Lack of Star Power Weighs on Nevada Sportsbook Action in Super Bowl 60

Nevada sportsbooks took in $133.8 million in wagers on Super Bowl 60, a noticeable dip tied to a matchup that didn’t deliver the marquee names casual bettors tend to chase. The figure, released Monday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, marks the lowest Super Bowl handle in the state since 2016 ($132.5 million) and sits more than $50 million below the record $190 million posted in 2024 when Las Vegas hosted the game.

Seattle’s 29-13 win over New England also produced a smaller win for the books than last year’s title game. Nevada sportsbooks earned $9.9 million in win on the Super Bowl, good for a 7.4% hold. In 2025, books captured a massive $22.1 million on a $151.6 million handle (14.6% hold) when the Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22.

“Lack of Star Power” Hits Betting Volume

Westgate vice president of race and sports John Murray pointed to a simple driver behind the slowdown: the matchup didn’t have the familiar, proven megastars that reliably move betting volume.

“One of the factors was probably a lack of star power,” Murray said, noting that while Drake Maye may become elite, he’s still early in his career. Even recent Super Bowls without Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes still featured household quarterbacks such as Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow—names that tend to bring more recreational money to the window.

On the field, the Seahawks were guided by quarterback Sam Darnold and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, while Maye led the Patriots in his second season. Seattle also covered as 4.5-point favorites, a result that shaped outcomes across spread, moneyline, and a heavy slate of props.

Big Bets Return—Including Seven-Figure Hedges

Despite the quieter overall betting environment, high-roller action showed up in targeted spots. There were seven bets of $1 million or more reported nationwide on the game, including two at Circa Sports in Las Vegas—after none hit that level for the 2025 Super Bowl.

One bettor at Circa put $1.1 million on the Patriots moneyline (+188) as a hedge against Seahawks futures positions that still generated net winnings of $8.1 million split across Circa and BetMGM. Circa also booked a separate $1 million bet on New England’s moneyline (+200) placed shortly before kickoff.

BetMGM reported its own significant hedging and side action: a $725,000 wager on the Patriots moneyline (+195) and another bet of $788,000 on Patriots +4.5. Players looking to line up game-day betting with casino play often gravitate to major operators such as BetMGM Casino, where sportsbook action and iGaming promos frequently run in tandem around major events.

Why This Super Bowl Didn’t Spark the Same Betting Rush

Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said the dip makes sense when you stack this year against the last two. The 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas created a historic surge, while 2025 featured two teams with massive national followings—plus a season that treated many public bettors well, giving them more bankroll confidence heading into the finale.

This season, Esposito said, was simply worse for many NFL bettors, and that matters when the biggest betting day arrives.

He also pointed to style of play. With two defense-leaning teams and a tighter game script, bettors showed stronger interest in unders across proposition markets—often a sign of more cautious wagering overall, which can reduce prop volume.

A Slow Burn Game Script Kept Props in Check

The actual game did little to ignite in-game momentum. Seattle led 9-0 at halftime, and the first touchdowns didn’t arrive until the fourth quarter. The contest stayed under 45.5, reinforcing the defensive expectations that shaped many prop choices.

When a Super Bowl doesn’t produce early fireworks—quick scores, high-tempo drives, and constant live-betting swings—handle can flatten, especially among fans who jump in during the game rather than wagering days in advance.

Nevada Sportsbooks Still Own the Super Bowl—34 Wins in 36 Tries

Even with the lower handle, Nevada’s long-term scoreboard remains tilted heavily toward the house. Since the Gaming Control Board began tracking Super Bowl betting in 1991, Nevada sportsbooks have lost money on the game only twice.

The first was 1995, when the 49ers crushed the Chargers and covered a historic 19-point spread. The second was 2008, when the Giants shocked the Patriots as 12-point underdogs, handing bettors a state-record $2.57 million win against the books.

Recent Super Bowl Handles: Where 2026 Fits

Super Bowl 60’s numbers land on the low end of the last decade-plus of Nevada results:

2026: $133,813,230 handle, $9,892,055 win, 7.4% hold (Seattle 29, New England 13) 2025: $151,618,159; $22,134,104; 14.6% (Philadelphia 40, Kansas City 22) 2024: $190,020,783; $11,182,973; 5.9% (Kansas City 25, San Francisco 22 OT) 2023: $153,183,002; $4,361,646; 2.8% (Kansas City 38, Philadelphia 35) 2022: $179,823,715; $11,063,412; 6.2% (L.A. Rams 23, Cincinnati 20) 2021: $136,096,460; $12,574,125; 9.2% (Tampa Bay 31, Kansas City 9) 2020: $154,679,241; $18,774,148; 12.1% (Kansas City 31, San Francisco 20) 2019: $145,939,025; $10,780,319; 7.4% (New England 13, L.A. Rams 3) 2018: $158,586,934; $1,170,432; 0.7% (Philadelphia 41, New England 33) 2017: $138,480,136; $10,937,826; 7.9% (New England 34, Atlanta 28 OT) 2016: $132,545,587; $13,314,539; 10.1% (Denver 24, Carolina 10)

Super Bowl 60 still delivered major-money wagers and profitable results for sportsbooks—but the overall betting appetite clearly cooled. If the next Super Bowl matchup brings bigger names, a more explosive style of play, and a public coming off a stronger season, Nevada’s handle could snap right back into record-chasing territory.