NFL Fans and the Rise of Sports Betting: Who Bets the Most?
American love for NFL football is only rivaled by their growing enthusiasm for sports betting. In 2024, NFL-related wagers are expected to soar to an unprecedented $35 billion, all within the league’s four-month season. As NFL betting continues its boom, interest has shifted to which fan bases are putting the most money on the line for their teams.
A recent survey of 2,000 active NFL bettors has shed light on which fandoms are truly staking it all, and which ones are a bit more conservative with their wagers. Here’s an in-depth look at the teams whose fans lead — and trail — the pack in sports betting.
Key Insights from NFL Betting Season
During the 2024 NFL season, fans’ betting habits varied dramatically across the league. Some of the standout findings include:
– Carolina Panthers fans top the list for spending, wagering an average of $2,142 per season.
– Houston Texans supporters sit in second place, betting an average of $2,125 each year, followed by Cleveland Browns fans at $2,029.
– Denver Broncos fans place the lowest bets per season, at just $255 on average.
– For Super Bowl LVIII, nearly 68.4% of surveyed fans placed a bet, with the average wager amounting to $308.98.
Top NFL Fan Bases by Seasonal Betting
NFL fan bases leading and trailing in average sports betting spend per season.
The 2024 season saw the Carolina Panthers surge to the top, with their fans betting more per season than any other group in the NFL. Despite North Carolina only recently allowing online sports betting, the Panthers’ fan base averaged a staggering $2,142.63 in wagers, outstripping the bottom-ranked Denver Broncos fans by around 740%. On a typical week, Panthers fans lay down about $51.63 per game, with one admitted superfan claiming to spend up to $10,000 each season.
Houston Texans fans followed closely, averaging $2,125 per season and leading the league in bet frequency — wagering on nearly seven games monthly, equivalent to three to four games per week. On a per-game basis, Texans fans spend around $84.17.
Rounding out the top three are Cleveland Browns fans, who wager an average of $2,029.38 throughout the NFL season. These fans place bets on three games per week, with each bet averaging $41.94.
Other top spenders include Las Vegas Raiders fans in fourth place ($1,912.94 per season) and Kansas City Chiefs fans in fifth ($1,833.28). With almost 200 sportsbooks in Nevada, frequent betting among Raiders fans comes as little surprise.
Below is a summary of the top five NFL fan groups by average seasonal betting spend:
| Team | Average Bet per Season ($) | Typical Bet per Game ($) | Games Bet Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 2,142.63 | 51.63 | ~4 |
| Houston Texans | 2,125.00 | 84.17 | ~3-4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2,029.38 | 41.94 | ~3 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 1,912.94 | – | – |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1,833.28 | – | ~2-3 |
Frugal Fan Bases: Teams with the Lowest Betting Spend
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Denver Broncos fans emerged as the most cautious NFL bettors. Despite legalized sports betting in their state since 2020, the average Broncos supporter spends just $255 per season — nearly 86% less than the overall league average of $1,787. Typically, they place bets twice a month, usually wagering around $27.31 per bet.
Tennessee Titans followers also display restraint, spending $329.62 per season and betting roughly once weekly, with average bets of $33.54. New Orleans Saints fans are not far ahead, limiting their annual spend to $420.83 and wagering about $26 each time they place a bet.
Cincinnati Bengals fans and Seattle Seahawks fans follow, spending $480.43 and $489.41 per season, respectively. These fans may be biding their time for the right moment to up their stakes.
Here’s a breakdown of the five NFL fan bases who spend the least on betting each season:
| Team | Average Bet per Season ($) | Typical Bet per Game ($) | Betting Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 255.00 | 27.31 | Twice per month |
| Tennessee Titans | 329.62 | 33.54 | Once per week |
| New Orleans Saints | 420.83 | 26.00 | 3.5 times per month |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 480.43 | – | – |
| Seattle Seahawks | 489.41 | – | – |
Super Bowl LVIII: Which Fans Placed the Biggest Bets?
Super Bowl LVIII was a historic event in terms of sports betting, with Nevada sportsbooks alone logging $185.6 million in wagers — $6 million more than the previous record. When asked about their own Super Bowl wagering habits, NFL fans revealed some surprising differences between fan bases.
The average Super Bowl LVIII wager was $308.98. However, Dallas Cowboys fans set themselves apart, betting an extraordinary $1,542.53 on average — nearly four times the overall respondent average.
Here’s how the top 10 NFL fan bases ranked for their average Super Bowl LVIII bets:
| Rank | Team | Average Super Bowl Bet ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys | 1,542.53 |
| 2 | Green Bay Packers | 766.65 |
| 3 | Houston Texans | 663.18 |
| 4 | Philadelphia Eagles | 394.00 |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 354.48 |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | 353.00 |
| 7 | Chicago Bears | 265.24 |
| 8 | San Francisco 49ers | 226.39 |
| 9 | New York Jets | 223.00 |
| 10 | Cleveland Browns | 221.00 |
Summary: High Rollers vs. Careful Bettors
NFL sports betting is far from uniform — some fan bases are highly committed, risking substantial sums in support of their teams, while others wager more cautiously. With U.S. betting markets continuing to grow and more states legalizing online bets, these trends will likely keep evolving. Whether you’re backing the Panthers with bold confidence or sticking to smaller bets like the Broncos faithful, the 2024 NFL season offers a fascinating glimpse into the competitive world of fan wagering.
Survey Methodology
In September 2024, a national survey was conducted with 2,000 NFL fans who actively participate in sports betting. The participants had an average age of 39.1 years. The demographic breakdown included 78.5% male, 20.9% female, 0.4% non-binary, and 0.2% transgender individuals. Reported average gross income was $84,107.98 per year.
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