Super Bowl 60 Shows How Star Power Drives Betting Volume in Nevada

Star power and big-name intrigue were noticeably down for Super Bowl 60, and Nevada’s sportsbooks felt it. The state’s 186 books took $133.8 million in wagers on the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 win over the New England Patriots, figures the Gaming Control Board released Monday show. That total is the lowest Super Bowl handle in Nevada since $132.5 million in 2016, and it sits more than $50 million below the record $190 million handle set in 2024 when Las Vegas hosted the game.

Books won $9.9 million on the game for a hold of 7.4 percent, a far cry from last year’s $22.1 million win on a $151.6 million handle and a 14.6 percent hold. The contrast highlights how matchup appeal, public interest, and game flow can swing both handle and hold from year to year.

Big single bets remained, but fewer blockbuster showings

While overall action was down, several high-stakes wagers still landed. There were seven reported bets of $1 million or more nationwide, including two at Circa Sports in Las Vegas. One Circa customer placed $1.1 million on the Patriots money line (+188) to hedge futures, a sequence that left the bettor with net winnings tied to Circa and BetMGM totaling about $8.1 million. Circa also accepted a separate $1 million Patriots money-line wager (+200) shortly before kickoff.

BetMGM took a $725,000 hedge on the New England money line (+195), and another bettor placed $788,000 on the Patriots at +4½. Even with fewer high-profile names drawing casual action, sharp and hedge bets kept the largest-ticket stakes in play.

Industry voices: matchup, public season, and game style mattered

“One of the factors was probably a lack of star power,” said Westgate vice president of race and sports John Murray, noting that matchups featuring established superstars tend to pull more casual money. Murray pointed to past Super Bowls that paired household-name quarterbacks as comparators.

Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito added roster and market context. He noted that the 2024 Las Vegas-hosted Super Bowl and last year’s high-profile Chiefs-Eagles matchup set different expectations for public action. Esposito also said Seahawks-Patriots followed a season where the general bettor did not have as much success, and that this game featured two defensive-minded teams. “We saw more ‘under’ action on the Super Bowl props, which in turn impacted a lower prop handle as well,” he said.

The game itself reinforced that pattern: Seattle led 9-0 at halftime, no touchdowns were scored until the fourth quarter, and the contest finished under the total of 45½.

Nevada’s Super Bowl ledger stays overwhelmingly positive

Nevada sportsbooks have a long track record of winning on the Super Bowl. Since the Gaming Control Board began tracking Super Bowl betting in 1991, books have lost money only twice: a $396,674 loss on the 1995 game where the San Francisco 49ers covered a record spread, and a $2.57 million loss in 2008 when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots.

Super Bowl betting snapshot: past 11 years

A look at the last 11 Super Bowls shows swings in handle and hold that reflect matchups, hosting city, and season narratives:

• 2026: $133,813,230 handle; $9,892,055 won; 7.4% hold; Seattle 29, New England 13
• 2025: $151,618,159 handle; $22,134,104 won; 14.6% hold; Philadelphia 40, Kansas City 22
• 2024: $190,020,783 handle; $11,182,973 won; 5.9% hold; Kansas City 25, San Francisco 22 (OT)
• 2023: $153,183,002 handle; $4,361,646 won; 2.8% hold; Kansas City 38, Philadelphia 35
• 2022: $179,823,715 handle; $11,063,412 won; 6.2% hold; Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati 20
• 2021: $136,096,460 handle; $12,574,125 won; 9.2% hold; Tampa Bay 31, Kansas City 9
• 2020: $154,679,241 handle; $18,774,148 won; 12.1% hold; Kansas City 31, San Francisco 20
• 2019: $145,939,025 handle; $10,780,319 won; 7.4% hold; New England 13, L.A. Rams 3
• 2018: $158,586,934 handle; $1,170,432 won; 0.7% hold; Philadelphia 41, New England 33
• 2017: $138,480,136 handle; $10,937,826 won; 7.9% hold; New England 34, Atlanta 28 (OT)
• 2016: $132,545,587 handle; $13,314,539 won; 10.1% hold; Denver 24, Carolina 10

What operators and bettors should watch next

Matchup appeal, star-name narratives, and whether the Super Bowl is played locally can materially affect both handle and hold. Operators that adjust pricing, prop offerings, and hedge strategies based on public sentiment and sharp action tend to manage risk better. Retail and online platforms, including offshore operators like Bovada Sportsbook review and legacy brands such as BetUS Sportsbook review, continue to factor into overall national figures, even when Nevada remains the market most closely watched for headline Super Bowl numbers.

Nevada’s Super Bowl totals will fluctuate with matchups and market conditions, but the state’s books remain in a strong position overall. Sportsbooks, bettors, and market watchers will be digging into what worked and what didn’t as they plan for next season’s lines, promotions, and risk management.