Meta Title: US sportsbooks speak out after Super Bowl 2026
Meta Description: Representatives from several US sportsbooks have given their thoughts on Super Bowl LX performance - but are they happy with the results?
US sportsbooks speak out after Super Bowl: Which operator performed best?
As the Seattle Seahawks brushed past the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX, sports betting sites across the US engaged in an equally high-stakes battle.
This year's annual operator scrap carried more weight than any that had come before – the rise of prediction platforms had posed a fresh challenge for traditional sportsbooks, forcing the likes of DraftKings and FanDuel to rethink internal strategies and develop contract-based trading products.
Now, a pivotal question beckons: did sportsbooks or prediction operators reign supreme for the 'Big Game'?
Here, we examine how major platforms fared.
Huge pre-game expectations
Sportsbooks anticipated major player engagement before, and during, Super Bowl LX. An American Gaming Association report suggested a wagering total exceeding $1.7bn, a 27% year-over-year increase.
Missouri's successful sports betting integration in 2025 saw $500m wagered in December 2025 alone. Meanwhile, New York - the nation's largest volume market - reported 15% growth between 2024 and 2025.
But whispers of potential underperformance swept through operators' offices, as analysts hinted that a notable lack of NFL superstars, such as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, could result in dampened interest.
Big bets ahead of kickoff
Mere minutes before kickoff, Circa Sports reported a +200 moneyline wager worth $1m backing the New England Patriots. Word of this titanic bet came directly from the operator's Director of Operations Jeffrey Benson, who posted the following message on X:
"Well things just got a lot more interesting. Took our second 7-figure bet of the week. Another bomb comes in on the Patriots at +200 for $1m. We are now very BIG Seahawk fans!"
As described by Benson, that wager marked the sportsbook's second $1m+ wager in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX. No wager from last year's event hit that mark.
The Patriots' defeat handed a pretty victory to Circa and, after the game, Benson stated that his team "had an incredible night".
Operators pleased with low-scoring Super Bowl
By the time Bad Bunny emerged for the Super Bowl LX halftime show, Levi's Stadium had only seen nine points scored. And, even as the fourth quarter approached, Seahawks' kicker Jason Myers remained the only player to add to the total.
Such a low-scoring affair presented a tantalizing prospect for sportsbooks – operators often revel in points-barren matchups as players take the 'Over'.
Circa's Benson explained why in another post: "A lot of Unders on props. The game staying Under was beautiful. We cleaned up."
Not one to shy away from brazen remarks, Benson continued: "I'll be heading to the beach to enjoy my riches".
Fourth-quarter nerves
The NFL is renowned for late-game scoring, and Super Bowl LX was no exception.
The opening drive of the fourth quarter saw AJ Barner land the game's first touchdown, extending the Seahawks' lead to 19-0.
Four more touchdowns and a field goal later, Super Bowl LX had become a points-fest. Not quite enough to cover the 'Over', but sufficient to generate unease among operators.
Then, at 29-13, Kenneth Walker III ran the ball into the endzone for what was expected to be the fifth touchdown of the fourth quarter. And it was - until officials threw flags to disallow the score.
If it had stood, Walker's touchdown could have been "monumental" for players, according to Caesars Vice President of Trading Craig Mucklow: "Our hearts were in our mouths when Walker ran in the needless touchdown. That would've been a monumental swing for bettors."
Seattle maintained its lead, and the game concluded with New England vying for a lifeline via a thankless drive against a valiant Seahawks defence.
Did sportsbooks really win out?
Super Bowl LX was particularly generous to sportsbooks. Operators covered the 'Under' and several large underdog wagers fell short, including a $1m Fanatics wager by Kendall Jenner on a seventh Patriots triumph.
But amidst unabashed delight from operator leaders, a small asterisk hindered celebrations.
Caesars was one such brand - paying out more than $458,000 to one player who backed 'heads' to land during the pre-game coin toss. Moreover, Caesars Head of Football Trading Joey Feazel confirmed that most players favored Seattle throughout the week:
"The game was overwhelmingly controlled by Seattle, and that ended up being a very popular side among bettors throughout the week. As a result, players generally fared well in this matchup. Overall, it was a strong outcome for Seattle backers."
DraftKings outlined that over $8bn in potential winnings depended on specific Super Bowl outcomes. After the game, the operator published a range of noteworthy payouts - including:
- A $15,010 return on a $10 parlay
- A $50,000 payout on a $5,000 bet backing AJ Turner to score the first touchdown
- A $150,000 win for one player who placed a $1,500 futures parlay covering the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff
At BetMGM, one customer banked $3m for a bet placed in August on the Seahawks to win in Santa Clara.
Kalshi secures record volume
The 2026 Super Bowl marked the second consecutive year in which prediction platform Kalshi offered markets for the 'Big Game.'
This year's event generated record volume for the firm – hitting $1.2m in sports trading markets and $871m when also accounting for non-sports selections.
Such healthy engagement provoked system-wide slowdowns, prompting co-founder Luana Lopes Lara to reassure users that transactions would be processed in due course:
"Some deposits are delayed because of the amount of traffic and deposits we're getting. Your money is safe and on the way, it will just take longer to land."
Las Vegas left in the dust?
Away from the fierce war being waged between sportsbooks and prediction markets, Las Vegas was largely forgotten by bettors.
Sin City sportsbooks took $133.8m in Super Bowl LX bets, the lowest for a decade. Even more disappointing, operators won 55% less than what was earned during the previous year's 'Big Game'.
Widely regarded as the world's gambling capital, Las Vegas now appears set to face the repercussions of multi-pronged competition from online sportsbooks, prediction platforms and increasing sports betting availability across states.
That is the sentiment of Las Vegas' Westgate SuperBook Vice President John Murray, who said after the game: "You can legally bet on sports all over the country now, and it wasn't the best matchup."
It only seems appropriate to now ponder whether Las Vegas can rise again to compete with industry titans next year? Or, should operators accept that the online betting scene is America's new Las Vegas?
