Why Super Bowl 60 Produced a Smaller Betting Handle in Nevada
Nevada’s Super Bowl 60 betting totals took a noticeable dip, and the numbers back it up.
The state’s 186 sportsbooks reported a $133.8 million handle on Sunday’s title game, where the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29–13. The figures, released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, mark the lowest Super Bowl handle in Nevada since 2016 ($132.5 million)—and a steep drop from the $190 million record posted in 2024 when the Super Bowl landed in Las Vegas.
Sportsbooks still came out ahead, winning $9.9 million for a 7.4% hold. But compared to last year’s blockbuster result—$22.1 million won from a $151.6 million handle—Super Bowl 60 simply didn’t generate the same betting frenzy.
The Big Handle Drop: What Changed in 2026?
The most obvious story is that this Super Bowl didn’t have the same national magnetism bettors have gotten used to.
Westgate’s vice president of race and sports, John Murray, pointed to a core issue: star power. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold and Patriots second-year QB Drake Maye don’t pull betting attention the way legacy Super Bowl headliners do.
Even when the league has rotated away from the usual household names, recent matchups still had quarterbacks with major gravitational pull—players casual fans feel they “know,” which matters when people are firing on spreads, props, and alternate lines.
Vegas After the Vegas Super Bowl: The Post-2024 Reality Check
A key driver behind the 2024 record was simple: Las Vegas hosted the game. The city was saturated with visitors, event energy, and wagering opportunities stacked on top of each other. That kind of environment boosts everything—walk-up bets, prop menus, and in-play action.
Super Bowl 60 didn’t have that built-in tourism spike. It also followed a season that, according to Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito, was rough for many NFL bettors, which can dampen confidence and reduce late-season and championship wagering.
Esposito also noted that last year’s Eagles-Chiefs matchup featured two very public teams, creating more mainstream betting momentum than Patriots-Seahawks did this time around.
Low Scoring, Lower Props: How the Game Script Cut Into Action
The game itself didn’t help handle, especially on props.
Seattle led 9–0 at halftime, and no touchdowns were scored until the fourth quarter. With a defensive-leaning matchup and a slow burn on the scoreboard, the market saw more “under” interest—Seattle and New England stayed under the 45½ total—and that can reduce the kind of prop-volume frenzy sportsbooks love on Super Bowl Sunday.
When the action tilts toward fewer explosive moments, it often means fewer bettors chasing touchdown scorers, yardage overs, and rapid-fire live markets.
Million-Dollar Bets Returned—But Not Enough to Lift the Whole Market
One notable difference from the 2025 Super Bowl: seven bets of $1 million or more were reported nationwide this year, including two at Circa Sports in Las Vegas.
Circa took:
- A $1.1 million Patriots moneyline bet at +188 , reportedly used as a hedge against Seahawks futures positions that produced a net $8.1 million in winnings at Circa and BetMGM
- Another $1 million bet on New England moneyline at +200 placed just before kickoff
BetMGM also saw big hedge-style action, including:
- A $725,000 bet on Patriots moneyline at +195
- A $788,000 wager on Patriots +4½
Big wagers help headlines, but the overall handle is still driven by mass participation—props, parlays, and high-volume recreational betting. This year, the broader crowd simply didn’t bet as hard.
For players who want constant action beyond one game, online options keep the momentum going—brands like BetMGM Casino are built for quick sessions, deep game menus, and promos that can turn a normal night into a high-upside run.
Nevada’s Super Bowl Edge Stays Strong
Even with the smaller handle, Nevada sportsbooks remain dominant long-term. Since the Gaming Control Board began tracking Super Bowl betting in 1991, the state’s books have lost money only twice:
- 1995 (49ers over Chargers, covering a historic 19-point spread)
- 2008 (Giants shocking the Patriots as 12-point underdogs)
Super Bowl 60 wasn’t a record-setter, but sportsbooks still finished comfortably in the black—another reminder that even on a quieter year, Nevada’s Super Bowl market is built to win.