Super Bowl 59 Sports Betting Activity Reaches New Highs
US sportsbooks saw a 14% yearly increase in active player accounts during Super Bowl weekend, according to GeoComply.
GeoComply reported that legal US sports betting apps registered 724,400 new accounts during the weekend of Super Bowl 59. New Orleans, the host city of Sunday’s big game, had more than triple the number of active accounts from the previous weekend.
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Louisiana sees jump in Super Bowl betting
While in-state wagering totals won’t be announced until March, Louisiana sports betting will benefit significantly from hosting the game. Louisiana was outside the top 15 legal betting markets nationwide during the 2024 NFL season, but New Orleans was the center of all betting attention this past Sunday.
GeoComply reported 535,000 geolocation pings from 60,400 accounts in the Big Easy over the weekend.
The geolocation pings represented a 150% increase from the previous week, or two-and-a-half times as much legal sportsbook activity during Super Bowl weekend. Active accounts represented a 220% weekly increase.
Super Bowl wagering predictions ranged from $1.39 billion from the American Gaming Association to more than $1.5 billion from LegalSportsReport data and policy analyst Eric Ramsey.
While either of the above totals would break a new record, GeoComply’s 14% yearly increase in new accounts suggests double-digit improvements from last year’s $1.34 billion. If that happens, Ramsey’s estimate looks right on the money.
Largest growth in states banning offshore sportsbooks
Data from Super Bowl weekend showed that, on average, the growth rates among active sportsbooks were twice as high in states that have taken regulatory action against offshore sportsbooks.
Following last year’s Super Bowl, GeoComply published a video showcasing the prevalence of unregulated, illegal online gambling websites and the risks they pose to regulated markets and their customers. The video challenged state and federal lawmakers to take a stricter approach to preventing illegal gambling activity.
Michigan was the first to respond, serving Bovada with a cease-and-desist letter in May. Over a dozen states followed as the year progressed, bookended by Arizona’s ousting of Bovada in November.
More actions have followed to begin 2025, too. Michigan sent a cease-and-desist letter to the illegal offshore site MyBookie.ag at the end of January, and Florida sent a trio of cease-and-desist letters to Bovada, MyBookie.ag and BetUS at the beginning of February.
“When states take enforcement action, we see a correlation with increased engagement on our customers’ platforms,” GeoComply CEO Anna Sainsbury said in a press release. “More fans are choosing legal sportsbooks, driven by stronger consumer protections and enhanced user experiences. This means even greater tax revenues to support local communities and promote responsible growth while reducing reliance on illegal sportsbooks.”
GeoComply handles 14,300 transactions per second
GeoComply’s report includes data from its US sportsbook customers between midnight Eastern on Saturday and the end of the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. Its proprietary technology uses over 820 data points to ensure users’ accurate location before making transactions.
The software can also handle tens of thousands of geolocation checks per second.
According to GeoComply, its peak activity during the Super Bowl came just before halftime when the Philadelphia Eagles scored their third touchdown of the game. It processed 14,300 geolocation transactions per second, registering a transaction any time a user signs up for an account, logs in or places a bet.
“GeoComply’s unwavering commitment to reliability and scalability means that during big moments like the Super Bowl, our customers can trust us to support them fully,” added Sainsbury. “We’re proud to power the infrastructure that allows millions of fans to participate in one of the most important sporting events of the year, and we’ll continue innovating to meet the ever-growing demands of this dynamic market.”
