Football Betting: Nitty-Gritties of Betting in the USA

Americans have an unmatched fascination with betting on football. National Football League (NFL), as a unifying force, brings people from all segments of life together to support their favorite teams and players, making football betting a part of this game. Throughout America’s history, football has served as a platform for cultural and social unity. With the formation of the NFL, various teams from different parts of the country got a platform to compete at a high level. Over time, this organization became a cultural phenomenon with the Super Bowl. The league’s impact moved beyond sports, with football being an integral part of American identity and culture.

Football's surge in popularity in the USA ignited the rise of sports betting. Betting on football here is more than just wagering; it’s a cultural phenomenon rooted deep in the nation's sporting history. Today, football betting has become an integral part of the sport, with fanatics now able to wager online through various legal sites across all states.

This article guides America’s football enthusiasts through all aspects of betting in football, from its history to its evolution into online football betting. The article also lists top online legal sites where football fans can place their bets.

Sports Betting’s History USA: From Early to Modern Era

Betting on football has an intriguing history, extending back over a century from the early informal bets among friends to a multi-billion-dollar industry globally. Football betting first commenced in the early 20th century with informal wagering, mostly from local bookies or mates’ bets. Mate’s bets were done at local pubs where football fans would make bets to make a match day fun. Since then, betting has evolved, and various platforms are engaging fans in this community-driven excitement from anywhere.

It was in the 1920s when organized football betting took the form of emerging football pools. In these pools, people predicted the match results, and the one whose prediction was most accurate was given the prize money. 

In 1931, Nevada legalized sports betting in the USA. Betting on football matches was popular long before pools.  It is assumed that a mature sports betting market in the United States could have a revenue between $10 and $20 billion per year. The massive growth of sports betting paved the way for those who are established within the industry and those who seek to enter it. Nevada was the first US state to experiment with legalized sports betting, which allowed bookmakers to take wagers on professional sports in 1949. 

Although the regulated gambling in the country occurred at the state level, the federal government periodically regulated sports gambling as well. Federal laws concerning gambling are often considered a supplement to state gambling laws.

Enforcement of the Illegal Gambling Business ACT 

In 1970, Congress passed the Illegal Gambling Business Act, which allowed the federal government to leverage state law and prosecute gambling businesses. The law criminalized the operation of gambling on the grounds of violating state laws, involving more than five people, and substantially continuing operations for 30 days or for having a gross revenue of over $2,000 in a single day. The Act was enforced in response to the corruption observed in the local law through organized crime.

Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act

Fearing the continued expansion of sports gambling, major American sports leagues like the NFL, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCA), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Major League Baseball (MLB) compelled Congress to take action. One year after the Sports leagues and the NCAA failed to gain intellectual property protection, Congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) to put an end to state-sponsored sports gambling, including wagering on football games. 

Introduction of Online Sportsbook

Football is the primary sport for bettors in the country. Football betting in the US was a bit slow during the 20th century, as people were more interested in putting their money on horse racing, baseball, and basketball rather than football. However, the scenario started changing near the end of the 20th century and completely changed in the 21st century. The shift from traditional sports betting to online sportsbooks revolutionized the gambling industry in the middle of 1990s. These sportsbooks allowed Americans to bet faster and in easier ways without the hassle of going to the local bookmakers. They also widened the access to a large variety of betting options. Unlike a physical sportsbook, an online sportsbook in the 21st century provides access to hundreds of games from around the world.

Nowadays, people don’t just bet on the winners or losers of the game; they can now bet on the game’s smaller aspects, for example, first goal scorer, fouls, and so on. These small refinements to online sportsbooks have made football wagering more exciting. 

Reasons Driving the Popularity of Football Betting

The revenue of US sports betting had an annual growth of $150 billion in 2024 and is expected to have a monthly revenue growth of $18 billion by October 2025. According to an RG survey, football is the most popular sport to bet on in the USA, with 74% of betting taking place on this sport.  This shows that it is fun to bet on football as the number of people watching football is growing every day. With betting becoming legalized in the US, wagering on this sport is likely to increase in the coming days.

Football Betting Odds

Betting odds appear as a fraction or a decimal, and American odds are based on a $100 bet. Betting odds are crucial for sports betting. There are three types of betting odds one encounters while betting that include- Decimal Odds, Fractional Odds, and American Odds. American Odds are common in the United States and reflect the probability of the outcome and represent the potential winnings. 

NCAA football odds with a plus sign indicate positive odds. This means the plus odds refer to the underdog bet selection. Conversely, odds with minus signs are negative odds, meaning the sportsbook’s favorites are likely to win a game.

Top 3 Online Sports Betting Platforms in the United States

If you are into football betting, below are the top three online platforms you can check out for the best sports betting experience:

1. DraftKings App

The DraftKings application is one of the leading sports betting platforms in the USA. This app is popular for its wide selection of betting options, features, and early lines. DraftKings Sportsbook is the home for your live betting of all NFL season. It has an intuitive interface and is regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. 

2. BetMGM

BetMGM can be your exclusive betting partner nationwide. With online sports betting features, you can bet on a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, Gold, NBA, and more. Apart from betting, this online and offline casino provides other gambling facilities.

3. ESPN Bet

ESPN Bet offers the best-in-class betting experience for its users. Its sportsbook has a wide array of cutting-edge features, seamless betting, and fast loading times. The online sports betting service is operated by Penn Entertainment, and the branding is licensed from ESPN Inc.

With The Silicon Journal, readers can now explore articles, blogs, news, and profiles on a wide range of topics and of leading companies and leaders. This US-based business magazine is committed to bridging the gap between industry learning and development with informative and quality content.