A record-breaking $185.6 million was wagered in Nevada sportsbooks
On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl title in five seasons by defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. This victory also marked their second consecutive championship, making them only the eighth team in NFL history to achieve this feat.
Despite entering this year’s Super Bowl as underdogs, the Chiefs managed to secure the win, much to the disappointment of Vegas sportsbooks who were banking on their underdog status to pay off.
“It’s surprising to consider that Patrick Mahomes still has doubters, but the Chiefs, who weren’t as impressive as in previous seasons, once again proved oddsmakers wrong,” said Pat Morrow, head oddsmaker at Bovada, speaking to Fox News Digital after the big game.
“Although Kelce didn’t perform at his best for most of the game and Pacheco wasn’t exceptional, Patrick Mahomes demonstrated his unparalleled talent and ultimately led his team to victory. Because there has never been a quarterback like him in history, it’s challenging to truly grasp the magnitude of his abilities.
“On paper, the 49ers appeared to be the superior team, and we initially pegged them as favorites for next season’s Super Bowl before the betting activity shifted Kansas City into the top spot. So, we may still have some lessons to learn.
Most sportsbooks had the Niners favored by a slim margin of -1.5, but Mahomes, who clinched his third Super Bowl MVP, set the record straight as he hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy at Allegiant Stadium.
“Just remember, the Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs,” he declared. “Just remember that.”
Will Vegas ever learn?
When asked about the sportsbook’s performance, Marrow provided a straightforward evaluation.
“We were completely overwhelmed,” he admitted.
The inaugural Super Bowl in Las Vegas saw record-breaking betting numbers for the state.
On Monday night, the Nevada Gaming Control Board revealed figures indicating that a record $185.6 million was bet on the big game across Nevada’s 182 sportsbooks. This surpassed the previous record set in 2022 by nearly $6 million.
While the sportsbooks did report a win of $6.8 million, up from last year’s $4.3 million, both figures are significantly lower than the average win of $13.2 million from the previous four Super Bowls, according to ESPN.