Nevada Super Bowl wagering falls to decade low

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Nevada sportsbooks took in $133.8 million in wagers on Super Bowl LX, the lowest handle the state has recorded for the big game in at least 10 years, according to figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Nevada's Super Bowl handle has now declined in three of the last four years, with only a modest bump in 2023 breaking the pattern.

The 186 licensed sportsbooks across the state posted a collective win of $9.89 million on the game, which saw the favored Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots, 29-13. That translates to a 7.4% hold percentage, a result that lands right in the middle of the pack historically.

This year's handle represents an 11.7% decline from last year's $151.6 million and a 29.6% drop from the 2024 mark of $190 million, when Kansas City and San Francisco went to overtime.

From a profitability standpoint, the books did fine. The 7.4% hold was well above the razor-thin 0.7% margin in 2018, when the Philadelphia Eagles upset the Patriots in a high-scoring game that went the bettors' way. It was also a step up from the 2.8% hold in 2023. But it fell well short of last year's 14.6%, when the Eagles' blowout win over Kansas City produced the most lopsided Super Bowl result for sportsbooks in recent memory.