Super Bowl Legal Betting Expected To Roll To New Record High, Los Angeles Rams Favored By 4

Bruce Haring
·2 min read

What promises to be the most wagered-on sporting event in US history takes place today at SoFI Stadium, with the home team Los Angeles Rams a 4-point favorite over the Cincinnati Bengals.

An estimated $7.6 billion is expected to be wagered, as more than half the US adult population can place a bet. Sportsbooks are now active in 30 states and Washington, DC. Sorry, California – you’ll have to head to Las Vegas if you want to bet legit, as the Golden State is still among those territories where sports betting isn’t legal.

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The interest and accessibility of sports betting is only expected to grow. New York State recently came online for mobile sports betting and instantly became the No. 1 state in the nation. Media companies have taken notice, and such companies as Fox, Disney, fuboTV, and WarnerMedia are among the outlets with sports ties.

The over/under for the game is 48.5, meaning winning totals on the score would be over or under that total. The mot popular bet is the pre-game coin toss, with “tails” currently leading.

The largest legal game bet ever placed took place on Friday, when Houston businessman Jim McIngvale, known better as “Mattress Mack,” laid down $5 million on the underdog Cincinnati Bengals. McIngvale has made similar big bets in the past, using them as hedge for special promotion for his mattress company, which offers customers a refund on purchases of more than $3,000 if McIngvale’s pick wins.

A bettor in Las Vegas placed three $1 million bets on the Rams on Saturday, betting on outcomes in the first quarter, and the over/under for the first half, hedging on the high and low scores for the first half.

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