Last year’s Super Bowl LIX recorded $1.39 billion in legal bets. It’s a staggering figure, lending credence to the assertion that the game is the biggest one-off betting event in the world. You might see bigger volumes across events like March Madness, but for a single game, nothing comes close to the climax of the NFL season. The pomp and ceremony draw everyone in.
While it’s conjecture, it’s highly likely that Super Bowl LX exceeds that figure in betting volumes, more so when you factor in global betting patterns. It’s also a key period for sportsbooks to attract new customers, as the operators are well aware that some fans, not accustomed to sports betting, will consider wagering for the first time.
It’s the eve of the Conference Finals at the time of writing, so we are going to provide a quick guide to approaching Super Bowl betting for newbies, regardless of who makes it to Levi’s Stadium. Consider some of these tips and golden rules:
Shop Around for the Best Odds
The Super Bowl game betting lines are not static, and they can vary from sportsbook to sportsbook. You won’t suddenly find a price of 100/1 for your favored team to win the game, but the difference can be fairly significant. Here’s a tip: Pick your bet before you look at the odds, then do the sportsbook research in reverse to find the best price.
Jump on the Promotions Bandwagon
As mentioned, the Super Bowl is a key entry point for new customers, and sportsbooks will be falling over themselves to get your attention. The good news is that it will usually consist of attractive promos, including free bets. The standard offer will consist of bonus bets that match your initial wager, sometimes exceeding it. Have a peek at the terms and conditions to make sure any winnings from bonus bets are easily withdrawable.
Explore the Full Range of Markets
Most causal bettors will consider simple markets, such as the moneyline (who will win the Super Bowl) and maybe others, such as the points spread or total points. But there are 100s of distinct markets, and novel ways to combine them, including teasers and same-game parlays. As mentioned above, decide what you think will happen first – even write it down – before looking at the odds.
Keep It Simple
At the risk of sounding contradictory with respect to the above, wading into complicated wagers is not advised for inexperienced bettors. Keep it simple, rooted in statistics and your personal insights. By all means, read experts’ opinions and betting tips, but don’t let them override your own thesis.
The Trend Is Your Friend
Super Bowls play out just like every other game, with some peculiarities thrown into the mix. Generally, in the modern era, they tend to be more closely fought than regular-season games, which should come as no surprise when it’s the best two teams in the league. That’s something to consider when betting on the spread, but, of course, there have been Super Bowls where teams have faced blowouts.
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Hold Some in Reserve for Live Betting
Say you do receive a free bet when placing your first wager, then consider holding it back for live betting on the game. Super Bowls can see swings in momentum, and bettors can pounce on that in live markets. Not every game is going to swing like the Patriots against the Falcons at Super Bowl LI, but comebacks are common. The odds change during the game, so if you sense the tide is turning, you can snap up some value. Don’t let it overwhelm the game itself, though. Betting is supposed to be complementary for the Super Bowl; it shouldn’t be the main event.
