The biggest game of the year, the Superbowl, is just around the corner! The National Football League (NFL) championship game will be played on Sunday, February 4th, 2020, at 3:00 PM Pacific time (8:00 PM Eastern Standard time) in one of the most exciting events in sports. The game itself is usually a lot of fun to watch, but this year the excitement is amplified due to the fact that many people are going to be playing – or wagering on – the game. In fact, according to a report from the Sports Gaming Association (SGA), American sportsbooks took in $15.9 million in wagers on the game, up 21% from 2019. What is interesting is that while most of the action is likely to be found in traditional sports books, many online bookmakers and gaming sites are also hosting wagering pools for the big game.
TikTok
With the rise of TikTok, the social media landscape has changed. Before TikTok, people would spend most of their free time watching traditional TV shows and playing video, board, and card games on their phone. Now, with so much of people’s attention focused on TikTok, will they be watching TV shows and playing games on their phones? We might find out on Sunday.
Let’s take a look at the trends on TikTok for each of the four major North American sports leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL.
- The NBA’s March Madness-themed challenge was the first viral sensation on TikTok, amassing over 150 million views on the platform. The challenge started when the NBA released their annual “March Madness” playlist, which consisted of 14 songs that represent the various styles and moods of the NCAA tournament. As the NBA released more tracks in the playlist, the challenge grew, inspiring people to create their own March Madness-themed playlists.
- The NFL’s popularity on TikTok began rising in September 2019, shortly after the release of its new theme song, “America the Beautiful,” which is prominently featured during home games. Prior to that, the league’s videos had under 40 million views on the platform.
- MLB’s fans have embraced the sport on social media, and the popularity of the league’s videos on TikTok increased by over 300% in 2019.
- The NHL brought their “We Are One” campaign to life on TikTok, inviting users to share their photos holding up signs with the #WeAreOne and #ThankYouNHL banners. The campaign was launched in March 2019 in partnership with social-media platforms like TikTok, where users can watch and participate in live shows from the league. The campaign was created to raise awareness about the NHL’s “One 2019” marketing campaign, which focuses on community, responsibility, and optimism.
Bovada
While most of our interest here is in US sportsbooks, it is important to note that Australian sportsbooks, specifically Bovada, have also seen an increase in the number of people placing bets on the Superbowl. Bovada is an online bookmaker founded in 2001 that offers NFL, NBA, and MLB wagering along with a variety of casino games. The company is licensed and regulated in the United States by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. They also have offices in Canada and the UK. In 2019, they reportedly experienced an increase in business of up to 30% since the beginning of the year due to the interest in the Superbowl.
Bookmakers
Traditional sports books, also known as tracks, have been the go-to place for people interested in placing bets on the Superbowl for years. However, with the growth of online betting and the increasing convenience of placing bets from home, the lines of communication between bookmakers and their customers have never been more open. In fact, some sportsbooks have even gone so far as to offer live betting during games, giving fans the chance to follow the action from the comfort of their couches.
What is interesting is that while most of the action is likely to be found in traditional sports books, many online bookmakers and gaming sites are also hosting wagering pools for the big game. Take, for example, the New England Patriots against the Los Angeles Rams. The over/under on the game is currently set at 7.5 points, but if you look on the Internet you can find several sites that have entered wagers on the game, with the over/under ranging from 7 to 10 points.
Betting Publicly
It is widely believed that many people will be playing the Superbowl this year, and with good reason. The game itself is one of the most exciting postseason games, and it is always fun to bet on sports, especially when it is such a competitive game. While most people will enjoy watching the game on TV with their families and friends, those who play fantasy sports games or participate in online wagering pools will have the chance to participate in the action live. With so much hype surrounding the game, it will be interesting to see how many people participate – and how much they wager on the game!