AGA Forecasts $30 Billion in Legal Bets for the Upcoming 2025–26 NFL Season

The estimation encompasses various wagers, including:

• futures (from March onward);
• bets placed on preseason matches;
• stakes on games during the active stage;
• wagers on playoff events, such as Super Bowl 60.

Commentaries on the Current Situation

Bill Miller, AGA’s President and CEO, emphasised that betting enthusiasts now have more ways than ever to engage in their favourite activities securely. The legal status of the market fosters healthy competition, thereby making the NFL’s offerings and customs even more meaningful.

At present, the organisation supervises licensed sportsbooks in 38 regions across the United States, as well as in the District of Columbia.

Based on the regulator’s information:

• 75% of residents endorse the authorisation of betting within their state;
• 90% find this form of entertainment acceptable.

As the new season approaches, a major question emerges: industry analysts are attempting to estimate how many locals will employ prediction portals to supplement their League choices.

Prognosis Markets: Challenges for Operators

The growing popularity of such projects may negatively impact traditional sportsbooks.

Despite ongoing legal challenges, 2 aspiring corporations within this sector are preparing for a busy football season:

1. Kalshi has expanded its NFL offerings by self-certifying handicaps, totals, and touchdown specials.
2. Polymarket describes itself as the world’s largest forecasting platform. The firm plans to re-enter the US following the acquisition of QCEX, focusing on states that lack official regulation.

Industry experts struggle to predict how many players will shift from placing traditional bets to buying and selling contracts. However, these 2 forecasting companies could notably alter the NFL season. The League sees no distinction between prognostic portals and bookmakers. The key question is whether fans will share this view.

Issue of Shadow Betting Business

In August, the AGA released a survey indicating that Americans wagered $84 billion through illegal operators and offshore platforms in 2024. Shadow brands generated $5 billion in profits and caused a loss of $1 billion in tax revenue for the government.

Yield Sec’s investigationrevealed that last year, illicit websites earned $67.1 billion, nearly 3 times higher than $23 billion generated by authorised digital portals. Considering football's prominence as the major gambling discipline in the US, this may represent a substantial outflow of funds abroad.

Mr Miller highlighted that uncertified operators profit at the expense of local customers, costing the government billions in fiscal revenues and hindering the progress of the legal sector. He called on the authorities to combat the widespread shadow segment nationwide to protect the country’s budget and ensure residents' safety.