There’s increasing interest in all forms of pro football betting, according to Optimove’s 2024-25 consumer report on NFL wagering intentions. The report also suggests some frequent NFL bettors struggle with problem gambling despite a strong understanding of the responsible gambling tools available to them.
The report surveyed 356 bettors who wagered on the NFL this month, and it provides a small glimpse into the habits of frequent NFL bettors. The survey’s respondents all wagered on the NFL in August of this year, which suggests they’re more engaged than an average NFL bettor, considering regular season games don’t start until September.
Of those surveyed, 71% of respondents placed bets on one or more NFL games per week during the 2023-24 season, up from 63% in 2022-23. Additionally, 85% of respondents said they placed live bets last season, up from 61% the season prior.
Interestingly, the bettors surveyed don’t seem to have much brand loyalty. Of the respondents, 68% said they used multiple betting apps per week.
Problem Gamblers Surveyed?
The survey found that a whopping 66% of respondents wagered “more than they could afford or wanted to lose” during the 2023-24 NFL season. Those numbers were up from 45% in 2022-23.
Fortunately, 97% of respondents were aware of responsible gambling tools at their disposal, and 67% of people surveyed use those tools. Setting betting limits is a precaution often taken by those trying to ensure they don’t wager more than they can afford to lose.
The small sample size makes it difficult to take too much from the survey results, but the connection between frequent live betting and problem gambling could spark future research into the topic.
In the meantime, the survey offers a good reminder to NFL bettors of the importance of wagering within your means. Responsible gambling tools are a simple way to help make gambling both safe and fun.
