It’s time for some football! The biggest game of the year is just around the corner. The NFL season is over and it’s time to settle scores on the football field. While many will be tuning in to the big game in person, thousands more will be pulling for their favorite team from afar. That’s why it’s the perfect time to place a bet on the NFL season’s grand finale. There is certainly no shortage of markets to wager on but, before diving in, it’s important to understand how betting on the Super Bowl works and the conditions under which you might want to chase down those elusive bonuses.
The Basics
The Super Bowl, often simply called the Super Bowl or the Big Game, is the annual American football championship between the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football Conference (AFC). More accurately, it’s the culmination of a series of games that began back in the spring with the NFL Draft and continue through the regular season and playoffs. It’s played annually in February in one of the four host cities—Arlington, Dallas, Detroit, and Minneapolis—which are shared with the other conference. The game has been named the greatest sporting event multiple times by USA Today Sports and the New York Times. It is usually (but not always) the last game of the regular season, so it is often (but not always) played in late February or early March. The NFL season is from September through February, with the Super Bowl being played once every four years (20 games total).
The Super Bowl has always been a popular sport to bet on, with many sportsbooks offering various prop bets and outright bets. If you’re looking to place a bet on the big game, you’ll need to choose which side of the bet you’re on, whether you’re backing the home team or away team, and which proposition you’d like to bet on. The most popular bets are on the over/under for net passing yards (over), on the touchdown total (under/over), and on whether the MVP, or Most Valuable Player, will be of the visiting or home team. There is also a prop bet to choose between the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings as the Super Bowl MVP. This season, the over/under on net passing yards is +284.5 and -299.5, while the touchdown total is +2.5 and -8.5 respectively.
Where Can I Bet?
You can place a wager on the Super Bowl at some of the sportsbooks, but it would be wise to research the odds before doing so. Some sportsbooks don’t offer good odds for the Super Bowl and, as a result, you may be better off placing a wager at another sportsbook. You should also do your homework before getting into any sort of online gambling or sports betting. Ensure that you are physically located in a legal jurisdiction where sportsbooks are allowed, and practice safety precautions (e.g., verify accounts, put money in smaller amounts, use a fake ID, etc.). When practicing these safety measures, it’s important to remember that there are a lot of scammers out there who may try to trick you into betting on something you don’t want to bet on. Do your best to stay away from any sites that require too much personal information or are trying to scam you. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is!
What Am I Paying For?
The Super Bowl isn’t just about betting, though. The National Football League (NFL), which organizes and funds the Super Bowl, also profits from the game. They get a cut of the total revenue (wagering plus non-wagering) derived from the game. Since it’s played throughout the season, the total revenue is spread out among the teams that participate. The NFL’s share of the revenue for the 2015 Super Bowl was $256 million. This is more than enough to cover the expenses for one night of the game.
Therefore, even if you don’t gamble on the Super Bowl, you’re still benefiting from the creation of this popular sporting event. Just remember: the odds, as always, are against you.
The Different Ways To Bet
There are many different ways to bet on the Super Bowl. You can put a wager on the game using a credit card, a bank wire, or a check. It’s important to research the best way to bet on the sport you’re interested in so you can have the clearest understanding of how the game works. For example, you may want to bet on the underdogs since the spread bets don’t exist for all games. In addition, some sportsbooks count tickets sold as bets while others don’t. If you’re not sure which type of bettor you’re supposed to be, ask the bookmaker before making any kind of wager. In the meantime, you can continue researching all you want but don’t bet yet. This is because the vast majority of sportsbooks only allow certain types of bettors to place bets on certain sports. This means that if you’re not listed on their approved bettor list, you’re not going to be able to make any kind of wager. Checking accounts are often accepted but they may charge a small fee for withdrawals. Credit cards are rarely accepted because of the high risk of fraud. Only wire transfers and checks are entirely free of charge.
Why Should I Bet On The Super Bowl?
There are many good reasons to bet on the Super Bowl, especially if you’re interested in betting on football. The following are just a few of them.
- Prospect for growth: The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in America and continued growth can be expected as the league continues to grow.
- Large audience: The game is often touted as the most-watched and -betened sporting event in the world. This means there is a large audience that may be interested in placing wagers on the game. While this is certainly true, it doesn’t mean you have to. There are always less intrusive ways to gain information. If you want to find out about an event before the public knows, all you need to do is pay attention to social media.
- Bonuses and Promotions: Every year, the NFL runs a number of promotions aimed at encouraging people to bet on their games. The 2015 Super Bowl saw the kickoff game with a $1 million prize, while this season’s game, between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, saw a $500,000 first-place prize for the over/under and a $100,000 prize for the touchdown score.
- Popular Team: The New England Patriots have been one of the most popular teams in recent years, winning a record six Super Bowls. This makes them a popular choice amongst bettors who hope for a victory in the upcoming game.
- Even Teams Are Betting On: It’s not only big brands like the Patriots that attract mainstream interest but it’s also teams like the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been successful in the NFL over the past several years and now have a greater chance of being selected to play in the Super Bowl.
- History: The Super Bowl began back in 1967 and has been held every year since then. It was originally played in another city each year but, as the NFL grew, the host city was moved to one of the four cities mentioned above. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the most successful team in Super Bowl history, having won five times.
- State Taxes: If you’re based in a state where gambling is illegal, don’t plan on participating in sportsbooks since you’ll likely be breaking the law. However, if you’re physically located in a state where sportsbooks are legal (and have a legal form of ID), you’re good to go.
Despite all these advantages, don’t expect to get rich off the Super Bowl. The odds are often stacked against you. It’s important to keep in mind that the more you win, the more you lose. It’s an impossible task to consistently win on the road to riches. Still, if nothing else in your life is working out as you’d like it to, perhaps trying your hand at betting on the Super Bowl is the way to go. At the very least, it’s a low-risk way to make a quick buck or two.