The opening week of the American football season is in the books, and betting on NFL games is off to a good start as well. This year, our friends at the American Gaming Association forecast that American sports bettors will place about $35 billion in wagers with legal sportsbooks.

“With the excitement of another NFL season upon us, Americans are placing their bets with the confidence that the legal sports betting market is prioritizing consumer protection and responsibility” said AGA President and CEO, Bill Miller.

The expansion and growth of the legal betting on NFL games across the country is expected to make the 2024 season the most heavily wagered for American football in the seven years of legal betting. According to AGA analysis, legal wagers on the 2023 NFL season totaled $26.7 billion.

Since the last NFL season’s kickoff, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont have all launched new legal sports betting markets. Additionally, more Americans than ever have participated in gaming-related entertainment over the past twelve months. That exposure and increasing familiarity with the gaming industry is driving widespread confidence in responsible gaming.

Almost all sports bettors from the past year, including those betting on NFL games, are familiar with at least one responsible gaming resource. This consumer awareness of responsible gaming resources is due in large part to industry marketing and advertising. Over 70% of American adults believe that such marketing is being conducted responsibly, an marked increase from last year.