Super Bowl betting in 2019 told different stories for sportsbooks in New Jersey and Nevada. The sportsbooks on the east coast saw heavy sports betting action on the winning New England Patriots. The west coast sportsbook operators saw more balanced action with more Los Angeles Rams bets than their east coast brethren.

New Jersey Super Bowl revenue

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) announced preliminary wagering revenue for the 2019 Super Bowl on Monday. The NJDGE will have official wagering information when they release the usual monthly reports later in February. The first Super Bowl for New Jersey sportsbook operators was a losing proposition.

Brick and mortar casinos in Atlantic City and Horse Tracks around the state along with mobile sportsbooks took $34,894,900 in wagers. They paid out a total of $39,469,147 from those wagers. In total New Jersey sportsbook operators lost $4,574,247 or 13 percent from wagers on the Super Bowl.

FanDuel Sportsbook estimates that it had a net loss of around $5 million on Super Bowl bets. That number included free bets, which accounted for a “significant” percentage of the losses, according to Legal Sports Report.

DraftKings Sportsbook paid out about $11 million to customers after the Big Game and lost more than $1 million.

Both sportsbooks had a similar amount of money wagered on the Patriots. A little more than 68 percent of money wagered on both the point spread and moneyline at DraftKings was on the Patriots. FanDuel saw even more action on the Patriots with approximately 75 percent of the action on the Super Bowl winner.

East coast sports bettors bet on the east coast team to win the Super Bowl. This isn’t too much of a surprise given the anecdotal evidence of regional sports bettors favor local teams. Next year already seems to be lining up to have a similar result for DraftKings in New Jersey. The most popular NFL futures to win the 2020 Super Bowl are:

• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• New England Patriots

If the Giants somehow win the Super Bowl next year, DraftKings will already be behind the eightball paying out futures wagers that are currently at 33-1.

Nevada Super Bowl revenue

Nevada sportsbook operators had a much better result after the Super Bowl even though total handle was down from last year. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, sportsbooks around the state took in $145,939,025 in wagers. Sportsbooks won $10,780,319 for a hold of 7.4 percent.

The handle on the 2019 Super Bowl was lower than the record $158,586,934 wagered on the Big Game last year. This is the first year in at least 11 years that the amount wagered on the Super Bowl hasn’t increased in Nevada.

Even with the lower handle on the Super Bowl, most sportsbooks came out a winner. According to ESPN’s David Purdum, Caesars Entertainment (NV only), CG Technology, MGM Resorts International, South Point, Station Casinos, Westgate and William Hill (NV only) had a winning Super Bowl.

One thing to remember is that futures bets are included in Super Bowl revenue reports. Since the Patriots were among the favorites all season the sportsbooks didn’t have a big payout for futures. This helped fuel the bottom line win for Nevada sportsbooks. New Jersey sportsbooks didn’t have as much time to collect futures so they didn’t have as much potentially profitable revenue to offset their losses.

While the overall results seem positive, the lack of another record-breaking handle is surely a disappointment. As soon as the Super Bowl matchup was made sportsbook operators told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that they expected another record handle this year.

Lead image via FanDuel

Super Bowl LIII was a letdown by most accounts, including a reported 5 percent drop in viewership from last year’s game, making it the lowest-rated Super Bowl over the past decade.

Many are calling it the worst Super Bowl in history as the New England Patriots won their sixth championship since 2001 with a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. But that’s the beauty of the Super Bowl — as boring as the game was, there were hundreds of other ways to keep your interest with prop bets.

Popular Super Bowl props that won

Sony Michel over 17.5 rush attempts/ 76.5 rush yards (-110, Westgate SuperBook)

The Patriots running back was a popular target for bettors, and he delivered very late in the Super Bowl for ‘over’ bettors. Michel rushed three times for 21 yards in the first four plays of the game and was on his way. But the over bets did not look good midway through the fourth quarter even as the Patriots got the ball back off the interception leading 10-3 with just over four minutes remaining.

Then Michel carried the ball on the first four plays of the Patriots game-clinching drive, including a 26-yard burst from the Patriots 5-yard line to get them out of the shadow of their end zone. He carried the ball seven times for 41 yards on the drive that concluded with a field goal to put New England ahead 13-3. Michel finished the game with 18 carries for 94 yards and one touchdown.

Julian Edelman MVP

Michel was runner-up for Super Bowl MVP behind WR Julian Edelman, who won and cashed in for many on MVP odds of 40-1 at BetStars NJ and 35-1 at FanDuel Sportsbook. Edelman rewarded his ‘over’ bettors by catching 10 passes for 141 yards.

Rob Gronkowski over 3.5 receptions/ 53.5 receiving yards (-110)

The yardage number was bet up, but Gronk still delivered with six receptions for 87 yards.

Brandin Cooks over 5.5 receptions and over 75.5 yards (-110)

Cooks was the only Rams player to go over his yardage and attempts finishing with 8 receptions for 120 yards.

Longest field goal in game – over/under 48.5 yards (-110)

In the last 17 Super Bowls, only twice has there been a field goal longer than 48.5 yards. But Rams kicker Greg “the leg” Zuerlein kicked a 53-yard field goal late in the third quarter to reward over bettors.

Will the team to score last win the game? Yes or No.

The -190 moneyline on YES came through on this one. In the last 17 Super Bowls, the team to score last won 15 times. This bet came down to a Rams missed 48-yard field goal by Zuerlein with five seconds remaining in the game. The Patriots thus scored last with their late field goal and also won the game.

The opening coin toss

Tails was the winner, giving the Rams the win (the Patriots always call heads). In 53 Super Bowls, the coin toss has now come up tails 28 times and heads 25 times. The Rams are now 4-0 all-time on the Super Bowl coin toss.

The Gatorade shower

While Nevada gaming regulations do not allow Nevada sportsbooks to offer many novelty props unrelated to the actual game, there were plenty of other props that were popular in New Jersey. When Super Bowl LIII ended with a 13-3 Patriots win, the props and betting results were still being decided. The Gatorade dump on the winning coach was anxiously awaited by many bettors, and the color blue won at +375 odds.

Nailed it!

This prop was far from popular, but one bettor scored big at the South Point in Las Vegas with a $250 bet at 400-1 odds on the LA Rams to score exactly 3 points in the Super Bowl. He cashed in $100,000. The South Point opened the prop at 500-1 odds and dropped to 400-1 odds, the MGM had it at 250-1 and the Westgate Super Book had the same prop at 80-1.

Popular Super Bowl props that lost

Tom Brady props

Brady finished under his passing yards, attempts and touchdown totals, and failed to win the MVP as the prohibitive favorite (+110). Brady finished 21-of-35 for 262 yards and no touchdowns.

James White props

Patriots running back James While failed many bettors on his rushing and receiving attempts and yards. White rushing just 2 times for 4 yards and caught 1 pass for 5 yards.

Rams OVERs fall short

Rams QB Jared Goff also came up short on passing yards, attempts and touchdowns, as he finished 19-of-38 for 229 yards and no TDs. Running backs Todd Gurley (10 rush 35 yards, 1 catch), CJ Anderson (7 rush 22 yards) and wide receiver Robert Woods (5 receptions, 70 yards) all came up short of their yardage for over bettors.

Total field goals made by both teams – over/under 3.5 (-110)

When Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicked the third field goal of the Super Bowl with 1:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, it looked like ‘under’ bettors would still cash easily with the score 13-3. But the Rams drove down the field and with five seconds remaining, Los Angeles tried a 48-yard field goal hoping to cut the margin to 7 points and try an onside kick and recovery hoping for one more miracle play. But reliable Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein missed, allowing under bettors to cash-in on one final Super Bowl prop bet sweat.

ALSO READ: 2020 Super Bowl Odds: Patriots Early Favorites To Repeat At FanDuel, DraftKings

The bets are coming in fast as Super Bowl 53 kickoff nears between the favored New England Patriots (-2.5) and Los Angeles Rams. Historically, more than 70% of the bets on Super Bowl are made in the 24 hours leading up to kickoff. And like a poker tournament nearing its conclusion, the stakes have risen and “all-in” bets are being made with both the Patriots and Rams taking seven-figure wagers to win Super Bowl LIII.

MGM takes a $2 million bet on the Rams

An anonymous bettor that made multiple million dollar bets and won on last year’s Super Bowl and World Series is at it again. Known as “Bettor X”, he’s placed three moneyline bets on the LA Rams totaling $3.8 million. One of those was made at the MGM in Las Vegas, as reported by ESPN gambling reporter David Purdum.

The $2 million Super Bowl bet placed Thursday @MGMRaceSports was on the Rams moneyline at +120. There have been two reported million-dollar-plus bets on the Super Bowl at this point; both on the Rams moneyline. MGM bet was first-reported by @beatingthebook.

— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) February 2, 2019

That $2 million moneyline bet on the Rams (+120) would net that bettor $2.4 million with a Rams victory. Along with that $2 million bet and the additional $1 million plus on the Rams, William Hill US also took a $1.5 million moneyline bet on the Rams (+120).

Other noted bets on the Los Angeles Rams include:

• CG Technology: $300,000 on Rams moneyline
• South Point: $300,000 on Rams moneyline
• William Hill: $132,000 on Rams +3. Same bettor bet $132,000 on the total OVER 56.5 and $132,000 6-point teaser Rams and OVER

Despite more sharp money betting under the total, most sportsbooks will need UNDER the total as many public parlays/straight bets are tied to the OVER.

New England Patriots taking most bets

The initial flood of betting on the Patriots more than 10 days ago moved the opening line from pick ‘em at most sportsbooks to Patriots -2.5. That’s where the line is holding steady this weekend and game day at a majority of sportsbooks including FanDuel Sportsbook in New Jersey. The Patriots are taking more than 70% of the spread bets at many sportsbooks leading into Super Bowl LIII.

FanDuel says 83% of the moneyline bets are on New England, and 75% of spread action is also on Patriots. FanDuel also has most prop action on Patriots players to win MVP, score first and most touchdowns.

Not to bet outdone, New England has taken its share of big bets, including a $1 million wager at MGM.

Other noted bets on New England Patriots include:

• South Point: $220,000 on Patriots -2.5
• Westgate SuperBook: $120,000 on Patriots -2 (bought ½ point).
• MGM: $220,000 on Patriots -2.5

Westgate notes they have not taken as many six-figure bets on this year’s Super Bowl, but “a lot of $20,000 and $30,000 bets.”

“A Patriots victory by 1 or 2 points could produce “our best Super Bowl ever,” says MGM representative Scott Shelton. MGM took three different customer bets for a combined $1.9 million on the Patriots money line.

Super Bowl Sunday update: The Patriots showered Bill Belichick with blue Gatorade after their 13-3 victory over the Rams.

By law, all sports bets in Nevada have to be confirmed by statistics from leagues on events that typically happen on the playing field. This is why “fun” Super Bowl prop bets like the length of time for the National Anthem or halftime performances have only been offered offshore.

Well, some New Jersey sportsbooks are flipping the script on sports betting in America by taking wagers new prop bets that have never been available in US sportsbooks. DraftKings Sportsbook, BetStars and FanDuel Sportsbook are all offering a few prop bets that aren’t related to the actual Super Bowl game being played.

Here’s a look at some of the new legal prop bets you’ll only find in New Jersey sportsbooks:

DraftKings novelty prop bets

• The color of Gatorade shower
• Bill Belichick to retire after game?
• Rob Gronkowski to retire after the game?
• Tom Brady to retire after the game?

FanDuel extra props

• The first color of Gatorade dunked over winning coach
• Tom Brady to retire by end of day Monday 2/4
• Rob Gronkowski to retire by end of day Monday 2/4

BetStars novelty props

• Color of Gatorade to be poured on winning coach
• First TD celebration of the game

Gatorade odds at FanDuel

The most talked about off-the-field Super Bowl prop bet always seems to be “What color Gatorade will be poured on the winning coach?” The odds at FanDuel on this bet are:

• Clear +200
• Orange +350
• Yellow +350
• Blue +400
• Red +500

As the Big Game approaches, orange has more wagers at FanDuel sportsbook than any other color of Gatorade that might be poured over Sean McVay or Bill Belichick. Nearly 40 percent of Gatorade shower wagers have been placed on orange at FanDuel.

One of the longer shots, blue (+500), has the second most wagers for Gatorade color with 27 percent of the wagers at FanDuel Sportsbook. Yellow has 20 percent of wagers on the Gatorade shower at FanDuel. Clear only has 9 percent of wagers at this time. Red has the fewest wagers with 4 percent of the action at FanDuel Sportsbook

Is Todd Gurley trying to help?

Rams running back Todd Gurley doesn’t care about your bets or fantasy team. He might have been having a little fun on the twitter last week.

What is the preferred Gatorade on the sidelines @RamsNFL @TG3II @JaredGoff16 ? Asking for a friend

— St. Louis Dales (@justinnunnn) January 23, 2019

It’s entirely possible Todd Gurley is just joking around with this response to the Rams Gatorade choice on Twitter. It’s also possible this tweet is the reason that Clear is the favorite at FanDuel and DraftKings where it’s also the +200 favorite for this bet.

New Jersey sportsbooks offering more than sports

These new prop bets in New Jersey helped pave the way for unique sportsbook offerings. It didn’t even take 24 hours for a sportsbook to post odds on the Academy Award after the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that they will allow sportsbooks to take wagers on the movie awards.

Wagering on the Academy Awards is currently only a guarantee for the awards show on February 24, 2019. There’s no guarantee that there New Jersey sportsbooks will be able to take wagers on other non-sports events in the future.

The new betting markets and unique prop bets that were previously only available offshore are a sign that New Jersey is trying to create a new sportsbook model in the US. New Jersey regulators might be creating a competitive sportsbook marketplace for gamblers that might only have played at offshore sportsbooks in the past.