Nevada Posts Second Highest Super Bowl Handle Ever

February 2, 2015
Nevada Posts Second Highest Super Bowl Handle Ever

Nevada sports books wrote $116 million worth of tickets on Super Bowl XLIX, according to a press release from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The state’s 191 sports books won a combined $3.3 million. This was 2.8 percent of the total Super Bowl handle.

Most sports books did not get their desired outcome on the game with the Patriots winning and the game going over the 47.5-point total.  All four teaser sides cashed due to the game falling close to the posted point spread and total.

This caused a loss on the straight bets for most books, which was offset by the Super Bowl prop betting action. These wagers on individual player stats or scoring situations often carry a house edge that is double that of a side, money line, or total.

All of the favorite long shot bets lost. These include the “Yes” side of safety, successful two-point conversion and defensive/special teams touchdown. All three of these bets have hit in recent years. Sharp bettors tend to lay serious money against these outcomes.

There was also no overtime. A “Yes” bet on that Super Bowl proposition has never won.

Previous Super Bowl Best Ever for Nevada

The only Super Bowl that has ever booked a higher handle was last year’s matchup between the Seahawks and Broncos. The books got exactly what they wanted last year with the Seahawks upset. The win on that game was $19.7 million, for a hold of 16.5%. That was the largest win in Super Bowl history.

It would have been bigger had the big long shot prop bets like safety, two point conversion, and defensive/special teams touchdown not landed on yes.

Only One Super Bowl Loss in Past 10 Years

Nevada sports books have won nine of the last ten Super Bowls. The only loser was in 2008 when the New York Giants ruined New England Patriots’ hopes for an undefeated season.  Nevada sports books lost $2.6 million that year on the game.

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