.

For many, it is the variety of bets that has made the NFL the most attractive option for gamblers. While point spreads and moneylines remain staples, the popularity of prop bets—ranging from player statistics to live in-game outcomes—has exploded.

Fantasy football enthusiasts, already accustomed to tracking player performance closely, have transitioned seamlessly into wagering on individual outcomes, further driving engagement.

But along with the excitement comes caution. The AGA and sportsbooks alike continue to stress the importance of responsible gambling. Operators have implemented features such as deposit limits, time restrictions, and self-exclusion tools to prevent problematic behavior.

“With strong consumer protections and a shared commitment to responsibility, the legal, regulated sports betting industry encourages all football fans to ensure their gameday experience—regardless of the outcome of a bet or the game—remains enjoyable,” Miller said.

The rise in betting has also brought tax revenue to states, with billions flowing into public budgets that fund education, infrastructure, and social services.

In New York, for example, mobile sports betting generated over \$1 billion in tax revenue in just two years, much of it driven by NFL wagers. Similar booms have been seen in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, where football is deeply embedded in the culture.

For fans, though, the appeal is more personal. Betting adds stakes to games that might otherwise be meaningless, turning a late-season matchup between two non-contenders into must-watch television if money is on the line.

A fan in Las Vegas summed it up after last year’s playoff run: “I don’t even like the Jaguars, but when you’ve got \$50 riding on Trevor Lawrence hitting 250 passing yards, suddenly you’re the biggest Jaguars fan in the world.”

As the 2025 NFL season kicks off, sportsbooks are bracing for unprecedented action.

With record-breaking projections and more states joining the betting fold, the NFL is set to not only dominate the sports calendar but also solidify its place as the epicenter of America’s sports betting boom.

Whether it’s a casual \$10 bet on a parlay or a high-roller dropping thousands on a single game, one thing is clear: football Sundays have never been more lucrative—or more intense.

And with \$30 billion expected to be wagered this season, the NFL is no longer just a game—it’s a national betting phenomenon.