2013 Super Bowl: Bookmakers eye all-time betting record
Super Bowl XLVII could draw the most betting action in Nevada history, bookmakers say.
The record is $94.5 million for the 2006 game between Pittsburgh and Seattle, followed by $93.9 million for last year's Giants-Patriots.
"It's a monster matchup, brother versus brother," William Hill oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro told the Associated Press about the Feb. 3 matchup in New Orleans featuring John Harbaugh's Ravens and Jim Harbaugh's 49ers. "I believe it will top last year's Super Bowl handle and could go higher."
Of course, those figures don't include much larger sums wagered at online sportsbooks or bets placed with local bookies and among friends.
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Vegas books would have preferred Patriots-49ers, but the brother-versus-brother angle plus the 49ers' large fan base near Nevada are expected to bring in heavy action.
“It will be close to the record,” said Pete Korner, founder of The Sports Club oddsmaking service in Las Vegas. “It has a lot of appeal and that interest will draw big money.”
From 2005 to 2008, at least $90 million was wagered on the Super Bowl in Nevada each year. Then the economic crash caused a two-year dip to $81.5 million and $82.7 million. The handle shot up to $87.5 million in 2011 before approaching the record last year.
Nevada books won just over $5 million on last year's game and have profited in 20 of the last 22 Super Bowls.
Nevada Gaming Control began tracking Super Bowl betting in 1991. In that time, books have won $119.4 million on more than $1.6 billion wagered.
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