AGA: Record 46.6 million American adults plan to wager on 2022 NFL season

September 8, 2022 World Sports

New research from the American Gaming Association (AGA) shows that a record 46.6 million American adults plan to bet on the upcoming National Football League (NFL) season, a 3% year-on-year increase.

The research also shows that bettors are moving away from bookies and are heading towards regulated options. Of American adults, 23 million will place a bet online this season, an 18% rise from 2021.

A total of 10.6 million will place a bet in-person at a sportsbook, up 2% from 2021, while just 13% of NFL bettors plan to use a bookie, down from 15% in 2021 and 18% in 2020. Bookie usage meanwhile is 50% higher in states without legalised sports betting.

“The sustained interest in NFL wagering reflects the growth and continued maturation of legal sports betting across the country,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Consumers clearly want legal sports betting options and understand the regulated industry’s foundational commitments to responsibility.”

The NFL kick-off coincides with the beginning of Responsible Gaming Education Month, and AGA research shows that 92% of US sports bettors report awareness of responsible gaming tools.

A total of 90% of past-year sports bettors recall seeing or hearing about responsible gaming in the past year, while 51% saw or heard more responsible gaming information in the past 12 months than they had in previous years.

A total of 82% of past-year sports bettors believe responsible gaming programmes are very or somewhat effective, with 81% saying that the gaming industry is committed to encouraging responsible gaming and combating problem gambling.

“Responsibility is an underpinning of regulated US sports betting and a clear competitive advantage as we continue to build a sustainable marketplace,” added Miller.