Ontario ready to wager on Super Bowl LVII

A new survey by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has looked into the interest in the National Football League’s biggest game, the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LVII is due on Sunday, February 12, and it is bound to be one of the most wagered-on events in the history of North America, particularly insofar as the regulated gambling market is concerned.

The American Gaming Association has already given an estimate of what to expect, with the trade group arguing that $16bn will go down on the big game, and some 50.4m Americans will place a wager in some form – whether through a sportsbook or a bookie, or among friends, as part of pools hosted by acquaintances or colleagues at work, or an online betting site.

Now, RGC’s survey has revealed that half of Ontarians who wager on sports, in general, will also do so on Sunday – or have done so ahead of the game already. Some 49% of all bettors will be backing a selection on Super Bowl LVII apparently. Around 39% of adults in the Canadian province are confident enough that they have sufficient knowledge to actually predict some of the outcomes of the event, this group including both bettors and non-bettors.

However, among those who bet, 73% are confident that they have an advantage because of their experience and knowledge both. Among regular bettors, the confidence level is even higher with 91% of punters stating that they are confident in the outcome of events. The RGC has described this as a "false belief" and the organisation is right to call it so, as a much lower percentage of bettors actually turn a profit, around 20% in general.

Another reason for worry is the fact that sports bettors may also have their ability to make good decisions inhibited by substances such as alcohol, or even cannabis, when watching the game, thus giving them an unrealistic assessment of their ability to call the outcome of the event.

The survey also dug into how people interact with the event. 74% of all respondents said that they watch the game at home, with 53% of all respondents doing so in the company of friends and family. Some 24% of bettors tend to be more when in social groups.

Around 25% of all bettors admitted that they felt like they need to bet more in order to enjoy the event more. This cohort also admitted that they had bet more than they could afford to lose on at least one occasion.

However, it’s not all bad news. Just like the American Gaming Association’s survey reported an increase in visibility for responsible gambling messaging, so did RGC’s survey report positive results when asking gamblers if they would consider mitigating the amount they spend on gambling.

88% of all respondents said that they had strategies in place to ensure that they don’t overspend and manage their risk for Super Bowl LVII. At least 63% of sports bettors have used a responsible gambling feature on the sportsbooks they visited, another indicator of how successful the regulated gambling market has been in offering consumers the opportunity to be in control of their game.

RGC CEO Shelley White welcomed the news and said that Ontario sports bettors, eager as they are to plunge into the betting bonanza, are going to do so responsibly:

"The excitement of the big game, being with friends and family, and substance use can all influence how we play. And betting more than one can afford to lose can have a devastating impact. Having a plan in place to manage risk and protect yourself is key to enjoying the game."

The RGC offered a further breakdown into what punters are using to control their spending on gambling for the upcoming Super Bowl LVII. Around 38% said that they will set betting limits, with another 34% arguing that sports betting was just for fun and not meant as a way to make money.

Some were even more pragmatic. 24% of all respondents said that they had decided to never bet on games when not sober. 21% of bettors said that they would not consider betting if they were feeling depressed or anxious. As to the actual amounts, those varied.

54% of all respondents agree that they will be betting $50 or less. Another 26% are preparing to push this to an amount between $50 and $100, and not least there is 19% of bettors say they will go further and bet over $100. Another interesting metric had to do with how people would be betting.

The overwhelming majority would in fact be betting with friends – 46% of all people who intend to bet. 41% would place a wager on a regulated sports betting site. Another 36% will purchase a sports-based lottery ticket, and 29% will take part of a pool. Some 20% though are on the lookout for the best odds out there and willing to bet on a website that offers them just that.

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