Record 73 million Americans plan to bet on NFL

A record 73.5 million Americans plan to wager on the NFL this season, according to the American Gaming Association’s latest survey on Americans’ betting plans.

Last year, an estimated 46 million people bet on the NFL in the US, according to the AGA. The association said its survey found 19 per cent of American adults plan to place a bet online, at a casino or with a bookie this year, up 56 per cent from a year ago. 

Out of all US adults, 35.1 million people, or 14 per cent, plan to bet online, while 13.6 million, or five per cent, plan to bet at a physical sportsbook.

Self-identified NFL fans are expected to place more bets than ever this season, with 37 per cent projected to place a wager. That’s up 42 per cent from last year. Sportsbooks anticipate a boon as the first NFL game of the season kicks off .

“We expect this to be the most bet NFL season in BetMGM’s history,” Seamus Magee, trading team lead at BetMGM, told CNBC in an email.